South West Music Archive

Monday, June 21, 2021

Warrnambool music veteran Dick Barns celebrated on World Music Day 2021

Published in the Warrnambool Standard 21st June 2021

WHEN Dick Barns sets foot in the doors of Mercy Place, guitar in hand, he sees faces light up. The 73-year-old Warrnambool born and bred musician volunteers at the aged care home sharing his music with the residents. Barns first came to the home in 2018 when his cousin Shirley became a resident, and fell in love with the residents, the staff and the home. One of the residents said they used to travel each year to see Barns in concert. He plays the electric guitar and sings, mainly entertaining the crowd with country music. "These people, they set this country up, so why shouldn't we look after them as best we can?" he said. He was raised in Crawley Street by his single mother who taught him to sing and to whom he owes his lifelong passion for music. "She is the most wonderful person in the world." Barns' music career spans decades; taking off when he was a member of south-west band Nevada in the 70s and 80s. The release of Nevada's debut album 'Sneakin Around' was covered by The Standard in 1979. He carved his place in the Queensland music scene where he lived for over 20 years before returning home. "If you come from Warrnambool it never leaves your heart," he said. The glory days are far from over, with some of the original members of Nevada, including vocalist and bassist Peter Bird, in the process of recording a new album. "They are such a great bunch of musicians and we're still all great friends," Barns said. "We're in the process of making an album of 10 original songs, the passion for music is still there." Mercy Place celebrated Barns' work as a volunteer to mark World Music Day on June 21, 2021. "It's just a way of giving a little bit back to my town," he said. "I love seeing their eyes light up when they hear a song they know. "Music can be the greatest leveler in the world - it just fills you with joy. "It's my life."

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Shane Howard for Warrnambool Storytelling festival

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Tracks festival Timboon - Flynn Gurry, Gypsy Spelling

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

The Sisters singer follows her dreams - Grace Moloney

The Sisters singer follows her dreams - by Monique Patterson - published Moyne Gazette April 21st or 22nd 2021

Grace Moloney is delighted to be the recipient of a Moyne Shire Council scholarship.

A $2000 scholarship from Moyne Shire Council will help Grace Moloney cover some of the costs of living away from home. The Sisters resident, who is going to university to become a speech pathologist, is one of five recipients of an Academic Support scholarship. "Receiving this scholarship has encouraged me to further my interest in health services and not only help people improve their speech and quality of life, but also help those living in rural areas to access health care services," Ms Moloney said. "After a challenging final year at school, music was the thing that I kept coming back to for inspiration. "This scholarship will allow me to work on my music and grow my audience in Melbourne whilst furthering my studies in speech pathology at Victoria University." She said the money would also help with the costs of text books and household expenses. Ms Moloney said she wanted to help people who have complications with their speech and swallowing. She is also a singer, who has had a number of gigs throughout the shire. "I started singing in about year four and my love for singing has grown ever since," she said. Ms Moloney completed VCE at Mercy Regional College in Camperdown last year. She said it had been challenging completing study during the coronavirus pandemic. "There were a few difficult times trying to balance the two but I was lucky enough to be doing the VET music course at Emmanuel College in Warrnambool that I ended up scoring a 50 in so I could concentrate on my music while school was still occuring," she said. Moyne Shire mayor Daniel Meade said the scholarships provided financial support to rural students as they begin tertiary studies. "Council's Academic Support Scholarships have been running for 23 years now, assisting students from within the shire to pursue their academic goals," Cr Meade said. "To many students, these scholarships can make a huge difference, breaking down some of the barriers to accessing further education and allowing them to focus on their studies."

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Red Tent Singers celebrate 20-year milestone

Warrnambool Standard March 8th 2021

The 20th anniversary of the Red Tent Singers was held on Monday. It was fitting the milestone was marked on International Women's Day, which was the impetus for the group's formation two decades ago. Group member Gail Lowen said about 35 members attended the celebration in Warrnambool. mShe said it was a huge success. "It was a fabulous morning," she said. Members marked the occasion by singing a number of songs and enjoying a specially made cake. The group hopes to hold a bigger and better event in 2022 to celebrate its 21st birthday.Penny Arnold and Claire Drylie helped organise the event at The Pavilion.

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Former Warrnambool songwriter wins national award

Published in The Warrnambool Standard March 1st 2021

Former Warrnambool songwriter, entertainer and ventriloquist Eric Read's latest comedy songwriting efforts have been recognised with a national award. Read won Capital Country Music Association's 2021 national lyricist of the year award for his comedy song Downsizing, which came to fruition during the COVID lockdown of March/April 2020. While the idea for the song came from stories from a few mates who had downsized their homes, it was written in an airport departure lounge last February and recorded during the lockdown. Six of Read's songs, including Granny's Grave, are in the finals of the Australian Songwriters Association 2021 awards, along with Proud to be an Anzac (The Ballad of Billy Torrance), written by his wife Jacinta, a former Standard journalist. The association awards are to be announced in March. Read has four comedy songs in the association comedy section final and the remainder in the Australia section. Downsizing was also in the finals of the Tamworth Songwriters Association's 2021 awards for the new songwriters of the year section. The song has also now reached the semi-finals of the comedy/novelty section of the International Songwriting Competition for 2020 - an international contest based in Nashville which attracts 26,000 entries. The Generation, a tribute to his late father John Read, was also recognised in the Tamworth association finals. Read won the Tamworth Songwriters' Association comedy novelty song of the year for 2020 with Wouldn't Be Dead for Quids, from his second album The Original Eric Read released in 2019. The album is the culmination of many decades of songwriting for the now Sunshine Coast-based entertainer- with comedy songs and ballads featuring on this latest album. The album is aptly named as nine of the 14 songs on the album are originals that Read has written and performed over the years. "There's ballads about family and friends and real life and, as a lifetime lover of humour and the ability to see the funny side of most situations, many of my new songs are just that," he said. A long-time rhythm section musician and entertainer with a background in several semi pro bands over the years, Read has more recently embraced a new focus as a solo performer with the added art of his love of ventriloquism. "Encouragement has given me confidence and it goes to show that we can achieve great things at any stage in our lives," he said. Eric Read's Variety Shows, incorporating classics, comedy and ventriloquism, are attracting a growing clientele across south-east Queensland, northern New South Wales and north to Bundaberg.