Tuesday 28 September 2021

From the Archives - Harry Kay collection

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On 22nd April 2002 Bob Bolton scanned items in the collections of Harry Kay.

An envelope of oversized scans from his collection has survived, however there might have been other items in the collection. 

Program from the first production of Reedy River, 1953/54 with cast signatures, & article from A.M, February 16, 1954 and an article published in People,  February 16, 1954.

BMC members and friends mentioned in Sydney New Theatre's Wiki

From the Archives - 50th Anniversary, Golden Jubilee, 2004

50th Anniversary Reunion of The Bushwhackers, National Folk Festival 2002, part 1 - Concerts

50th Anniversary Reunion of The Bushwhackers, National Folk Festival 2002, part 2 - Reedy River

The Bushwhackers, June 1953-1957, a photographic record

1. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4


2. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4


3. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4 


4. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4, cast signatures


5. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4, cast signatures


6. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4


7. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4


8. Program from the first Sydney production of Reedy River, 1953/4


9. Article from A.M. February 16, 1954 


10. Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13


11. Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13

12. Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13


13.  Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13


14.  Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13


15 . Hunting Down the Wild Colonial Boy, People, January 11, 1956, pp.10-13



16. Australian Tradition Films payment to Harry for his role in
The Union Buries its Dead, £28.12.0, 11th October 1955.


17. ABC Weekly, April 9, 1955,
the Bushwhackers in Reedy River
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18. Rambling Around, article in TV Times,  July 29, 1961

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Saturday 25 September 2021

Restless Music - Australian Music since 1983

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Restless Music   Youtube 

Restless was started by Penny Davies & Roger Ilott back in 1983 in the backyard of a rented cottage in Balmain, NSW. After recording their first two LPs of their own work, Penny & Roger branched out and began recording compilation albums for folk performers in the Sydney area. These small runs of LPs (Workers In The Field - Volume 1 and 2, Under Southern Skies) were done as collective projects with everyone involved putting up money for the pressings and covers, and Penny & Roger doing the recording for free. They then recorded an LP Wilderness - Songs for Conservation and the Environment especially for the Wilderness Society.

JOHN BROOMHALL was an early convert to the Restless Studio - after recording his first album Broken Hill Miner elsewhere for his Tindola label, his following three albums were recorded at Restless in Balmain. The albums were Free As The Breeze (including the track Wild & Free/Song of the Trees - as heard on Australia All Over), Drifting Down The Darling and The Days When The Anzecs Were New. Some of these albums have since been reissued by the Illawarra Folk Club on CD.

PETER KEARNEY also recorded several albums at Restless for his Crossover label at the Balmain studios in the 1980's.

GARY SHEARSTON was the latest in a long line of artists spanning nearly 30 years of recording history at Restless. Gary recorded Best Of All Trades, Renegade and The Great Australian Groove at the Restless Studio for Undercover Music. These albums were followed by REVERENTLY, HILLS OF ASSISI and PATHWAYS OF A CELTIC LAND which were all released posthumously on the Restless label.

Just some of the people we've recorded at RESTLESS MUSIC 1983-2014

Penny Davies & Roger Ilott, Gary Shearston, Gordon Bok & Carol Rohl, Dave de Hugard, Bob & Margaret Fagan, Denis Kevans, John Dengate, Skewiff,
Spangled Drongoes, Bill Scott, Lee Williams, John Broomhall, Julie McGonigal, Margaret Walters, Wayne Gillespie, Harry Robertson, Richard Brooks,
Vincent P. Brophy, Gill Rees, Alan Scott, Chris Kempster, Peter Kearney, Jill Stevens, Jim Gregory, Sonia Bennett, Mark Davidson,
Lionel O'Keeffe, Sharon Doro, Murrumbidgee Whalers, Phil Hungerford, Jenny Shimmin, Teri Welles, Paul Best,
Rusty Dusty Bros, Sticky's Mob, Celtic Cowboys, John Warner, Phaedra, Kerrie Maguire
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BILL SCOTT
Growing up in the Queensland bush, Bill left school at 14, and at 18, joined the Navy, where he served during World War II on the Bungaree, a mine layer. He transferred to Fairmiles, serving in the Pacific and New Guinea.

