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Arnie’s Barn, Strzelecki Stringbusters

When it comes to playing Bluegrass and Ol’ Time music, the boys from the Strzelecki Stringbusters have the numbers, and with this, their third CD in as many years, they are certainly gaining the numbers in CD production too.

‘Arnie’s Barn‘ follows on from their highly successful album, ‘Scrubby Forest Run‘ which was launched in 2009. Their first CD ‘Somethin’ To Crow About‘ was released in 2008.

This latest offering is named after one of their fiddler players, Arnie Young. The CD was recorded in the loft above his barn at his home in Yinnar in rural Victoria. Arnie is one of Yinnar’s more modest and kindly gentlemen.

The CD contains 20 tracks, ranging from traditional Old Time country tunes and Gospel songs, to straight-up Bluegrass featuring the Big Stringbuster Sound.

The Yinnar Hotel has grown in popularity over the past 18 months. It has become the place to see acoustic music in Gippsland as the Stringbusters have encouraged a variety of  local acts  to share the stage during the evening. In addition to the growth in local acts , the hotel has played host to a variety of international acts, the latest being Canadian bluegrass band Hungry Hill in November 2009. Hungry Hill stopped by the region for a few days and took advantage of the Stringbuster’s southern hospitality and gave presented one of the best bluegrass performances the town has seen.

The USA’s Whitetop Mountaineers were another international act to visit the region to play the Yinnar Hotel. This band plans a return visit on 31st March this year and will once again present their original old-time Virginian mountain music.

Always keen to present a range of local, national and international acts, the Stringbuster’s regular gig, the last Wednesday of the month at the Yinnar Hotel, will continue to provide great entertainment this year.

The Stringbusters invite you all down to the local in Yinnar to see the boys launch their new CD, Arnie’s Barn on Wednesday 24th February, and be sure to book your meal.

Contact  the Stringbusters through Gary White on ph 0427 631 217 or email to The Stringbusters for details.

CD Release Strzelecki Stringbusters, Yinnar

Arnie’s Barn – Strzelecki Stringbusters

News from Gippsland’s Strzelecki Stringbusters is that they have just spent the past weekend recording tracks for their new CD. This project follow their 2008 album, the highly successful, Scrubby Forest Run. Prior to this they released their 2007 debut album Somethin’ To Crow About.

The recording sessions took place in a loft, over the barn owned by Stringbuster fiddle player Arnie Young. Arnie owns a farm in the  flats of the rural town of Yinnar. The sessions were punctuated by random gunfire at pesky wildlife,  turkey gobbling and a huge BBQ that kept the boys well fueled.

Band leader, Ray Negro, was the only casualty from the weekend with a broken tooth after biting into a tic-tac which showed a sure sign of approaching old age.

The tracks compiled for this CD includes new tunes learned during the year, a few old favourites which were given the once-over and also features country music stalwarts Neville and Aileen Boothman, both in their 70’s. Local banjophinist Greg McGrath also joined the Busters on several tunes. All added their own flavours to the rich Strzelecki Stringbuster tapestry - John Werner, Stringbuster

The Strzelecki Stringbusters were formed in 2004 and are continuing to gain notoriety as a highly entertaining 13 piece String Band across Victoria. The busters are scheduled to appear at the 2010 Beechworth Festival  and recently performing at Melbourne’s regular Pickin’ at the Piggery.

The Stringbuster’s latest album Arnies Barn will be released in early December. For those wanting to order your copy early, contact Gary White on ph: 0427 631 217 or email the Stringbuster’s publicity agent  Gary White.

Bluegrass News Strzelecki Stringbusters, Yinnar

The Strzelecki Stringbusters are set to play a feature spot at this Saturday night’s Picking at The Piggery,  held in Melbourne’s Footscray Arts Centtre in Moreland Street, Footscray.

The Stringbusters, more of an aging male support group than a band, feature some 14 musicians – on a good day – and are a highly entertaining troupe, featuring tongue-in-cheek humour who play an array of bluegrass instruments and music and above all have a driving passion for the traditional music of the Appalachian Mountains.

Artists, Events Strzelecki Stringbusters

The 14 piece bluegrass ensemble the Strzeckeli Stringbusters play a regular gig at the Yinnar Hotel on the last Wednesday of the month. This month they have invited Steve Messer’s Strange Country to join them.

The 27th May will see a the Stringbusters from 8:15pm and Strange Country from 9:15pm. What transforms from there is anybody’s guess.

