Oriel Glennen

Singer/songwriter based in Port Fairy. Pictured  singing with guitarist Mal Hill at the Star of the West Hotel 20th December 1998.
Oriel has composed a multitude of songs over the years and can be broadly labelled a folk singer.  No-one knew she sang until her wedding day when some wedding guests and 2 glasses of champagne encouraged her to take the stage.  Child rearing commitments delayed a professional singing career until about 1996.  She’s of Cornish ancestry and in 2002 won a songwriter's award to travel to Cornwall and perform at a Cornish homecoming Festival (the Dehwelan Festival). This opportunity arose when a film maker approached her with a proposal to  make a film about her journey as a Cornish descendant.  The film never eventuated due to lack of funds, but she got to go to the festival.  Around 2005 she also did a 6 week solo tour of Ireland– something that came from  contacts made at the National Celtic Festival in Port Arlington.
  
Debut folk release
Warrnambool Standard 28th Sept. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000 All rights reserved
PORT Fairy folk singer Oriel Glennen will air original tracks off her debut release at a series of upcoming local gigs. A launch and release of Glennen’s debut CD, Two Pink Turtles, is planned for next month, but local audiences can hear an advance live performance of Glennen’s original songs and music this weekend. Glennen will be joined by guitarist Mick Ahearn for a Friday night show at Koroit’s Commerical Hotel and the Stump in Port Fairy on Saturday. The CD launch will be on October 14 at the Port Fairy theatre. As well as original music, Glennen and Ahearn will perform obscure covers and traditional folk tunes. Glennen said she enjoyed performing with Ahearn, an experienced and professional musician. “It’s generally a very relaxing show. It’s a lot of fun for the audience and the performers,” Glennen said. Ahearn was one example of a number of fine musicians from western Victoria, she said. Two Pink Turtles makes use of the pool of talented musicians which Glennen said existed in the local area. Glennen said she had been grateful for the support she had received from local musicians, a number of whom lend backing on her debut CD. Two Pink Turtles features performances by Shane, Marcia and Damien Howard, Graham and Barry Galbraith, Andy Alberts, Richard Tankard, Tommy Carty, Brendan Dowd, Steve Platter and Bruce Hoey. “It was great that they were here and I didn’t have to go far away to get a bass player, a drummer, whatever. They are all here,” Glennen said. Nine of the album’s 10 tracks are originals, written and performed by the singer-songwriter and guitarist. The only non-original is traditional folk song Seananduir, which Glennen’s grandfather played to her as a child. “He used to play piano accordian, he used to play that song when I was a kid,” Glennen recalls. Glennen’s original tracks are written from personal experience. They tell the stories of family and friends, south-west Victoria, and growing up in the region. “A lot of it is about this area, the area I grew up in.”

CD is a journey through region
Warrnambool Standard 12th Oct. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000 All rights reserved
Oriel Glennen’s voice is something else. And her debut CD Two Pink Turtles displays in all its splendor. From the hauntingly beautiful opening track Deen Maar to my personal favorite, Sunset, with a distinct folk funk feel, each of the 10 tracks tell a story and takes the listener on a journey through south-west Victoria and Glennen’s life experiences. An example is These Walls, commissioned by the Corangamite Arts Council, Oriel wrote and performed the song at the opening of the heritage stone wall trail. These Walls tells the history of the construction the stone walls throughout the Stoney Rises, Kolora and other areas in the Western District, and asks ‘If these walls could talk....’. The title of the CD comes from a unique experience of Oriel’s husband, Peter, who spotted two pink turtles on a fishing trip. "That was the only highlight of 20 years of fishing. They were leatherback turtles, I think they must change their shell every now and again and get flesh colored," Peter says. "Seeing something like that was a once in a lifetime thing, doing this is sort of like a once in lifetime thing," Oriel says of producing her solo CD. While the CD is a solo effort it was produced with the generous assistance of a number of local musicians and artists, all of whom will join her for a performance to launch the CD on Saturday. Broderick Smith and Mick Ahearn will support Oriel Glennen at the launch at Port Fairy’s Lecture Hall, next to Fiddler’s Green, at 2pm. Tickets for the launch are available from Capricorn Records. 

