Description
Shelter is their brand new album recorded in 2025 with Syd Green (ex 19-Twenty and drummer for Kasey Chambers) at his Jervis Bay Studios. It contains 11 tracks ranging from fast-paced Bluegrass toe-tappers to slower ballads.
The title track, ‘Shelter’, is an upbeat bluegrass/gospel style number. This song is followed by ‘Stars’. which paints an image of getting away from it all to a little country hideaway and features Syd Green making a guest appearance on dobro.
‘Mickey Brennan’s Lament’ represents a change in pace, telling the tragic story of the 19-year-old miner who perished in the 1902 Mt Kembla mine explosion. ‘Murrumbidgee’ tells the story of brave Wiradjuri men Yarri and Jacky Jacky, who saved dozens of people in the 1852 Gundagai flood. ‘Emily Smith’ is about a man who was the sole survivor of a shipwreck off Kangaroo Island, South Australia, in 1877. It won the songwriting competition at the 2023 Fleurieu Folk Festival in South Australia.
‘Little White Dress’, penned by fiddle player Danita Harris, is a haunting waltz that tells of a ghostly encounter.
In contrast, the fun song, ‘Last Train from Central’, is about trying to make it onto the last South Coast train from Central after a big night out in Sydney. Another fun song, ‘Viking’, tells of how a musician’s lucky escape from a hostile crowd via the music of Elvis! ‘Come Out, Come Out’ is a classic bluegrass-style number about lost love and connection. The album also contains two upbeat instrumental numbers – ‘Tucker’s Farm’ and ‘Stranger Strings’ – that draw on the bluegrass instrumental tradition.
The Water Runners are an award-winning contemporary Australian folk band from Kiama and Gerringong on the South Coast of New South Wales (Dharawal Country). Known for their bluegrass-infused sound, strong songwriting, and engaging live shows, they craft music that celebrates Australian stories, people, and landscapes.
Awards & Recognition
The Water Runners have received widespread recognition for their songwriting and performances, including:
🏆 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Country Blues Award for “Viking” (2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival)
🏆 Capital Country Music Association National Songwriter of the Year for “Last Train from Central” (2026)
🏆 Australian Bush Balladeers Association – Music Excellence Award for their video “Shelter”, filmed at Jamberoo Pub and surrounds (2026)
🏆 Runners-Up, People’s Choice Award – Australian Folk Alliance / Folk Alliance Australia (2025)
🏆 Best Band & Runner-Up (Open Category) – Australian National Busking Championships, (2020)
Their song “Turn Down The Heat” was also selected by UNICEF to promote the State of the World’s Children Report, highlighting their impact beyond the stage.
Band Members & Story
John Littrich (guitar, vocals, harmonica) and Neil McCann (banjo, mandolin, backing vocals) have been writing and performing together for over 25 years. John has been playing music since forming his first band in Sydney at age 17, while Neil’s deep roots in traditional and bluegrass music include performing with Australian folk legends Wongawilli and being a founding member of the Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society of Australia. Along with their good friend Paul McGee, they’ve collected multiple top awards from the Australian Songwriters Association. A career highlight came when UNICEF selected their song “Turn Down The Heat” to promote the State of the World’s Children report.
Dom Littrich (Pacific Avenue / Big Twisty/ The Inspired Unemployed) played percussion and vocals on the band’s first three albums and now joins for rare special performances, bringing energy and humour to the live show.
Danita Harris joined in 2017 on violin and vocals. She has performed with folk and roots bands including Strung6teen, and has also played with the Garth Brooks Tribute Show. Her versatility, warm tone, and dynamic stage presence bring a distinctive voice and instrumental depth to The Water Runners’ sound.
Clayton Condon was the band’s talented young double bassist until mid-2019, when he left to join the Army. James Turk, Gerringong’s own double-bass legend, then stepped in, continuing the band’s dynamic live sound.
Albums
The Water Runners have released four albums:
Heading South (2017) – self-produced debut, establishing their signature storytelling sound
The Point of No Return (2019) – produced by John Kane (Flying Emus)
Further Down the Road (2021) – produced by Matt Fell (ABC’s The Recording Studio)
Shelter (2025) – produced by Syd Green (ex-19Twenty, now drummer with Kasey Chambers)
