THERROUX – SUNDAY 2nd MARCH
Long-standing folk/roots/country Canberra band Willie and the Correspondents are playing a sunset concert at Terroux, a garden property near Hall.
From 5pm – 7pm on Sunday 2 March 2025
Born from the community in the village of Hall 30 years ago, the band has played at the National Folk Festival, Cobargo, Kiama and Majors Creek Festivals, as well as numerous times at Smith Alternative and the iconic Tathra Pub. They have release three albums , including We’re Free We’re Rolling in 2023.
GUNDAROO – SUNDAY 23rd MARCH 2025
Tallagandra Hill, GunderooSunday 23 March 2025 at 4pm.
Be prepared for an upbeat session that will make you sing, laugh, cry and dance! No better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
Folk/Roots/Country band Willie and theCorrespondents delight audiences with their original songs covering the struggles and strength of country town people and Indigenous Australians, family ties, lost love, political posturing…
The Music
“WRITING ON THE WALL”
Most of the songs on its first album, “Writing on the Wall” were written between 2004 and 2010 by Hugh Watson and Matthew Herbert. There are a couple of old ones as well. In general Hugh writes the lyrics and Matthew the music then Matthew shows his multi-talented musicianship by playing many of the instruments. Stephen Webb brought his extraordinary drumming skills to several songs and Phillip Williams can be heard harmonising and playing blues harp in a couple too.
Their songs include ballads about Hugh and Matthew’s home town of Bega including “The Battler” about Jimmy Sharman’s boxing tent and “Jimmy’s not coming to school today” about the exploitation of Aboriginal kids in Bega in the 1950s and 60s. Another ballad tells the life of Hugh’s convict relative Hannah Railton, while “The Rain” relates the struggles of Australian famers in drought. “Dear Leader’s Country Band” is a funny song about Kim Jong-Il and his antics.
SONGS FROM “WRITING ON THE WALL”
“Wish I’d Known”
“The Battler”
“Jimmy’s not coming to school today”
“Writing on the Wall”
“TAKE YOUR CHANCES”
“Take your chances” album was launched to a full house at The Abbey in Canberra in August 2012.
SONGS FROM “TAKE YOUR CHANCES”
“Take your chances” – A great Matthew riff on the steel guitar during one of our legendary Tuesday nights produced this song.
“Better Days” – Matthew was inspired by the courage of two family members to overcome adversity to write this beautiful song.
“A thousand orphan hands” – Matthew visited an orphanage in Thailand in 2010 set up by a guy for orphans from the Tsunami. That visit inspired this song.
“Afghanistan” – A U.S general said in a radio interview “Well Pakistan’s
unstable and Afghanistan’s next door.” Some justification! This powerful song is Hugh and Matthew’sresponse.
“Kumbaya Girl” – (Words Hugh Watson, Music Matthew Herbert, 2010) Hugh was annoyed by politicians abusing the term “kumbaya” in negotiations after the 2010 election but thought this would put the term more in context.
“Songs of the Somme” – Inspired by a WWI diary from a relative and a visit to the Somme, Hugh drew on words from Villers Bretonneux gravestones to write this ballad and Matthew matched it with a moving tune.
Video
Our latest video released in 2020 “We’re Free, We’re Rollin”
And more of our recent videos …
PODCAST RELEASE
In August 2024 Dave Price from FANNING OUT interviewed Hugh Watson and Matthew Herbert from the Country, Folk, rock band Willie and The Correspondents. Willie and the Correspondents is a Country-Folk-Rock band full of intelligent and talented musicians who have been around the music game long enough to really how to tell a story.
CLICK PODCAST ICON TO LISTEN
