Great fun in a scorcher --Warrnambool Standard 11th Jan 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
THE Spirit of the Sea Festival was last night pronounced a success by organisers despite a drop in crowd numbers in the scorching afternoon heat. Warrnambool Business Action, which organised the market, estimated about 8000 people visited Koroit Street, a figure similar to last year. But WBA secretary Erin O'Brien said the number of shoppers dwindled around lunchtime as the mercury soared to 37 degrees. "The crowd peaked around 11 o'clock and dispersed a lot earlier than previous years," Mr O'Brien said. "It was just too hot out in the middle of the road." He said the market had been a success nonetheless, with profits spread among a larger number of stallholders than in previous years. Stall attendants reported a fairly busy morning but several said the number of patrons had thinned as the temperature rose. Mr O'Brien said the introduction this year of a gold coin donation at the entrance to the market had reaped an estimated $2000. WBA would use the money to fund future events such as a possible Easter market, he said. Festival organiser Rob Quantrelle said the January event was getting bigger and better each year. Mr Quantrelle said the quality of the performers on the festival's two stages this year had been excellent, including artists with national profiles such as Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter. Friday night's Tarerer concert and the Celtic concert on Saturday night had attracted good-sized crowds, he said. Mr Quantrelle said crowd numbers had been steady throughout the day but a lack of shade in such hot weather had been a disadvantage. "We're competing with the most popular feature of Warrnambool - that's the beach." Organiser Cheryle Todd said planning was already under way for next year's festival, with one of the biggest challenges being to attract enough funding. Ms Todd said she had been delighted wit
THE Spirit of the Sea Festival was last night pronounced a success by organisers despite a drop in crowd numbers in the scorching afternoon heat. Warrnambool Business Action, which organised the market, estimated about 8000 people visited Koroit Street, a figure similar to last year. But WBA secretary Erin O'Brien said the number of shoppers dwindled around lunchtime as the mercury soared to 37 degrees. "The crowd peaked around 11 o'clock and dispersed a lot earlier than previous years," Mr O'Brien said. "It was just too hot out in the middle of the road." He said the market had been a success nonetheless, with profits spread among a larger number of stallholders than in previous years. Stall attendants reported a fairly busy morning but several said the number of patrons had thinned as the temperature rose. Mr O'Brien said the introduction this year of a gold coin donation at the entrance to the market had reaped an estimated $2000. WBA would use the money to fund future events such as a possible Easter market, he said. Festival organiser Rob Quantrelle said the January event was getting bigger and better each year. Mr Quantrelle said the quality of the performers on the festival's two stages this year had been excellent, including artists with national profiles such as Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter. Friday night's Tarerer concert and the Celtic concert on Saturday night had attracted good-sized crowds, he said. Mr Quantrelle said crowd numbers had been steady throughout the day but a lack of shade in such hot weather had been a disadvantage. "We're competing with the most popular feature of Warrnambool - that's the beach." Organiser Cheryle Todd said planning was already under way for next year's festival, with one of the biggest challenges being to attract enough funding. Ms Todd said she had been delighted with the success of this year's event and with the professionalism of organisers and stage managers. Members of the Warrnambool-based band Nutshell, which received the Young Original Music Award yesterday afternoon, said the festival and the award were a good chance to get more recognition. "It helps - just look at (last year's winners) Tukan Sam - it gets some momentum behind you," guitarist Simon Young said. Tukan Sam, after winning the 1998 Young Original Music Award, has gone on to gigs at the popular Pushover and Falls Festival concerts, and was chosen by youth radio station Triple J as south-west Victoria's best young band.