Following his discharge from the Navy, Bill subsequently worked as a canecutter, seaman, steam engine driver and miner. He became a bookseller, editor and publisher with Jacaranda Press, before devoting his time to writing at age 54.

In the 1950's, with Stan Arthur & Gary Tooth, Bill formed the Moreton Bay Bushwhackers. As a founding member of the Queensland Folk Federation, he was instrumental in setting up the Folk Centre in Brisbane.

Bill Scott was awarded an O.A.M. in 1992 for his services to folklore and Australian literature.

"Bill is without a doubt one of Australia's most important folklorists, collectors and writers. His longstanding commitment to collecting, performing and publishing Australian folklore is unparalleled in Australia and abroad." SUSAN FAINE Victorian Folklife Association

BILL SCOTT ON YOUTUBE!
Interviewed by Penny Davies 1986    Artist Biography - Bill Scott

Hey Rain - The songs and stories of Bill Scott a unique Australian Documentary as seen on ABC TV

THE VAULT - RESTLESS MUSIC's collection of past recordings - interviews conducted for radio programmes in the 1980's etc.
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Friday 24 September 2021

From the Archives - Margaret Walters collection

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In 1976 my husband had a sabbatical year at the University of Sussex and, with three or four weekly folk clubs not far from where we lived in Brighton, I became thoroughly enamoured of traditional English folk song. On our return I determined to discover what opportunities were available in Sydney and I became involved with the Folk Federation of NSW. I found out about the Bush Music Club from the redoubtable captain, Bob Bolton at some Folk Fed event in the Domain during one Festival of Sydney. Until this time, my interest in singing was pretty much confined to traditional English songs. However, singers like Declan Affley, Dave de Hugard and Trevor Shearston opened the world of Australian folk song and Bob Bolton drew my attention to The Penguin Book of Australian Folk Songs, Singabout and the Joy Durst Song Book. At the same time, I met Jan and Allan Thomas from Mount Colah who were part of the founding group of the Mount Ku-Ring-Gai Folk Club which later became the Hornsby-Kur-Ring-Gai Folk Club and I was involved as an organiser with that club for 15 years.

Having two young kids, it was difficult for me to get to the Beer and Cheese Nights that were then held in Concord, but later when the BMC theme nights moved to Tritton Hall, I became involved in running those “Folkus” nights every month for about 6 years. I would select a topic, choose an artist/s to do about 30 minutes on the theme and plough through my songbooks seeking out as many relevant songs I could find. It was a wonderful way to learn a lot of material. I remember a night of songs of coal with Bob and Margaret Fagan.

I was on the BMC committee for a time. Although they are a key part of the BMC’s activities, dancing and playing instruments were never my focus, so my support for the organisation has been as an organiser and singer contributing to theme nights which later evolved as the monthly Duke's nights run by the devoted Sandra Nixon. In the last decade I’ve enjoyed the Bush Traditions weekends held at Goulburn and Yass.

I have fond memories of the Bush Music Festivals held in the grounds at Marrickville's Addison Road Community Centre in the 1980s and performances in a duo with Margaret Bradford featuring the songs of colonial women in Australia. Other memorable occasions at the BMC were singing the songs of Henry Lawson and peace songs with Chris Kempster and in the decade from 1993-2003 singing with John Warner, one of the finest composers of songs about the Australian environment and its social history.

Photos of the EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) © Bob Bolton. EFBSS changed their name to Roaring Forties in 1988.

Other photographers unknown. 


1. Bush Music Festival 1982, Children's activities with Bob Brain, Margaret Walters sitting at left. Jacko Kevans on concertina. Declan Affley standing at back


2. Martin Pearson & John Thompson, National Folk Festival Session Bar, unknown date.  Martin's comment, Sept 21 - Thanks for that lovely photo (what was I doing drinking VB??) 