Climbing the family tree
Warrnambool Standard 28th Mar 2002 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2002 All rights reserved
Finishing in second place in a world-wide songwriting award may well be the first step in a remarkable journey for south-west singer-songwriter Oriel Glennen. The award is part of the Dehwelans Festival in Cornwall, which will be held May 3-6. Dehwelans is the Cornish word for “homecoming” and the festival is all about bringing Cornish people and Cornish de-scendants back to their homeland from wherever they may be in the world. Glennen, whose grandfather came to Australia from Cornwall at age 15, entered a song for the award after being approached by Melbourne documentary maker Debra Annear, who is also of Cornish descent. Annear is interested in making a film about a descendant returning to Cornwall the festival. “She’s busting to get there as much as I am,” Glennen said of Annear. was never really confident,” she said about finishing second in the worldwide competition. “It’s a bit like ‘pinch me’. It’s something I’ve dreamt about for a long time but I never envisioned being able to get there.” The only thing standing between Glennen and Annear’s dream of travelling to homeland of their ancestors is fund-ing. “If the funding comes through for the documentary — and it’s a big ‘if’ — then she’ll film my journey from Australia to Cornwall and back. If it doesn’t come through, then I’ve got no idea how I’ll get there.” Glennen has been invited to perform at Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, an area near where her ancestors came from. “I’d love to go. I would really love to get there.” Her place-getting song, Land Of My Kin, was written earlier this year and even contains a verse in Cornish — a dying language which she has recently signed on to learn by correspondence. “Musically (going to Cornwall) will open a lot of doorways,” Glennen said. “I hope to make a lot of musical contacts. My grandfather was a great singer so I hope to find out what makes me tick. “This is one of those things that feels right. It feels like the next step in what-ever journey it is I’m on. “All roads are leading to Cornwall.”

Oriel retraces her roots
by Matt Neal. Warrnambool Standard 22nd June 2002 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2002 All rights reserved
Port Fairy singer/songwriter Oriel Glennen has returned to the south-west after an amazing journey to her ancestral home of Cornwall.Glennen travelled to the English county to accept a second prize in an international songwriting contest for her tune Land of my kin, which was presented at the Dehwelans, or "homecoming" Festival. The four day festival drew Cornish descendants from all over the world, and Glennen found herself to be something of a minor celebrity there, being interviewed by newspapers and playing live on BBC radio.Performing her winning song at the event's farewell was a highlight for the talented singer."It was amazing", she said. "It was wonderful to perform songs I'd written about going back to the place where my people came from, standing on the ground where they came from. That was a real tear-jerker. I felt like I belonged." Her two and a half weeks in Cornwall featured 10 days of gigs around the country, which she organised through a sound engineer she met at the Dehwelans Festival. One of the gigs was a performance at the "absolutely amazing" Minack Theatre - an open air amphitheatre carved into a cliff face. The many sights and experiences have had a lasting impact on the musician. "I'd love to go back", Glennen said. "I had a good response to my music. I'm hoping to be invited back to perform there. In three weeks (there) I achieved a lot of really good things". She said the trip was enjoyable, despite having to make the journey by herself after documentary maker Debra Annear, who planned to film Glennen's experiences, was unable to get the necessary funding to go. "I'd never flown, I'd never left the country before, I'd never gone anywhere by myself", she laughed. "It was a reaffirming experience. I feel the road my music is on is the  right road for me. I've come back very comfortable with what I'm doing and where I'm taking it. It's taken a little while to come back down to earth".

