Description
“Simone and Craig perform original songs and instrumentals that cover a wide range of roots music styles including acoustic Blues, Ki Hoalu (Hawaiian slack key) along with Celtic and Country Music influences. Their original songs are often poignant and hard -hitting ballads that explore a variety of political and sensitive social topics. They use a wide variety of instruments including finger style acoustic and slide guitars, mandolin, bouzouki and flute. Craig and Simone are also known for their ability to get their audiences laughing and singing along. Together they are well known regulars on the festival circuit and have performed at many venues including the Woodford Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival and the Sydney Acoustic Guitar Festival.
they perform mostly poignant, hard-hitting original ballads and instrumentals dealing with a range of topics both serious and funny.
Simone and Craig have completed a live EP, Jenny’s Flowers and in 2001 were involved in composing, recording and producing a soundtrack for a play performed in Brisbane called The Pitchfork Disney. They are also included on the compilation CD Green Songs, the 2001 Sydney Folk Gala compilation CD and the Folk Alliance Australia 2000 compilation CD.
Their 2003 recording So Near Yet So Far was produced with assistance from artsACT and Angel Train Pty Ltd. Since then they have released a double CD of roots based music called Let Isabelle Out, Craig’s solo CD of guitar instrumentals called Tunes from the Rivers and their latest release “Where Cedars Grew.”
Review by Dieter Bajzek
“Recorded in the ACT, with help from ArtsACT, after the duo won the inaugural Angel Train Award at the NFF 2003. The recording presents 10 original songs by Craig and Simone, which deal with a number of social and human themes. The acoustic sound is instantly warm, gentle and pleasing, with backing provided by various combinations of guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, accordion, cello, bass and flute. Simone & Craig, share the writing and vocals, and some of the highlights are the opening song House on the Hill (about the demise of a country town), the quaint but lovely bluesy love song Nobody sees a Fish Cry, and a nice remake of It’s Gonna Rain.”
“Canberra’s Craig Dawson & Simon Olding have appeared individually or together on several albums and this latest outing from the talented duo is their best joint effort to date.
Review by Pete West.
The ten tracks on this contemporary folk album have that indefinable quality which is characteristic of the work of Craig & Simone so that the music is immediately recognisable as being theirs. They feature confident and tuneful singing and beautiful harmonies throughout. Simone has surely found her blues voice: check out her sensitive renditions of “Nobody Sees a Fish Cry” and the amazing “There May Be Times”, both written by her. All the compositions are their own and deal with a range of personal and social issues. Our favourite songs are their very moving “Jenny’s Flowers” and the opening track “House on the Hill” which is about as poignant an epitaph for a dying small country town as you will find anywhere in poetry or song.
Instrumentation on the album is excellent, with good work by Simone on flute and by Craig on acoustic guitar supported by the efforts of several other well known Canberra musicians. As well Craig plays a workmanlike folk harmonica and performs several outstanding slide guitar passages.
Produced by Angel Train’s Greg and Jac Carlin, the artwork on the album is stunning. This most satisfying and entertaining album deserves to be a commercial success.”