3. Musicians behind Hut 44, Bush Music Festival? Pete McMahon with guitar.
Jennie Richards  remembers knitting her blue/green/teal/peacock colour jumper sometime in the mid-1980s, (email 4th Dec, 2021)


4. Musicians behind Hut 44, Bush Music Festival? Pete McMahon with guitar.
Margaret Bradford? in white hat (Jennie Richards, email 4th Dec 21) 


5. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) Margaret & Robert Walters

6. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Len Neary, Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Robin Connaughton

7. Margaret Walters @ Hut 44, perhaps at a Folkus night

8. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers)- Robin Connaughton, Dave Alexander, Len Neary


9. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Robin Connaughton, Dave Alexander, Len Neary


10.  EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers)- Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


11. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


12. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Margaret Walters, Robin Connaughton, Dave Alexander, Len Neary


13. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Margaret Walters, Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaghton, Len Neary


14. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers)- Margaret Walters, Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


15. REFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Len Neary, Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Robin Connaughton,


16. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Len Neary, Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Robin Connaughton,


17. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Margaret Walters, Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


18. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Len Neary, Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Robin Connaughton,


19. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers)- Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


20. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Dave Alexander, Margaret Walters, Len Neary, Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Robin Connaughton,


21. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Robin Connaughton, Dave Alexander, Len Neary


22. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Len Neary, Robert Walters, Margaret Walters, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaughton, Brian Grayson


23. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Brian Grayson, Robert Walters, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaughton, Margaret Walters, Len Neary


24. Bush Music Festival, Allan Phillips from Wollongong


25. Bush Music Festival, Allan Phillips from Wollongong


26. Leaflet from 1986 Newcastle Folk Festival, used to wrap EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) photos, perhaps an indicator of the date they were taken - or perhaps the nearest piece of scrap paper ...


27. EFBSS (Ensemble of Fat Bearded Shanty Singers) - Margaret Walters, Robert Walters, Brian Grayson, Dave Alexander, Robin Connaughton, Len Neary


28. Bush Music Festival - Whistle Sing and String.a short-lived trio with Margaret Walters, Mark Tainsh and Robert Walters

Described by the Bush Music Club's former archivist Bob Bolton as "a consummate singer of good songs of all pedigrees and persuasions", Margaret is an exponent of unaccompanied song and is well regarded both in Australia and the UK. She has been involved in the Australian folk scene for over four decades as a soloist, a collaborator with songwriter John Warner, a member of 40 Degrees South (formerly The Roaring Forties), and in various other combinations from time to time. As well as singing, Margaret has been a constant source of energy around Sydney, facilitating, organising, hosting, guiding, publicising, sharing, supporting in a hundred ways both local and international artists. She has 3 solo recordings and several with John Warner and the Roaring Forties. margwalterssteadfast.wordpress.com

Thursday 16 September 2021

Compilation - New Theatre and Reedy River - 1953/4 onwards

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In 1953 Sydney New Theatre put on Reedy River, which had been premiered by Melbourne New Theatre in March 1953. The Sydney production closed on the 30th April, 1954 after a run of nine months. The cast then took the production to many suburban and regional centres. 
This production differed from the Melbourne production in having the Bushwhackers, a "bush band" on stage, rather than an orchestra off stage. 

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From the Archives - Reedy River 1988 - Mulga Wire no. 68, August 1988 - includes video of the production recorded by Wayne Richmond

Marie Armstrong - a tribute 2021, video recorded by Wayne Richmond  

Reedy River publications in our Library

Reedy River - TRIBUNE Wednesday May19th, 1954

Article in A.M. magazine, January 16, 1954.

Newspaper & magazine clippings

Bob Bolton collection - Report on Reedy River @ NFF2002

My Old Black Billy - movie made by Maritime Union Australia in 1956 with vocals by Bushwhacker Cec Grivas

Reedy River @ the Henry Lawson Festival at Como, Sunday 9th July 2017

Review of Sydney production of Reedy River, Friday 26th February 1954, plus program & costume designs. (Sept 2015)

Website - Reason in Revolt - Source Documents of Australian Radicalism

The Bushwhackers (Some recollections - Chris Kempster, February 2002)

Memories of Reedy River & The Bush Music Club by Silvia Salisbury Talks from BMC's 2012 National Folk Festival Themed Workshop on BMC's First 10 years. (June 2012)





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