Songwriter flies off to tour Emerald Isle
By MATT NEAL
Warrnambool Standard 23rd June  2005 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2005 All rights reserved
A CHANCE meeting at a Port Fairy pub has led to a six-week tour of Ireland for south-west singer-songwriter Oriel Glennen. The Port Fairy musician left yesterday for the trek around the Emerald Isle, which will feature gigs in Dublin, Galway, the acclaimed Spirit Store in Dundalk and a couple of major festivals around the country. Glennen said the tour came about when her partner, Peter, met a couple of Irish tourists at the Star Of The West in Port Fairy. "It was the typical story of `My mate knows a guy who owns a venue'," she laughed. Names and addresses were exchanged and Glennen sent a copy of her album Two Pink Turtles, recorded at Peter Bird's Yelp Studios in Warrnambool about five years ago, to the owner of the Spirit Store. The owner replied to Glennen's letter by booking her for a gig, describing the singer's voice as captivating and sending through a list of other venues she should try in order to arrange a full tour. "It doesn't feel real yet," Glennen said. "I'll be really excited when I get on the plane." The Port Fairy musician said she had been in touch with Irish singer Sean Keane, who toured Warrnambool in March, and teed up his backing band for the tour. "I'm looking forward to meeting and jamming with other musicians because in Ireland on a social level I've heard that's the culture," Glennen said. After the six-week tour Glennen hopes to record another album in the south-west. The songwriter played in her ancestral home of Cornwall almost three years ago after finishing second in a songwriting competition there.

Oriel Glennen is a musician, composer, jeweller and visual artist based in Port Fairy.
Over the last 13 years, she has performed at various venues and festivals; both in Australia and overseas.
Port Fairy 2016 festival  bio :
"Born and raised in South West Victoria and powerfully influenced by the region’s rich Anglo-Celtic traditions, Oriel’s songs give voice to stories of that landscape and her family’s long relationship with the sea. An accomplished visual artist and fine jeweller, her songs reflect her insightful observations and keen eye for detail. Her contralto voice, hauntingly rare and beautiful, like her powerful and poetic songs, reaches down into the depths. She has the voice and songwriting ability of someone who has worked to balance being both artist and Mother. From lived experience, she understands the bittersweet mysteries of life and speaks with gentle authority. Her new album, Dead Reckoning, recorded by Pete Bird and Shane Howard, is due for release in early 2016. Dark and mysterious, it holds within the words, the golden treasures of the human heart."
www.orielglennen.weebly.com
‘An extremely talented , under publicised and utterly captivating singer’
Sheena Keane, Roundstone Festival, Ireland."


Her live performances have included

2016 - PFFF

2014  'Acoustic sessions' Clifton Hill Hotel, Melbourne, VIC

2011  Port Arlington, Celtic Festival.

2010  Women in Song, Winter Weekends, Port Fairy, VIC

2008  Port Fairy Folk Festival, VIC

2008  National Celtic Festival, Port Arlington, VIC



In October 2000 3WAY-FM  presenter Brendan Dowd was joined by Oriel Glennen, Tommy Carty and Andy Alberts who helped to promote Oriel's new CD Two Pink Turtles during  3WAY-FM's 10th anniversary celebrations as they broadcasted from Gateway Plaza.

In June 2014 she performed at a day of song for refugees at the Mozart Hall.

Her album "Two Pink Turtles" was produced by Shane Howard in 2000 and included the song MY BACK VERANDAH

Country classics

Warrnambool Standard April 10th, 2008 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2008.  All rights reserved
IT will be a real coming together of the country combos at The Stump in Port Fairy on Saturday night. Rodger Delfos, Don Farrell and Michael Schack of The Dead Livers will join forces with Snowy Townsend and Shane Fitchet of Bona Fide Travellers to form The Operators, who will play a wide range of country classics.

The mike is open

Warrnambool Standard 19th Oct. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000 All rights reserved

MUSICIANS from around the region have been invited to take the stage as part of Australian Music Week celebrations. An open mike night organised by students doing the South West Institute of TAFE music industry skills course will be held at the Royal Hotel in Warrnambool tomorrow from 9pm. District musicians are invited to bring their instruments for the night of fun, hosted by popular band Malcolm’s Trousers, Tonight from 9pm, the music industry students will host an open mike night for performers from all fields including poets, performance art and musicians in the Criterion Hotel cellar. As part of Australian Music Week the regular gig will be supported by the music industry skills course band.

