On June 1 & 2 we’re launching our ‘Frank the Poet’ compilation album at the Wheatsheaf Hotel. Over two nights we’re inviting 16 artists to hit the stage and play the songs that feature on the album. For the occasion we’ve assembled a ragged bunch of musicians to provide backing for all of the solo artists. Not just any bunch of musos but four of the finest – most in-demand artists – going ’round at the moment.
The Beastly Treated will be playing for two nights only and will provide backing to the likes of Cal Williams Jr, Nick Kipridis, Sean McMahon (Melb), Jimmy Dowling (NSW), Max Savage, Tom West, Snooks La Vie and a whole stack more. It will be well worth the $20 just to come and see these guys play. Get Tix here
MATT WALKER needs no introduction. He’s an ARIA award winning songwriter and musician based in Melbourne. He’s widely regarded as one of Australia’s truly original roots guitarists and vocalists. He’s collaborated/played with everybody from Broderick Smith to Kim Salmon to Mia Dyson to Ashley Davies and is currently wielding his axe in Tex Perkins’ ‘Band of Gold’.
Four songs on the album were recorded in Matt’s 8 Track Shack, including his own haunting rendition of ‘Bold Jack Donohoe’
CHRIS PARKINSON is one of Austrlaia’s truely gifted roots guitarists. The tone and atmosphere that he can lull from his trusty danelectro guitar is instantly recognisable and is gaining a reputation across the nation. He’s played with some of the best, including a long stint as side man to the late-great Jimmy Little. Alongside Robyn Chalken in The Yearlings, he has recorded a haunting version of Moreton Bay on the album. A true gem on Adelaide’s scene.
HEATH CULLEN hails from Candelo, NSW (where the fuck is that?). But don’t let his small town origins fool you. Over the past decade, Heath Cullen has established a career as one of this country’s most promising and adventurous young accompanists – His driving guitar and ethereal lapsteel parts grace the records of some of Australia’s finest indie artists. Heath joined with his band ‘The 45s’ to release the critically accliamed ‘A storm was coming but I didn’t feel nothin’ and is currently planning to hit the studio in the US with legendary Jim Keltner, Marc Ribot and Larry ‘The Mole’ Taylor.
BJ BARKER is a fine and sensitive drummer. Don’t let the goatee and iron maiden t-shirts give you the wrong impression. Beej is an in-demand drummer in the roots music community and plays with the likes of Kasey Chambers, The Huckleberry Swedes, The Yearlings, The Baker Suite and, I’m sure, many more.
