Description
Roger Ilott said: I grew up beside the
railway line at
Hurlstone Park,
Sydney.
All through the 1950’s
along the railway line
at Hurlstone Park, ran
steam engines hauling
goods trains, When
we’d travel to ‘town’
on the red rattlers, I
loved going past
Eveleigh Loco, near
Erskineville, where the
steam locos sat puffing
away. Even on a sunny
day the air would be
black with soot.
After 60 years together, Australian folk musicians
PENNY DAVIES & ROGER ILOTT remain down-to-earth, hardworking, creative
professional musicians and songwriters. They got together in July, 1976, built their
own studio and record label and released their first album in 1983.
Since then they have released thirty albums of their own, and have produced
numerous albums for such performers as Gary Shearston, John Broomhall, Bill Scott,
Skewiff, Murrumbidgee Whalers, the Goodwills and many more. They have played
at countless folk clubs and folk festivals, toured for the Queensland Arts Council, and
have performed well over 1000 concerts, including the U.K. and U.S.A.
Their songs focus on Australia and the wider world. They sing songs of substance, songs of peace and
justice and struggle, plus descriptive songs of our country, and folk songs from around the world. Their
songs have been featured on seven of the ABC Australia All Over series of albums, and three of their songs
were highlights of the Australia All Over Top 100 Box Set.
“As we have travelled Along This Winding Way, crossing bridges and oceans – meeting singers, bards and
musicians, and other songwriters with a story to tell, we have also looked back to glimpse our origins.
Sometimes our childhood is a source of inspiration; the strong memories of small events that somehow help
define us. We are also driven by the desire to sing our history and to carry hope along with us, to stand up
for justice and for peace in a troubled world.” PENNY DAVIES, FEBRUARY, 2026