Open mic - Mickey Bourke's July 30th 2005

 

Rebecca Schack and Michael Schack

 

Andy Shirtcliffe and Dave Wilson

 

Grant Fenton

 

Michelle and Shaun Petty

 

Tom Richardson

Dennis O'Keeffe

Minstrel reveals town's heritage
Warrnambool Standard 4th June 1998 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1998. All rights reserved.
Like a wandering minstrel, musician and performer Dennis O'Keeffe will lead a band of followers on a journey through Port Fairy's historical and cultural heritage. With Port Fairy's cultural attractions as the central theme of this year's Rhapsody in June festival, Dennis O'Keeffe's performance is a blending of theatre and music to showcase the town's rich heritage. The performance will take the audience on a wander along Port Fairy's wharf and the Moyne River with presentations by various people on the town's past, its settlement days and its people. Mr. O'Keeffe describes the tour as a musical history event and said it followed on from a successful tour developed for the Geelong Waterfront Festival. For that performance, a waterfront theme and a folk culture were combined with music, dance and craftsmen demonstrating maritime skills including boatmaking to tying knots. The Port Fairy event will follow the same format drawing in aspects of the local heritage including whaling, the mahogany ship, mutton birds and the early port. Aboriginal dancers will also perform tying in indigenous local history. Mr. O'Keeffe, who has just completed a post graduate degree in Australian Folklore Studies at Monash, said the performance was a different way of presenting our past. "It was about our own folk culture", he said. 

Songs off to school
by Mark Alexander. Warrnambool Standard December 3rd 1997 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1997. All rights reserved
Dennis O'KeeffeThe thought provoking ballads of Warrnambool song-writer Dennis O'Keeffe will be used in the classroom to teach young students about Australian history. The renowned artist has developed an innovative education pack called Waltzing Down the Years, designed to stimulate interest in Australian history through folk songs. Four years in the making, it includes a compact disc featuring six of Mr. O'Keeffe's songs and an accompanying text and exercises written by the Australian History Teachers Association of Victoria. He is hailing the package, released at a gathering of 260 Victorian history teachers in Melbourne last month, as a precedent. "It's the first time Australian ballads have been used as a teaching tool", he said. "The songs are historically accurate and thoroughly researched. It's significant to do something and be the first person to do it". Mr. O'Keeffe, who spends countless hours researching his songs on historical topics such as the Mahogany Ship and the Victorian goldrush, said music provided an alternative medium for young Australians to learn about the history of their country. "It's important for everybody to gain a perception and empathy with history", he said. "For some of these kids, they will never forget some of the words of these songs". Waltzing down the years will be released nationally early next year.

Folk singer's papers stolen
Warrnambool Standard December 3rd 1997 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1997. All rights reserved
Dennis O'KeeffeWarrnambool songwriter Dennis O'Keeffe is realing from the theft of irreplaceable research papers used as references for his Australian ballads. On the same day he launched his educational package in Melbourne his car containing volumes of research material was stolen from Melbourne University where the launch was held on Friday, October 24. Mr. O'Keeffe said hours of painstaking and irreplaceable research had disappeared inside his 1987 Ford Fairlane. He holds little hope of the items being recovered - "Not now", he said. Amon the items stolen were interview notes, cassettes, books and papers containing accurate information on the historic topics his songs deal with. Sound equipment valued at $2000 was also in the car when it was taken. He said the theft of the car and research materials on the day his education package was launched put a dampener on an otherwise enjoyable occasion.

