Bush Balladeer
Australian Bush Poet and Balladeer
16
top 50
41
songs
18.8K
plays
Grandad's Crusty Damper
A tribute to all the memories we shared with our Grandfathers.
Show all (41)
Albums
Hard Hat Heroes
Show all videos (6)
The particular style of music I enjoy playing is The Australian Bush Ballad pick and strum style championed by Slim Dusty and Stan Coster. The ballad style of lyrics shares the culture and the characters of my country. I am a member of the Australian Bush Balladeers. http://bushballadeers.com.au/bushpoet.htm
I am also a bush Poet and a member of The Australian Bush Poets Association who define bush poetry as rhyming verse with regular metre and true rhyme about Australia, its people, places, things and way of life.
http://www.abpa.org.au/Band/artist history
Impressed by the stories told to me, along with the experiences I had with my wife's dad, I began trying my hand at writing bush poetry. My first book of bush poetry was called 'Tales of Uncle Jim', which was well received.
I have been fortunate over the years to be able to perform and win numerous awards for my performance bush poetry at such places as the Mapleton Yarn Festival, Poets on the Downs, Jondaryan Country Music Rush, The Winton Waltzing Matilda Bush Poetry Championships, The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, The Bundy Mobs Bush Poets Muster, Central Queensland Bush Poetry Championships, The Surat Battered Bugle, The Gympie Muster, Camooweal's Drovers Yesteryear Festival, Harvey Bay Whale Festival, North Pines Camp Oven Festival, Glengallon Bush Poetry Festival, Imperial Hotel Bush Poetry Competition, Tenterfield Oracles of the Bush, Bard of the Outback and the Australian Bush Poetry Championships at Yarrawonga-Mulwala.
In 2005 I tried my hand at song writing and entered The Lyrics Only section of the Katherine Country Music Muster's Northern Territory Song Writing Competition and was nominated as one of the five finalists. On the Saturday night of the Muster, Balladeer Keith Jamieson announced that I had won the section with my song 'Chasing Buttons.'
Then in 2006 I thought I'd enter the TSA Awards at Tamworth and received three out of the five nominations in the Lyrics Only Section of their National Song Writing Contest and on Wednesday night of the Awards, Tania Kernaghan announced the finalists and then singer/songwriter Tom McIvor opened the envelope and announced that I won with 'The Maintop Balladeer.'
Also in 2006 I again tried my hand at The Lyrics Only section of the Katherine Country Music Muster's Northern Territory Song Writing Competition and was nominated as one of the five finalists. Keith Jamieson again announced that I had won the section with my song 'Granddad's Crusty Damper.'
Later in the year I received three finalist nominations in the Lyrics Only Section of the S.E. Queensland Branche's Song Writing Awards and took out second place with "I Wish I Were a Crocodile" and third place with "Son Play Another Coster Song". In August I released a new EP/CD "From Bard to Balladeer" with seven of my own compositions.
In 2007 I thought I'd again enter the TSA Awards at Tamworth and received four out of the six nominations in the Lyrics Only Section of their National Song Writing Contest and won with "I Wish I Were a Crocodile."
In 2008 I again entered the TSA Awards at Tamworth and received two out of the six nominations in the Lyrics Only Section of their National Song Writing Contest.Have you performed in front of an audience?Yes. At various festivals and bush ballad musters. I enjoy sharing the story format of the songs and poems. I've been fortunate enough to pick up nine out of the seventeen nominations and won back to back the Lyrics Only section of the Tamworth Songwriter's National Country Music Song Writing Award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and have been six time finalists in The Australian Bush Laureate Awards for my bush poetry books and CDs.
Your musical influences
Slim Dusty
Stan CosterWhat equipment do you use?
Albums recorded at Buddy Thomson's Outback Studios.
I use an Ashton sound system for performances and an Takamine guitar.Anything else?
I am a member of the Australian Bush Poet's Association and the Australian Bush Balladeers [ABBA]. I also write a column for the Country Roundup magazineREAD MORE
READ LESS
Contact
Please sign up or log in to contact the artist.
Sign up
Log in
Comments (9)
Hi Marv I seem to come and go here at Soundciick as my
life dictates ..I guess that is the way it is in life..
But I do find the time to do some writing abd visit my friends here when I can..Hope 2013 will be a good year for you..I really enjoy coming by and listeing to your music
"I Never cried for Elvis is one of my favorites !! Addding to my station...Take care
Vonee
I found your post in the country forum and came to listen to your music.. Soem good music here..Love Nothing short of Magic..
Best Wishes
Vonee
I have a mate who writes like this and he does pretty well...I often listen to this music and wish I could tell stories like this....its a great art you have.
this is great merv, enjoyed listening, makes a nice change to hear some poetry on sc.
Love
Hayley
Hi Merv,
I've really enjoyed listening to you, you have some great songs here.
Leaving you some ratings and wishing you much success with your music.
Love
Hayley
Promoted
Not related to artist