Bruce Watson's IMMORTAL - Remembering & celebrating the people who have made a significant contribution to Australia’s folk scene

Click images for larger size.

Immortal focuses on those who died from the year of the first National Folk Festival (1967) to March 2025, when the video was completed.

The video runs for 56 minutes, celebrating 76 individuals — and acknowledging a further 168. Using photographs, video and audio recordings, it captures the essence of these individuals, their lives and their creative cultural contribution. While the focus is on performers, singers and musicians, it does not ignore significant people in spoken word, dance and collecting. It includes broad representation from across Australia. The list below enumerate those featured in the video.

After 15 months and hundreds of hours of work, I am proud to announce that the ‘Immortal’ video is now completed and available to view!

‘Immortal’ remembers and celebrates the extraordinarily talented people who have made a significant contribution to Australia’s folk scene over the decades – but who are no longer with us. People who have played a key role in expressing, and defining Australia’s changing cultural identity, and who have left a lasting legacy through their music, inspiration, knowledge and passion; performers, songwriters, collectors and inspirers.

Photos, video and audio capture their lives and their creative cultural contribution, providing an opportunity for remembering, and giving inspiration to the next generation.

Some early reactions:

• BRILLIANT! A cultural treasure of incalculable value.  I am moved almost beyond words.  (Phil Lobl)
• Wow! What a wonderful video!  Brilliant photos, brought back some great memories.  (Martyn Wyndham-Read)
• An amazing project!  What an emotional journey! How lucky are the present generation to have this wonderful tribute.  (Kate Delaney)

Some of you may have seen earlier drafts of the video, which I have screened at three folk festivals in recent months, accompanied by panel exploring issues of change and continuity within the folk scene and Australian culture, and by feedback which has been incorporated into the final version.

Thanks to the Troubadour Foundation for supporting this project with a grant.

I’d love you to have a look, click Like, and comment on the video. And please share it with anyone you know who might be interested in it.

Apologies for any cross postings.

To watch the video, go to this website: https://sites.google.com/view/immortalfolk

Best wishes

Bruce

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Bruce's website: www.brucewatsonmusic.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brucewatsonmusic 

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IMMORTALS by Phyl Lobl who was inspired by Bruce's project 

Posted with Phyl's permission 

With shared awareness of reality using heart, humour and feality,
In strong opposition to any cruelty ‘Immortals’ crafted ‘portals of the truth’.

From multiple renditions, come various editions
with nutrition for traditions, from writers who are now, quite ‘lengthy in the tooth.’

But with a large capacity for truth telling and veracity
And strong aversion to voracity and with taste that fits with couth,

From word of mouth, or from a book, facts of living life they took
with skill akin to that of careful sleuth.

Not in school or college courses or from written down resources
But from community that enforces there’s a guiding light for Youth

I hope that many come to know and give extension to the flow
Akin to adding strings to bow that become the living proof,

And be they short or be they long, of verse, story, joke or song,
That could help an assembled throng to raise the roof.

Re the work of Mr Watson, all his i’s they had their dots on
Worthy to cast lots on and, as they used to say, ’Forsooth’.

For his t’s were cross intact, his work was based on fact
Lived experience was backed by an Aussie word like ‘Strewth.

Folklorists in the making understand IF you want to join and lend a hand,
Be it solo or in a band, make your work couth.

And be it couth awkward or coarse name its author and/or the source
Don’t put the cart before the horse, give credit where i'ts due -eth

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The Immortals 

Alan Scott,  Alistair Hulett,  Archie Roach,  Bill Scott, Bob Bolton, Bob Michell, Brian Mooney, Caroline Bushby, Chris Kempster, Col Wilson (Blue), Colin Dryden, Danny Spooner, David O’Connor, Declan Affley, Denis Gibbons, Denis Kevans, Dennis O’Keeffe, Derek Moule, Don Henderson, Frank Povah, Frank Traynor, ‘Fritz’ Fitton, Gary Shearston, Glen Tomasetti, Gordon MacIntyre, Graham Squance, Harry Gardner, Harry McQueen, Harry Robertson, Helen McGeachin, Hugh McDonald, Ian Simpson, Jacko Kevans, Jenny Milne, Jim Smith, Joe Paolacci, John Dengate, John Manifold, John Meredith, John Munro, John Thompson, Judith Crossley, June Factor, June Nichols, Ken Ferguson, Lis Johnston, Louis McManus Jr, Lucy Stockdale, Marian Henderson, Michael Kennedy, Michael O'Rourke, Mick Flannagan, Norm O'Connor, Paul Lawler, Pete Thornton, Peter Auty, Peter Ellis, Peter Mann, Peter Parkhill, Rick E Vengeance, Ron Edwards, Ronnie Summers, Sally Sloane, Seaman Dan, Shirley Andrews, Shirley Jacobs, Simon McDonald, Stan Arthur, Stan Hastings, Tim Whelan, Tina Lawton, Tony Miles, Trevor Lucas, Val Hastings, Wendy Lowenstein, Zulya Kamalova

