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DOBE NEWTON - ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2006
The award was made to Dobe Newton in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Australian music and the Port Fairy Folk Festival.
Dobe Newton and The Bushwackers changed bush and folk music forever in Australia with countless great pub shows and dances. Through his political and commercial music work, Newton has had many influences in the Australian music industry over 30 years. Front man for the longest running band in Australia (c.1971), Newton has also been dubbed " the best lagerphone player in the world".
Bushwackers member, Jan ("yarn') Wositzky, said he would ask these questions if he was interviewing Newton.
• What was it like being on the ARIA judging panel?
• Whose idea was it to start Support Act Limited, an assistance fund for musos on hard times, for which you were founding director?
• When you were Contemporary Music Consultant to Paul Keating’s minister for the Arts, Hon Michael Lee, what did you advise him to do?
• How did it come about that you co-wrote the commercial anthem, ‘We Are Australian’?
• Speaking on behalf of Australian music at the Music West Festival in Vancouver, what did you say?
• Are the Bushwackers now a country or a folk band—what’s the difference—or are they simply an Australian band?
Newton has also been CEO of the Victorian Rock Foundation, taught many music industry courses, produced albums for other top artists and worn some of the most outrageous costumes in Australian music. Tea towels transformed into Sydney Opera House jackets! Kangaroo and gum tree scarves that became trousers! Where did they come from?!
Not many bands in the 70s were fronted by a man in a rage intent on smashing a big stick with bottle tops that sent chunks, chips and sparks flying while the floorboards were pounded. Small wonder Newton gathered a following!
35 years since they were formed, The Bushwackers, perform at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. The Artist of the Year award - for outstanding contributions to live music in Australia - will be presented at the Festival Opening concert at 10.15pm on Friday March 10th.
Previous artists of the year
1995 Danny Spooner
1996 John McCutcheon
1997 Judy Small
1998 Margret RoadKnight
1999 Eric Bogle
2000 Tiddas
2001 Rick E Vengeance
2002 Maddy Prior
2003 Bernard Carney
2004 Kavisha Mazzella
2005 Shane Howard
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Music Music
At the first dance Dec 1977
& the Band Played On!
Family Gatherings
First Festival 1977
Guitar Factory Theme at 2010
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