Down Far South
April 14, 2011 11:17 PM   Subscribe

I know that there is a big country scene in Australia, and I know some of the artists (Kasey Chambers, et. al) but I don't know the details really.

Is there a good book or a good blog or a list of artists or songs i need to hear now that explains country music in Australia and New Zealand? Both Alt and Chart.
posted by PinkMoose to Media & Arts (14 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Country music in Australia starts and ends with Slim Dusty.

One of my recent favourites of his is "Cunnamulla Feller", which I will now sing to you via the method of cutting and pasting slightly-butchered lyrics from the first place I found them:

"Now I'm a scrubber, runner and a breaker too
I live on damper and wallaby stew
I've got a big cattle dog with a staghound cross
I never saw the scrubber we couldn't toss
'Cause I'm the Feller from Cunnamulla
Yes I'm the Cunnamulla Feller

Now once when I was drovin' on the cattle trails
I met a little girl her name was Ada Vale
I said "Marry me Ada and I'll be the feller
And we'll settle down in Augathella"
I'll be the Feller at Augathella
Yes I'll be the Augathella Feller

Oh, she said her daddy's name was Charley Ville
She had a lot of kiddies and a lot of bills
So I grabbed my horse that was nice and handy

And I never stopped till I reached Dirranbandi
I was the dandy at Dirranbandi
Yes I was the Dirranbandi Dandy

Now in my moleskin trousers and my Williams boots
Aboard an outlaw as he leaves the chutes
In my goose neck spurs I rake their fiery hide
And the girls all shouting around the ringside
Oh he's the Feller from Cunnamulla
Yeah he's the Cunnamulla Feller

Now I've done a little fightin' in the western bars
Done a little lovin' neath the moon and stars
I wear bright clothes and shirts full of colour
And the girls know me as that certain feller
Yes he's the Feller from Cunnamulla
Yes he's the Cunnamulla Feller

Oh he's the Cunnamulla Feller
Yes he's the Cunnamulla Feller."
posted by tumid dahlia at 11:27 PM on April 14, 2011 [2 favorites]


Check out his partial discography. 106 albums in his lifetime, I just now learned. So basically Robert Pollard except better.
posted by tumid dahlia at 11:35 PM on April 14, 2011


There is a list of artists at the Tamworth Country Music Festival site.
posted by unliteral at 11:40 PM on April 14, 2011 [1 favorite]


Keith Urban is a Kiwi-born Australian. He's done pretty well for himself.
posted by Sys Rq at 12:01 AM on April 15, 2011


Tamworth Country Music Festival. Explore the artist names and you'll find alt, chart, newcomers, old-hands, and all in-between.

(Insert obligatory plug for our Mudgee-grown Jess Holland at the Starmaker Quest here.)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 1:02 AM on April 15, 2011


Wish I could point you to a blog... Maybe also check out Kev Carmody, Seaman Dan and Troy Cassar Daley. Oh, and Paul Kelly.
posted by t0astie at 1:46 AM on April 15, 2011


Oh, oh, OH! The Waifs. Maybe a bit more folksy than country, but damn, how can you not love this song?

Disclaimer: I am possibly the only living Australian who cannot abide Slim Dusty's music. I like my country music a little less, um, repetitive. But yes, I know all the words to A Pub With No Beer and A Redback On The Toilet Seat.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:39 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Know the Waifs, like them a lot. Know Urban of course. Only know one of the Slim Dusty songs.
posted by PinkMoose at 2:44 AM on April 15, 2011


I don't think you can go wrong with this list: http://www.country.com.au/cmaa-awards/winners-archive

Gina Jeffreys (sp?). The McClymonts. The Sunny Cowgirls. Adam Brand.

(And thank you for setting me off on a delightful Friday night exploration of our home-grown country music.)


Okay. Taking deep breaths. I'll stop posting now.

posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:47 AM on April 15, 2011


Kill Devil Hills before they lost Steve Gibson (the singer in the linked song).
posted by Ahab at 4:50 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]


Best answer: As a resource, Saturday Night Country on ABC Local might get you quite a way.
posted by Ahab at 5:04 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]


8 Ball Aitken
posted by carmicha at 3:20 PM on April 15, 2011


Best answer: Missy Higgins.
Graveyard Train are country mixed with psychobilly.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:29 PM on April 15, 2011


Best answer: If folkier acts like Paul Kelly count my mates Perry Keyes, Jason Walker and Emma Swift all do to

Check out Stuart Coupe's Laughing Outlaw Records for more alt-country
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:32 PM on April 15, 2011


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