This special concert performance salutes the National Library of Australia’s 70th anniversary as custodian of Australia’s folksong heritage and oral history.
We offer a unique digitised treasure-trove of songs, music and stories collected by folklorists from everyday Australians. These recordings are signposts to the understanding and appreciation of our ever-changing national identity.
Legendary singers Martyn Wyndham-Read and Warren Fahey AM, accompanied by musicians Marcus Holden and Garry Steel, will join distinguished historian Bill Gammage AM to celebrate some of the highlights of the collection.
Attend in person
Entry to this event is free but bookings are essential.
Watch online
The presentation will also be available online. Please make a booking and the Library’s Events team will send you a direct link to the livestream event via email. Or you can join anytime through the Library’s YouTube channel.
About the performers
Martyn Wyndham-Read is a recognised English vocalist with a clear and well-rounded approach to singing. He has released over thirty solo albums during his career and worked in Australia between1958 and 1967.
Warren Fahey AM is one of Australia’s leading musicians in the folk music scene and a proponent of the bush traditions of singing and yarning. His distinguished career includes work as a historian, author, record producer and actor. In 1996, his contributions to music earned him Australia’s highest honour, the Order of Australia.
Marcus Holden is a musician specialising in string instruments, with an affinity for the fiddle, mandolin and banjo. He has performed for albums, commercials and films.
Garry Steele is an accordion wizard and master of the piano. He has performed with artists such as Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham, and has a wide musical repertoire including country, classical and jazz.
Bill Gammage AM is a historian known for his work on military history and Aboriginal land management. He is Emeritus Professor at the Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University.
Image credit: The Queenslander, ‘Cutting Out’ A Fat Beast, from Notes on Queensland, April 1894. Colour digital version by Warren Fahey.
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