The Bushwackers (band) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Bushwackers
The Bushwackers in 2010
Background information
Origin	Melbourne, Australia
Genres	Folk, Country music
Years active	1973-1984, 1993-
Labels	Astor, EMI
Members	Dobe Newton, Roger Corbett, Mark Oats, Clare O'Meara, Michael Vidale, Adrian Cannon

The Bushwackers Band, originally known as the Bushwackers and Bullockies Band, is an Australian music group. They play a mix of folk and country music. Folk music often tells stories about everyday life or history. Country music usually features guitars and tells stories about rural life.

The band first started playing in the early 1970s. They were active until 1984, then took a break. They got back together in 1993 and have been playing ever since! The group began as a small trio near Latrobe University in Melbourne. The first members were Dave Isom, Jan Wositzky, and Bert Kanahoff.

Their first album, The Shearer's Dream, came out in 1974. On this album, Dobe Newton played the lagerphone (a unique Australian instrument) and sang. Mick Slocum played the accordion, and Jan Wositzky played the harmonica and bush bass. Tony Hunt played the fiddle, and Dave Isom played the guitar.

The Bushwackers have made many recordings. Some of their albums include Faces in the Street, Beneath the Southern Cross, and Bushfire. They also released Murrumbidgee and The Shearers Dream. Some of these albums were released through an Australian record company called Astor Records. In 1976, they released And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda with EMI records. Many people think this is one of their best albums.

Many of their songs use words from poems by famous Australian bush poets, like Henry Lawson.

Meet the Band Members

Over the years, many talented musicians have played with The Bushwackers. Some of these include Andy Colville, Steve Groves, and Louis McManus.

In the 1990s, the band started playing again. Dobe Newton and Roger Corbett, who were original members, came back to the group.

The Band in 2000

In the year 2000, the band members were:

• Dobe Newton: He sang and played the lagerphone, bones, whistle, and bodhran.
• Roger Corbett: He sang, played bass guitar, wrote songs, and managed the band.
• Mark Oats: He played the fiddle.
• Justin Duggan: He played the drums.
• Tim Gaze: He sang, played guitars, wrote songs, and helped produce music.
• Pamela Drysdale: She sang, played piano accordion and guitar, and wrote songs and poems.

The Band in 2008

By 2008, the lineup changed a bit:

• Dobe Newton: Still singing and playing lagerphone percussion.
• Roger Corbett: Still singing and playing bass.
• Tony O’Neill: Played guitar.
• Ben Corbett: Played electric guitar.
• Mark Oats: Played fiddle.
• Clare O’Meara: Played fiddle and mandolin.
• Justin Duggan: Played drums.

The Band in 2010

In 2010, the band members were:

• Dobe Newton: Vocals, lagerphone, percussion, and whistle.
• Roger Corbett: Vocals and guitar.
• Mark Oats: Fiddle.
• Clare O'Meara: Fiddle and accordion.
• Michael Vidale: Bass.
• Adrian Cannon: Drums.

The Bushwackers' Albums

Here is a list of some of the albums The Bushwackers have released:

• The Shearers Dream (1974)
• And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (1976)
• Murrumbidgee (1977)
• Bushfire (1979)
• The Bushwackers Dance Album (1980)
• Beneath the Southern Cross (1981)
• Faces In The Street (1981)
• Down There For Dancing (1982)
• Warrigal Morning - music for the film Bush Christmas (1983)
• No Nuts 'Til Monday (2000)
• Handy (2003)
• April 25 (2006)
• Ned (2007)
• The Lawson Project (2008) - a spoken word recording