Festival switches on a rare musical feast
THE Spirit of The Sea Festival at the weekend provided a feast of musical talent for south-west audiences. Organiser Rob Quantrelle praised the high standard of performers and the great variety of musical styles on stage throughout the festival. Highlights of the weekend included performances by nationally acclaimed artists Ruby Hunter, Archie Roach, Judith Durham and Shane Howard. Mr Quantrelle said the Tarerer Concert on Friday night, a celebration of indigenous culture, and the Celtic Concert on Saturday night attracted good crowds, as did outdoor stages on the civic green and in Koroit Street. Several artists who performed during the weekend were recognised last night at the annual Roots Music Awards at the Warrnambool Performing Arts Centre. Warrnambool alternative four-piece band Nutshell came out on top against a strong field to win the Young Original Music Award, after forming just six months ago. The band's debut EP, Chowness To The Wowness, is due for release early in the year. Andy Alberts' Gunditjmara Land, performed at the Tarerer Concert to mark the handing over of the region's Sorry Book, was named song of the year. Album of the year also went to Alberts for his Gunditjmara Land CD, released in February 1998. The hardest working rockabilly band in south-west Victoria, Slap 'n' The Cats, received the band of the year award after appearing earlier in the day on the sweltering Koroit Street bush market stage. The female artist of the year award went to Sue Lucas, of Warrnambool zydeco rhythm and blues band Hot Tamale Baby. Popular Warrnambool guitarist and singer Lee Morgan was awarded male artist of the year. He appeared on stage throughout the weekend at the Tarerer concert and at the bush market in Koroit Street. Members of the Warrnambool-based band Nutshell, which received the Young Original Music Award yesterday afternoon, said the festival and the award were a good chance to get more recognition. "It helps - just look at (last year's winners) Tukan Sam - it gets some momentum behind you," guitarist Simon Young said. Tukan Sam, after winning the 1998 Young Original Music Award, has gone on to gigs at the popular Pushover and Falls Festival concerts, and was chosen by youth radio station Triple J as south-west Victoria's best young band.
Local and national acts free
Warrnambool Standard Dec. 30th 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL’S Spirit of the Sea Festival will see some of the south-west’s most popular bands playing alongside some of Australia’s favorites — for free. Local bands Slap ’N’ the Cats, It’s Your Thing, Second Line and The Hot ‘B’ Hines will be playing alongside The Band Who Knew Too Much, Exotics and Ruby Fruit Jungle. Headlining the Spirit of the Sea Festival at Lake Pertobe is R&B duo Vika and Linda Bull and the newest sensation, Bachelor Girl. Vika and Linda Bull will be performing from their latest album, Two Wings, which was co-produced by Australian icons Renee Geyer and Paul Kelly. With the gospel, rhythmic sounds of the Bull sisters, playing at Lake Pertobe in the early hours of the evening should be a magical experience for audiences. Newest pop sensation Bachelor Girl are set to close the Spirit of the Sea in highlight performance featuring tracks from their platinum Waiting For The Day album, which included hit singles, Buses and Trains and Treat Me Good as well as Lucky Me. Spirit of the Sea will kick off at Lake Pertobe on January 2 from 11am with Vika and Linda at 7pm and Bachelor Girl from 8.30pm.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Two songmen on tour
GIVEN the similarities between southwest singer-songwriters Shane Howard and Neil Murray, it’s no surprise the pair teamed up for a tour together. What is surprising is how long it’s taken for it to happen. But first, those similarities. Aside from the south-west connection (Howard is based at Killarney and Murray at Lake Bolac), there are those two songs—Solid Rock and My Island Home. Both tracks are Uluru-sized landmarks on the Australian music landscape, not just for their pop-rock catchiness but for their cultural significance as two of the first mainstream songs to explore Aboriginal culture. Both menled mildly successful ‘80s rock acts and matured into acclaimed songwriters who are regularly invited to folk festivals around the country to play their songs about the Australian identity. So why has it taken so long for these seemingly kindred spirits to hook up for a major national tour? Howard explained that busy schedules for both musicians meant their musical planets hadn’t aligned until now. ‘‘We used to do shows together at Christmas time for a bit of fun every year at Lake Bolac and Killarney for about five or six years,’’ Howard said.. ‘‘We thought why don’t we do this as a tour and we’ve been talking about it for a while.’’ Murray agreed the tour, which takes in six states and territories, had been at least five years in the making. ‘‘There’s a genuine mutual respect and admiration there,’’ he said. ‘‘I think that kinship is more through the similiar journeys we’ve had and what’s happened to us in this music business.Howthe pair first met is a matter of contention. Howard remembers ducking into the Tivoli in Sydney in about 1984 to hear the Warumpi Band soundcheck. Murray said the pair kept bumping into each other until they ‘‘finally had a yarn together in Sydney in about 1986’’. Either way, it was when both had resettled in the south-west—the chats on the phone became more frequent, as did the occasional jam sessions. The product of one of those jams was Everything’s Gotta Go Back—a song written by the pair two years ago and recorded for the tour. Could it be the start of a bigger collaboration? ‘‘I wouldn’t discount it,’’ Murray said, adding the tour was a way to test the waters. ‘‘We’ve talked in the past about a recording project. We’ll see how it evolves.’’ The 2songmen Tour kicks off tonight at The Loft in Warrnambool before heading to the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and the Corner Hotel, Richmond. Then Murray and Howard head off around the rest of the country. Doors open at 8pm and tickets are at Capricorn Records or at the door.