O'Keeffe makes a comeback
Warrnambool Standard Jan. 15 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL'S civic green Australia Day concert will mark a return to the stage for Australian folk music  afficionado Dennis O'Keeffe after he had a brain tumor removed last. The January 26 performance will be a special one for the 43-year-old singer-folk writer, who believed he would never sing again following his operation."I thought I would never return (to music) and there was a stage when I didn't want to," the doyen of Australian  folklore said. "It was just basically the combination of the operation and the facial paralysis that left me so "But now I'm seeing it as a reason to get better because I'm seeing the value more of just doing it for fun and  enjoyment and that, in a sense, I had probably taken it a little bit for granted before." The tumor was removed at Melbourne's St Vincent's hospital last August after it was detected at the end of July."I had been losing the hearing in my right ear and slight balance problems and I was under a lot of stress," Mr O'Keeffe said. He has partial but improving facial paralysis and permanent deafness in the right ear: "I've lost the stereo effect and I've got to learn to cope with that." The performance at the civic green will be a special one for more reasons than one with Mr O'Keeffe accompanied on stage by his wife, Anne, on bodhran and vocals, brother Colin on tin whistle and vocals and son,  Joel, 17, on guitar. The band, which will follow its civic green contribution with another gig at The Seanchai hotel, will also feature  fiddle-player Dennis Taberner. The night will be a break for Mr O'Keeffe from the rigors of pre-production work on what is tipped to become a major movie. "It is called Waltzing Matilda and it focuses on the ability of Australians to sort out many social problems without conflict through the 1890s during the shearers' wars (a time of industrial turmoil)," he said.  The movie is tipped to gain some significant international exposure for Warrnambool with four to five scenes to represent early Warrnambool while some big names are expected to fill on and off-screen roles. The movie is expected to be released overseas as well as in Australia. It will replicate the 1890s Warrnambool racecourse, which was significant in the formation of what was to become that best-known of Australian folk songs, Waltzing Matilda. His performance at the 6pm civic green concert will feature a variety of music.

Allansford Banjo Jamboree 3rd March 2018

 

Jeffrey Scimonello

 

Jon Clegg, Keith Prest, Michael Schack

 

Jon Clegg

 

Peter Arnold

 

Russ Goodear

 

Don Cowling

Reality Bites: Nu Country

Warrnambool Standard 30th August 2002 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2002 All rights reserved

Journalist Dave Dawson has been a country music fan since he grew up in Warrnambool in the 1950s and 1960s, before pop-rock completely took over the airwaves. "Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins - back then country was the pop music of the day", Dawson said this week from his "second" home in Melbourne. 55 year old Dawson, who with his sister, still operates the family property "Shipley" at Jubilee Park, while squeezing in freelance newspaper and music magazine work - has long championed country music on radio. For eight years he was the driving force behind Nu Country, a community radio station based in Northcote that held 31 test broadcasts up until December last year. That was when the Australian Broadcasting Authority allocated four precious FM band licenses to new stations. "They went to a Koori station, a Christian station, a gay station, and a youth station. We just weren't politically correct enough, even though we had a far bigger membership than any of them", was Dawson's blunt assessment of his and other fans' shattered dream. The remarkable, tragic and emotional story of Nu Country, Dawson and his fellow volunteer presenters and workers, is the subject of his concluding episode of Reality Bites. Warrnambool connections abound. Dawson said many of the staff, guest musicians, listeners and members were either Warrnambool and District ex-pats or south west residents who would travel down for the station's various get-togethers and fund raisers. Even if the sound of a pedal-steel makes you reach for shootin' iron, don't miss Nu Country (ABC TV 8.00 pm Tuesday September 3rd 2002). It's great.

 

Versatile Wearne returns

Warrnambool Standard January 12th, 2007 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2007.  All rights reserved

Nigel Wearne has come a long way form his humble days of busking in Mortlake. The singer-songwriter has set up a backing band in Geelong and will return to The Loft in Warrnambool tomorrow night, with support from Melbourne's Tobias Selkirk. Wearne is working on a solo album and has just completed recording another project with south west musos Like Watt and Dave Downing.

Nick Styles performing at the Loft Warrnambool 25 Sept. 2009

Formerly from Cobden in South West Victoria, Nick Styles is Melbourne based. He is photographed here performing at the Loft in Warrnambool on Grand Final Eve (25th September) 2009. On this night he was the support act for Matt Joe Gow and the Dead Leaves.

