Program

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Program

SEE OUR FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM BELOW

or download a PDF version of our full event program here.

INTRODUCING OUR 2016 BUSH POETS

GARY FOGARTY

Gary Fogarty is one of the busiest performing Bush Poets in Australia, with the demand for his services as testament to the quality and popularity of his work.

Gary has performed regularly in every mainland state of Australia and twice internationally in Hollywood USA as a member of the Australian Performing Arts Team.

Supported by his wife Cindy, Gary now travels to all corners of Australia, entertaining people from all walks of life. Festivals, community concerts, corporate dinners, private parties, television and radio appearances ensure that life is never boring for this true blue country boy.

MURRAY HARTIN

If you haven’t heard the yarns “Turbulence”, “The Hog Whisperer” or the haunting “Rain From Nowhere” you probably haven’t heard of Murray Hartin.

But this bloke from Moree has been part of the festival/bush poetry/entertainment scene “for a long time”, including 13 years with his mad mates in The Naked Poets, and remains a favourite with audiences across Australia.

His rapid-fire, rhyming recitals, which can cover anything from the perils of yoga to the difference between oestrogen and testosterone, create vivid and often hilarious mental images that will stay with you forever.

MEL & SUSIE

Multi-award winning poets Mel and Susie are Australia’s top Bush Comedy Duo. Their unique storytelling combines lots of comedy, bush verse, a bit of singing and a heap of good old Queensland bull.

These two short sheilas travel Australia in their Japanese library bus with Book the cat performing their original verse, authentic anecdotes and stand-up comedy in a quick-witted larrikin style. Their love for this country and its people shines through as they engage, entertain and titillate audiences across the country and overseas at events as wide ranging as the Gympie Muster and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland

MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT

SARA STORER

Sara Storer is one of the Australian music industry’s most celebrated artists and is a multiple Golden Guitar award winner (14 in fact!). Growing up on a wheat farm in Victoria, she has been close to teh land in one way or another ever since so it’s no surprise that Sara’s crisp observations of the Australian landscape and its people provide the solid foundation stone for her music.

In 2016, Sara has released her latest album Silos to much acclaim. She will perform on Saturday night at ACOF playing songs from her latest and past albums.

JEFF BROWN Golden Guitar Winner

Since his early childhood, Jeff Brown has had a love for Australian Bush Ballad music, having grown up in a household where some of the great old pioneers of Australian and American country was the only music played.

With farming held close to his heart and personal involvement with the transport industry, Jeff relates to the songs that he sings and delivers them with confidence and sincerity. Jeff has stuck to the Bush Ballad music with a passion and his easy listening voice adds a fresh approach to them.

KEITH JAMIESON & ALISHA SMITH

Keith Jamieson is an award winning bush balladeer and prolific songwriter, having had his songs recorded by many artists. Keith was inducted into the hands of fame in Tamworth in 2005. Keith has been nominated for many awards over the years and has won several including the TSA salute awards, Bungendore bush ballad awards and tiara awards. He has been nominated in the final five of the CMAA golden guitar awards in Tamworth three times and was very excited to win the golden guitar for bush ballad of the year in 2014 for his song “I love Australia” which was recorded by Jeff Brown.

Alisha plays bush ballad lead guitar in a style similar to the late Barry Thornton who was the father of the bush ballad lead guitar and created the sound behind Slim Dusty in the early years. She started out on rhythm and bass guitar and was very fortunate to have Barry teach her a few licks and tricks before he passed away. Over the years Alisha has developed her own style but is keeping alive the bush ballad sound.