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Honourable mentions - 

Alan Forshaw, Alex Legge, Alistair ‘Digger’ Wilson, Angus Cameron, Arthur & Kathy Lumsden, Barbara Lisyak, Barry Collerson, Barry Halpin, Bernie Besasparis, Bernie “Thatch” Farrow, Bert Gibson , Bev Barnes, Bill Berry, Bill Wannan, Billy Moran, Bob Ballantine, Bob Elwell, Bob Maza, Bob Molloy, Bob Randall, Bob Rummery, Bob Stewart, Bobby Miller, Brad Tate, Brodrick Smith, Brian Loughlin, Chad Swaby, Charlie Batchelor, Chris Buch, Chris Duffy, Chris Nicholson, Chris Pemberton, Chris Sullivan, Chris Wendt, Christie Cooney, Col McJannett, Colin Petersfield, Con Klippel, Danny Holmes, Dave Alexander, Dave Weston, Dermott Ryder, Dougie Young, Duke Tritton, Dutch Tilders, Eddie Scott, Edie and Paddy Dawson, Eileen McCoy, Eric Bolton, Ev Whiteaker, Ewan MacKenzie, Frank Daniel, Frank Nickels, Frank Pitt, Geoff Adeney, Geoff Welham, Geoff Wills,  Georg ‘Smokey’ Schmolke, Geri Lobl, Gibb Todd, Glenys Johnston, Greg Hildebrand, Hans Poulsen, Hugh Anderson, Hugh McEwan, Humphry Tranter, Iain Campbell, Ian Ball, Ian Clark,  Ian Drynan, Ivan Milligan, Ian Turner, Jamie Johnston, Janette Geri, Jess & Duncan Dunnadge, Jim Buchanan, Jim Irvine, Jim MacQuarrie, Jimmy Gregory,  Jimmy Little,  Joan Martin, Joe Yates, John Dvorjak, John Francis, John Goward, John Graham, John Holmberg, John Lewis, John O’Leary, Joy Durst, Julie Wong,  Kate Townsend, Ken Evans, Ken Mackay, Ken McMaster, Kim Sanders, Len Neary, Lenore Somers, Leonard Teale, Les Dow, Lionel O’Keefe, Lola Wright, Louis McManus Sn,  Maite Swallow, Malcolm J Turnbull, Manduwuy Yunupingu,  Margaret Kitamura, Margaret Walker, Mark "Blossom" Brown, Mark Gillett, MaryJean Officer, Melanie Shanahan, Michael Harris,  Mike Ball, Mike Eves, Mike Heaney, Mike Silverwood, Morag McGrath, Neil Holt, Nell Challingsworth, Neville Simpson, Noel Raines, Norm Merrigan, Paddy Connolly, Paddy Fitzgerald, Pamela Gallagher, Pat Do’ole, Patricia Cook, Paul Marks, Paul Prestbury, Peter Mann, Peter O’Shaughnessy, Phil Brown, Phil Day, Phil Wilson, Rab Mitchell, Randall Percy, Ray Downes., Reg Murray, Rhys Owen, Richard Brooks, Richard Evans, Richard Keam, Richard Magoffin, Rita Mills, Rob Charlton, Roddy Read, Rowan Webb, Roy Abbott, Ruby Hunter, Rudy Brandsma, Russel Ward, Saeed De Ridder, Sean Byrne, Shirley Friend, Simon Melia, Simon Nield, Slim Dusty, Stan Treacy, Sue Ross, Ted Simpson, Theo Bosch, Tom & Veronica Lazar, Tom Walsh, Tony Lavin

Alan Scott - Bushwhacker, founder member of BMC

 

Newstead Folk Festival audience at live screening of video © Bruce Watson

Newstead Folk Festival panel © Bruce Watson
L-R: Roger Montgomery, Mike Martin, Marilla Homes, Keith McKenry, Bruce Watson

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