Description
Bush Bands originated in the outback of Australia many years ago, and played a variety of homemade instruments such as lagerphone, tea-chest bass and concertina, pounding out songs and dancing music about the life of the pioneering days.
The Sundowners Bush Band recaptures that colonial spirit, and their songs convey a vision of the Australian character and attitudes with vivid pictures as relevant today as when tunes like these were first written and sung.
Cofounded in 1977 by Bushwackers founder Dave Isom and Mulga Bill’s Bicycle Band joint founder Peter McDonald from the Victorian Arts Council’s “ All Australian Pub Show” the Sundowners Bush Band has travelled the world playing a mixture of Australian bush songs,dance tunes,humorous bush stories and more recently original folk style compositions all blended into a rip roaring show
A real winner with adults and children alike, the band produces their own brand of music with original instruments, and they do it with such energy and devotion that audiences can’t help but be impressed.
The Sundowners have recorded six albums: COLONIAL CLASSICS, THE GREAT AUSSIE BUSH PARTY, THE C’MON AUSSIE SINGALONG, DANCIN’ UP A STORM, BUSH TRACKS and EARLY LIGHT.. The last three are collections of modern bush songs, plus some evergreens, and introduce the saxophone and didgeridoo to create a sound far removed from their previous recordings.
Mick Slocum, leader and singer, began his career with The Bushwackers Band and joined The Sundowners in 1980 after touring extensively in the United Kingdom and Europe. His deep love of Australian bush songs and stories combined with his dedication have made him one of the most original and sought after musicians in his field.
A bright future for the band is assured. Their many forays into South-East Asia have left audiences stamping for more, and a genuine bush dance featuring The Sundowners will give the whirling dancers a night to remember!