Old 'Smokey' on top with AO
TAMWORTH - A lifetime of entertaining audiences, making children smile and charity fund-raising by Smokey Dawson has Smokey Dawsonbeen recognised with an Order of Australia. Herbert Henry Dawson 86, said his Australia Day honor for services to entertainment, Australian country music and the community was a complete surprise. "I never thought I'd get an Order of Australia," said the country music pioneer who had been awarded an MBE in 1983. Born in Warrnambool in 1913, Mr Dawson began his musical career in 1934 and became a household name in Victoria when he starred in early live broadcasts on radio 3UZ. He went on to record albums and perform shows in every Australian capital city.He married Dot (born Florence Cheers) in 1944, and after serving in World War II in Borneo moved to the United States where he performed in Nashville, and in several Broadway productions. The couple returned to Australia where the Smokey Dawson Radio Show began in 1952 and stayed on air for 10 years. Then followed a long and distinguished recording and performing career. Throughout his career, Mr Dawson used his talents, including whip cracking, story telling, sharp shooting and trick riding with his horse Flash to raise money for charities and community projects.
Country concert kick off
by Rebecca Trott Warrnambool Standard 22 Jan. 2000 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2000 All rights reserved
Country music fans are in for a dose of some boot-scooting, leg-slapping and good old country fun following the creation of a regular country music concert in Warrnambool. Soon to join the ranks of other towns who set aside one day a month for a country music celebration. Warrnambool will hold its first concert on Jan. 30, thanks to the dedication of country music fan and radio announcer Ken Smith. Mr. Smith, who hosts his own country music program on 3WAY-FM, said he decided to set aside one day a month to hold the country music concert because of the continuous pressure from listeners. "It would be nothing for me to get between 80 to 100 calls during my show and people wanting to know when this will be starting up - it's just unreal" he said. Mr. Smith, a keen country musician himself, said the day will feature music from both local and outside artists. The January 30 show will feature acts such as The Durdins, Jack Foran, John Anscombe, Tommy Grigg, Simon Edge and Portland's Angelique Pudlat. The concerts will not be just about performance and entertainment - proceeds from shows will be passed on to cancer and muscular dystrophy charities. He hoped that the first concert would be a success and added that the support for the event had grown over the first few weeks. "I first thought that getting 50 people to the first concert would make me happy, but I think it's grown now and we'll probably get 200", he said. It will be held at Rowley's Highview Horse Complex, which Mr. Smith said [is] perfect for entertaining families and country music fans.