Nevada - Warrnambool band

Nevada doin' more than sneakin' around --By Debbie Cameron - Warrnambool Standard 1st Dec. 1979 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1979. All rights reserved
After three years sneakin' around the sidelines of country music, local band Nevada is moving into the limelight.Its 'first album "Sneakin Around" will be released in about a week and may be the band's ticket to wider recognition in the music industry. The LP is more than a milestone for the band's five members - it is a tribute to local talent in general. Every aspect of production including cover design and printing has been done in Warrnambool. The combined expertise of 12 district people has produced a commercially-viable and high quality record. Their efforts are yet to be tested on the ears of the public but pre-release reaction from the industry has been good. Recording of the album has been master-minded by Ray Batten of Western District Recordings. His Purnim studios have been haunted by the sounds of Nevada for about 18 months.  But after final mixing of the album, the long frustrating  hours spent striving for optimum quality and sound will seem insignificant. The marketable sound will be put down on about 300 cassette tapes which will be used to gauge initial response to the Nevada sound. 'They will also be distributed to radio stations and recording companies. The band members Dick Barns (vocal, guitar), Peter Bird (vocal, bass), Phil Lawrence (drums), Murray McDowall (pedal steel) and Trevor McKenzie (vocals, lead guitar) regard the album's forthcoming  release as an opportunity to break into the tight ranks of country music. Band spokesman Dick Barns said Nevada had received recognition and encouragement for its work from leaders in the music industry and was confident of success with the LP. The band has been on the fringe of the top, bracket of Australian country music since the release of a well-accepted single about two years ago. Dick said 'Sneakin Around" would be submitted at the Australasian Country Music competition at Tamworth in January. Although the band  does not expect to collect the major award, they realise the importance of exposure in large musical arenas and understand that it may be just the break it needs.

No negatives with new district band

Warrnambool Standard 30 Nov. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2000 All rights reserved

Newley-formed Warrnambool band Negative Hold will hit the stage alongside Melbourne's Area 7 tomorrow night. Negative Hold, featuring Adam Miles (vocals), Chris Wombwell (bass), Dean Berger (guitar) and Tim Meyer (drums), will be appearing on stage at the Civic Hall from 8pm as part of an all-ages Freeza event. Miles said the band, which was formed early this year, had already scored a number of supporting gigs, with bands such as Dogbouy, 28 Days and Superheist. In addition, Negative Hold has previously scored second place in the Warrnambool Battle of the Bands competition recently and appeared as the feature band for a day on the MP3.com website. Miles said the band was looking forward to its gig, which will coincide with  its  previously -unreleased debut CD. He said the Area 7 gig would be used as the unofficial launch for the six-track EP, with plans to give the untitled CD a name on the night. Miles said the band was thrilled with its supporting gig along-side Area 7. "This is really the first time we've headlined a gig with a bigger band, but it should be great because the crowd really gets into it so there's usually a good response," he said. Negative Hold and Area 7 will be performing at Warrnambool's Civic Hall from 8pm.

Band free to play on

Warrnambool Standard 15th June 2005 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard  2005.  All rights reserved

A Warrnambool band member who had his equipment stolen likened the experience to the theft of a tradesman's tools. "Not only was the equipment expensive, but it was part of our livelihood" guitarist with The Extreme Sprinklers and The Front, Matt Neal, said yesterday. Black Samson speakers, a l0-channel powered mixer and a guitar amplifier stolen from a car parked outside Mr Neal's home in the early hours of June 4 were recovered from two Dennington properties on the weekend. Detective Senior Constable Marty Neagle said half the equipment was recovered on Friday after police executed a search warrant. The other equipment was recovered early Monday. A 16-year-old was charged with two counts of theft of a motor car, and one each of theft from a motor car, unlicensed driving and going equipped to steal. He will appear in court next month. Mr Neal said support from the Warrnambool community and other musicians had allowed the band to continue playing over the past few weeks.