Artists, Events Strzelecki Stringbusters

Victoria is famous for several things, including Ned Kelly, some reasonably famous vineyards and some rather spectacular coastline. There may well be others however, one thing that has not made the national registrar of things to see just yet is the Strzelecki Stringbusters, a fourteen piece bluegrass band. Fortunately for those in the south, this band is still is available to play for important events like the upcoming Family Fun Day at Gippsland’s Lardner Park.

Family Fun Day is scheduled for 26th April and features a range of entertainment for young and old, along with a host of local bands including the Strzelecki Stinngbusters and Steve Messer’s Strange Country.

The day starts at 12noon and scheduled to wind up at 5:30pm. Entry is by donationan and all proceeds go to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund to aid the recent Victorian Bushfire victims.

Artists Strzelecki Stringbusters

From the valleys and hollows of the surrounding fire ravaged mountains come the 14 piece Strzelecki StringBusters, Gippsland’s finest string-band ensemble, who will be performing tunes from their new CD ‘Scrubby Forest Run‘ at the Boolarra Folk Festival on March 7th.

After a hard day toiling away on the land, fighting fires, clearing trees and mending fences, these boys love nothing more than heading back to their little cabin on the hill, pulling out the guitars, mandolins, fiddles & banjo’s and singing songs of joy, hope, despair & misery. No electricity required, which is lucky as the cabin has none.

Lead by Yinnar’s Ray Negro, the SSB perform a wide variety of Country Blues, Old Time & Bluegrass music acoustically in the traditional single microphone format, and support a range of community activities. They can be found at their regular gig on the last Wednesday of each month at the Yinnar Pub, playing tunes that hark back to a simpler time when music was real, and whiskey came in a clay jugs.

Events, Festivals Strzelecki Stringbusters

The Strzelecki Stringbusters New CD

This is a locally produced (Gippsland) CD. I need to state that up front, as the quality of this recording is outstanding.
From the haunting vocals and mournful mandolin accompaniment of the opening track; Bob Dylan’s Well, Well, Well, to the closing phrases of Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, this album delivers a consistent colourful tapestry of musical surprises.

This band is made up of some 14 musicians, although I believe the number varies according to family commitments. Nevertheless, each band member brings their own style and musical preferences to the mix. It is not surprising therefore, that this CD presents a variety of music from blues, country ballads, Cajun, old-timey and bluegrass.

The CD’s liner notes read: Our hearts and minds are filed with a passion for the music of places like Appalachia and the southern states of the USA with it’s African, American, Celtic and French influences. When we get together, it’s the passion for this land, this music and each other that pervades our music making. We hope this joy and enthusiasm is reflected in this collection.

One thing that becomes abundantly clear in listening to this CD,The Strzelecki Stringbusters have a great deal of fun playing their music. This album is a celebration of their heritage, traditional music that they love , music making together and above all years of friendship.

TRACK LISTING:

1 Well Well Well
2 Got Me A Woman
3 Hallelujah
4 Le Jugglers Valse
5 Hot Corn Cold Corn
6 Hey Good Lookin’
7 Ramshackle Shack
8 Bonaparte’s Retreat
9 Old Joe Clark
11 Vicksburg Stomp
12 Lost Highway
10 Senor 13 Scrubby Forest Run
14 Trails & Troubles
15 The Heathen Song
16 Walkin’ Down The Road
17 You’ve Gotta Move
18 Every Humble Knee Must Bow
19 Worried Man Blues
20 I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry

CD Release Strzelecki Stringbusters

Something To Crow About

The Strzelecki String Busters have released their debut CD. The band have been playing together for around 4 years. While the name of the band is reflective of some local Gippsland geography the pronunciation with challenge anyone from outside victoria I suspect.

This group was formed as a result of jam sessions in band member’s Ray Negro’s shed which, given the size of the group (14 at last count), must be quite large.

The band members are:
Ray Negro – fiddle, guitar, mandolin
John Werner – upright bass
Danny Boothman – dobro, banjo
Gary ‘Rainbow’ Roberts – guitar
Arnie Young – fiddle
Mick ‘Tank’ DeBono – guitar
Will Laaks – harmonica, guitar
Glen Davis – guitar
Michael Saulle – guitar
Andy Taylor – guitar, mandolin
Red O’Donnell – guitar, mandolin, shaker
Rod ‘Rocket’ Couling – guitar
James Smee – guitar, kazoo, shaker
Darryl ‘Big D’ Hewitt – banjo, mandolin, guitar

All members contributed to vocals (10 different lead singers) and harmony; which, given the size of the group is surprisingly disciplined and tight.

To quote the Stringbusters: ‘We have taken our time, but here it is. Our debut CD is chock-full of Ol’ Timey string band music, country blues, and a few other well known tunes that have been given the SSB’s treatment thrown in for good measure…’

CD Release Strzelecki Stringbusters