Country music fans are in for a dose of some boot-scooting, leg-slapping and good old country fun following the creation of a regular country music concert in Warrnambool. Soon to join the ranks of other towns who set aside one day a month for a country music celebration. Warrnambool will hold its first concert on Jan. 30, thanks to the dedication of country music fan and radio announcer Ken Smith. Mr. Smith, who hosts his own country music program on 3WAY-FM, said he decided to set aside one day a month to hold the country music concert because of the continuous pressure from listeners. "It would be nothing for me to get between 80 to 100 calls during my show and people wanting to know when this will be starting up - it's just unreal" he said. Mr. Smith, a keen country musician himself, said the day will feature music from both local and outside artists. The January 30 show will feature acts such as The Durdins, Jack Foran, John Anscombe, Tommy Grigg, Simon Edge and Portland's Angelique Pudlat. The concerts will not be just about performance and entertainment - proceeds from shows will be passed on to cancer and muscular dystrophy charities. He hoped that the first concert would be a success and added that the support for the event had grown over the first few weeks. "I first thought that getting 50 people to the first concert would make me happy, but I think it's grown now and we'll probably get 200", he said. It will be held at Rowley's Highview Horse Complex, which Mr. Smith said [is] perfect for entertaining families and country music fans.
A taste of the Smallgoods
Warrnambool Standard June 4th, 2009 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2009. All rights reserved
Port Fairy's finest, the Smallgoods, will release a new double A-sided single later this month. Tell me what your heart's made out of and I'd bring you sunshine will be available on either side of a 7" vinyl to be launched at the Brunswick Club on June 25th. It's also expected the songs will be available digitally.
Port Fairy's finest, the Smallgoods, will release a new double A-sided single later this month. Tell me what your heart's made out of and I'd bring you sunshine will be available on either side of a 7" vinyl to be launched at the Brunswick Club on June 25th. It's also expected the songs will be available digitally.
Slap 'n' the Cats
New drummer - line-up change for rockabilly trio
by Debbie Cuthbertson. Warrnambool Standard December 26th 1996 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1996. All rights reserved
Local rockabilly trio slap 'N' the Cats has undergone a line-up change, to replace drummer Tim Bowen. Bowen's shoes have been filled by Rohan Keert, a teacher at Warrnambool College. Keert has performed with several bands in Melbourne and Warrnambool. While living in Melbourne he played with the T-Bones, exponents of country, blues and psychobilly. He and several other members of the band then formed an off-shoot rockabilly group, the Texas T-Bones. Since moving to Warrnambool in 1989, Keert has also performed with groups, including Lost in Suburbia and Emu Creek.Sl ap 'N' the Cats original drummer Tim Bowen left the group recently to pursue and international music career. He recently joined a six-piece band called Brother to Brother, which has secured gigs at Hard Rock Cafes in China and throughout Asia. Keert said he would "try very hard to fill the the big shoes left by Tim". Slap 'N' the Cats - which also comprises bassist Rob Sharrock and vocalist and guitarist Damian [sic] Webster - has been invited to perform at the Australian Rockabilly Association's function next month. Sharrock said the band was one of only two groups invited to perform at the function.
South-west rockabillies on TV
Warrnambool Standard 24th April. 2004 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2004. All rights reserved
When Warrnambool rockabilly band Slap 'N' the Cats appears on Nu Country TV on C 31, nee Channel 31, in Melbourne tonight it will be a Shipwreck Coast invasion of sorts. The trio was filmed on Fiddlers' Green during the recent Port Fairy Folk Festival. The song the show's producers chose was Rockin' at the Palais, from the band's 1998 debut CD Hot Rods & Haircuts, about the now defunct Koroit Street dance hall. Guitarist Damien Webster wrote the song about the breeding ground of legendary bands the Ghost Riders and the Vampires and Saturday night fever at the Palais and beyond. Nu country TV camera operator Carol Taylor, nee Knight, a former Camperdown Chronicle and Sydney Daily Mirror journalist who grew up on a Gnotuk dairy farm, filmed the band. Taylor also filmed interviews and live footage of Grammy Award-winning MBA Alison Brown, Andrea Zonn, Kieran Kane-Kevin Welch and the Dead Livers for future episodes of the TV show that airs in the prime time slot of 8 pm. The interviewer was veteran Warrnambool-born journalist and songwriter David Dawson. Nu Country TV made the finals of the recent National Community Television Awards in Melbourne. An ABC-TV documentary on the radio station that inspired the TV show is a finalist in the 35th Nashville Film Festival next week. Slap 'N' The Cats will play at Emmanuel College Hall tonight for the Warrnambool Rock 'n' Rollers. The band will then take the rest of the year off after 13 years of constant gigging.
Slainte
John Clegg (banjo guitar), Heather Goddard (accordion, vocals), Michael Schack (guitar and bass guitar), Hannah Schack (vocals)
Photos from Koroit Irish Festival 2000
Photos from Koroit Irish Festival 2000
Jam @ Phil Royle's wedding 26th May 2018
Richard Tankard, Russ Goodear, Raff Marino, Lee Morgan, Tim Conlan, Brett Holbrook, Michael Schack
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Photos from "6 feet Under" performance at the Stump August 6th 2005
Red Smith, Rohan Keert
Rohan Keert
Tom and Sammy
Louie and Wendy
Wendy Goyen and Rohan Keert
Silk hopes to get a leg up
Warrnambool Standard 25th Jan 2001 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2001 All rights reserved
HAMILTON-BASED alternative rockers Silk has blitzed a field of more than 1500 bands to secure place in the finals of a national competition for new talent. Silk, featuring cousins Joel Walkenhorst (five-string bass), Alistair Walkenhorst (drums) and Luke McLeod (seven-string guitar) formed four months ago. The band has been selected as one of 10 finalists from Australia and New Zealand in the Channel V Get a Leg Up competition. The competition aims to locate unsigned bands and offer them a chance to play at this year’s Off-shore Festival, as well as the opportunity to fly to New York to appear at the CMJ Music Marathon. In addition, Silk will travel to Melbourne this weekend to record its track on a compilation CD featuring songs from the finalists to be released on March 1. Thrilled with securing a position as a finalist, Joel, 18, said yesterday the band had heard about the competition through a friend and submitted a CD entry. He said the songs sent in were actually recorded in a wool shed on a practice CD. "We actually put in a draft CD, so the real CD should sound better. We meant to do a better one but we ran out of time," he said. Draft CD or not, the band impressed the judges so much that Joel said they may be in with a real chance to win. "I think we’ve got a pretty good chance, because we were told by Todd, the guy who was on the panel, that he only picked us and another band out of all the en-tries," he said. While both Joel and Alistair had been in bands together in the past, Joel said they decided to branch out and do something different with the help of Luke. "Me and Al were already in a band but Luke wasn’t, but he was such a good guitarist we thought why not," he said. Excited about the prospect of heading to Melbourne to record their track, Joel said there was also talk of silverchair’s Daniel Johns dropping into the studio to co-produce and offer advice on their recording. "We’re not sure about that yet, but it’s most likely what’s going to happen," he said. Although pleased with making the finals, Joel said the band was busy reading contracts and preparing to shoot their film clip, which was also part of a finalist prize. "It’s all sort of happened pretty quickly so there hasn’t really been time for it to sink in," he said.
HAMILTON-BASED alternative rockers Silk has blitzed a field of more than 1500 bands to secure place in the finals of a national competition for new talent. Silk, featuring cousins Joel Walkenhorst (five-string bass), Alistair Walkenhorst (drums) and Luke McLeod (seven-string guitar) formed four months ago. The band has been selected as one of 10 finalists from Australia and New Zealand in the Channel V Get a Leg Up competition. The competition aims to locate unsigned bands and offer them a chance to play at this year’s Off-shore Festival, as well as the opportunity to fly to New York to appear at the CMJ Music Marathon. In addition, Silk will travel to Melbourne this weekend to record its track on a compilation CD featuring songs from the finalists to be released on March 1. Thrilled with securing a position as a finalist, Joel, 18, said yesterday the band had heard about the competition through a friend and submitted a CD entry. He said the songs sent in were actually recorded in a wool shed on a practice CD. "We actually put in a draft CD, so the real CD should sound better. We meant to do a better one but we ran out of time," he said. Draft CD or not, the band impressed the judges so much that Joel said they may be in with a real chance to win. "I think we’ve got a pretty good chance, because we were told by Todd, the guy who was on the panel, that he only picked us and another band out of all the en-tries," he said. While both Joel and Alistair had been in bands together in the past, Joel said they decided to branch out and do something different with the help of Luke. "Me and Al were already in a band but Luke wasn’t, but he was such a good guitarist we thought why not," he said. Excited about the prospect of heading to Melbourne to record their track, Joel said there was also talk of silverchair’s Daniel Johns dropping into the studio to co-produce and offer advice on their recording. "We’re not sure about that yet, but it’s most likely what’s going to happen," he said. Although pleased with making the finals, Joel said the band was busy reading contracts and preparing to shoot their film clip, which was also part of a finalist prize. "It’s all sort of happened pretty quickly so there hasn’t really been time for it to sink in," he said.
Soak up this gig
Warrnambool Standard 22nd April 1999 - ©Copyright Warrnambool Standard 1999. All rights reserved
WARRNAMBOOL music fans are in for a treat tonight with Pre-Shrunk bass player and singer Davage promising an entertaining, captivating and sonically challenging performance at The Gallery Club. Billed by a Melbourne daily newspaper as the best band in town, these guys intend to put on not just a musical performance, but a show, and if that’s not enough to get your interest Davage has promised to show his nipples — if you ask nicely. “We are a band with a difference and at the same time we strive to give a good performance — we strive to give people their money’s worth,” he said. With sales of their latest single Triple A-Side going well around the country, these guys must be doing something right, but Davage attributes part of this success to the band’s philosophy of going where the fans are. This philosophy has taken them not only to the obvious places like Sydney and Adelaide, but to Tasmania and smaller regional centres. With this much touring under their collective belt, the trio was not at all phased by the distance. “A drive to Warrnambool for us is like a drive to the Seven 11 for some milk,” he said. With two bass players and a drummer, this three-piece offer a funk/dance/fusion sound instantly recognisable in Sound Pimp, one of the three singles released on Triple A-Side, which has received considerable air play on Triple J. “All three of us have got wide and varying influences and we all write equally and try to incorporate those influences,” Davage said of fellow band members Dave and Justin. Pre-Shrunk will be supported by The Monaros and Cherie Amore.
WARRNAMBOOL music fans are in for a treat tonight with Pre-Shrunk bass player and singer Davage promising an entertaining, captivating and sonically challenging performance at The Gallery Club. Billed by a Melbourne daily newspaper as the best band in town, these guys intend to put on not just a musical performance, but a show, and if that’s not enough to get your interest Davage has promised to show his nipples — if you ask nicely. “We are a band with a difference and at the same time we strive to give a good performance — we strive to give people their money’s worth,” he said. With sales of their latest single Triple A-Side going well around the country, these guys must be doing something right, but Davage attributes part of this success to the band’s philosophy of going where the fans are. This philosophy has taken them not only to the obvious places like Sydney and Adelaide, but to Tasmania and smaller regional centres. With this much touring under their collective belt, the trio was not at all phased by the distance. “A drive to Warrnambool for us is like a drive to the Seven 11 for some milk,” he said. With two bass players and a drummer, this three-piece offer a funk/dance/fusion sound instantly recognisable in Sound Pimp, one of the three singles released on Triple A-Side, which has received considerable air play on Triple J. “All three of us have got wide and varying influences and we all write equally and try to incorporate those influences,” Davage said of fellow band members Dave and Justin. Pre-Shrunk will be supported by The Monaros and Cherie Amore.
Seriously now
Depicted here performing at the Caledonian Hotel 23rd September 1990. The band features Matt Willis, Joe Bird, Nathan Wilson and Kathrine Fawcett.
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