Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!

Subject: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:04 AM

One of the wonderful things about the Mudcat is I am acquiring a grand library of rare tapes and cd's; some of them from trading back and forth my dad's tape for one a 'Catter happens to have.

Most recently, [e-mail] sent me a tape of Peter Duggan singing the songs of Henry Lawson, Australia's own Robert W. Service type. It was somewhere in September is a fantastic tape with Peter playing guitar and Jack Kevans on concertina/accordion. The songs are classics. I love all of them, but esp. The Stringybark Tree; The Bunk in the Humpy; and Callaghan's Hotel.

Here is what Murray had to say about Peter:

"The singer and guitarist, Peter Duggan, was a fireman in a suburb of Sydney and spent as much time as possible in the folk clubs. He also went on some folk music gathering expeditions. When he retired he moved up here to the mountains.

"The accordianist, Jack Kevans, was one of the first alternative life people in Australia. In the 50s he and a group of other people bought some land in the north part of the state and formed a commune. It broke up; but Jacko, as he is known locally, still lives in his shack there. He travels all over the state attending folk festivals.

"The songs on the tape are poems by Henry Lawson, who wrote in the last century about the "outback"--a sort of Robert W. Service of Australia. Many believe that the poems on the tape were meant to be songs to begin with; but, if so, the tunes Lawson used have been lost. Peter put the tunes to them himself in this tape. "

I understand our own Bob Bolton has known Peter for many years and may come in here to tell us a bit more. I don't know if there are any more of this tape available and have dibs on the next two, if Peter finds any, but let me tell you, it is well worth it, if you can get a copy.

Thanks, again, Murray. Rog and I are still just enchanted each time we listen to Peter and Jack.

kat

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 12:54 AM

G'day Kat,

Just a comment on Henry Lawson's "songs": Henry often referred to his poems as songs - either in their titles or in talking about them, but he would not have sung them himself because he suffered from a hearing defect that made if difficult for him to carry a tune.

One of our major sources of collected folk songs, 'Duke' Tritton, 1887 - 1965 (some of whose songs I have submitted) - a bloke who went on the track, looking for seasonal jobs about the bush (country regions) in 1905, reckons he heard Lawson's poems sung more often than recited. In those days people sang because they were not surrounded by muzak. If they liked some words, they put them to a good tune (usually an existing one) ... or bent something to fit, thus creating a 'new' tune.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 07:03 AM

Peter is a lovely man and has been a good friend of ours for many years... dating way back to the halcyon days at the old Tates Hotel in Windsor when John French ran a weekly folk club there. Peter and Christine run the Blackheath Folk Club. If you want to get in touch with him let me know and I'll give you jis contact details. I'm sure he'd love to know how much his music is appreciated.

cheers, Valda

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From:
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 07:23 AM

I have been telling him about how his music is appreciated, Valda. Does he and/or Christine have an email address? If so can you send it to me. My email address the same as my code name.

Murray

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 08:00 PM

Thansk for adding to this, phoaks. Anyone else in Oz have more to add. Would really love to hear more and acquaint 'Catters with this fellow.

kat

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: Helen
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 07:32 PM

hi kat,

I have known Jacko for about 20 years, but because he only drops in to Newcastle every year or so I don't see him much now.

While I have known him I have always been impressed by his accordion playing, but the best thing is that he is not one of those overbearing personalities. He is fairly quiet and enjoys giving other musicians a go, including learners.

Another album worth checking out is the one by Charlie Batchelor. He was an old man from the bush who played fiddle, mostly dance tunes. A group of folkies set up a sort of scratch band, and Jacko was one of them, as a focus for his music and Charlie travelled a bit with them before his death.

Many of the tunes Charlie played are in the John Meredith books called Folksongs of Australia, books 1 & II, which were collected by Meredith around Australia, mostly out in the bush, from oldtimers.

I used to get Book I out of the public library back when I was in early high school and try to play the tunes on a plastic whistle. To hear one of the genuine oldtimer musicians playing some of these tunes and to think of him playing at local dances for so many years was a real treat for me.

Another couple of names to look out for are Dave de Hugard - a wonderful live performer, very entertaining - and John Dengate - singer/songwriter.

Helen

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: Roo
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 06:56 AM

You might like to have a browse through the CDs and books etc in The Shed - it is a resource for Australian traditional and contemp. folk. http://theshed.mountaintracks.com.au/ http://theshed.mountaintracks.com.au/ Some of the names mentioned there are listed on the site. You can go there direct or through the Folk Australia site.

Although I am involved with the site I make nothing from it - it is simply set up to put those interested in obtaining the music etc in touch with those who make it, quite often the artist themselves.

cheers, Valda

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: alison
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 07:39 AM

and a wonderful site it is too Valda...... thanks

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 08:15 AM

Thank you, Helen, for the additional info and recommendations. Rog and I have enjoyed Peter's stuff so much; it does remind us of some of the music of the Rocky Mtn West, of my dad and others, I am sure we would enjoy the others you've mentioned, too.

Valda, thanks for the link, good to know about that site!

kat

Subject: RE: Peter Duggan & Jack Kevans of OZ - WOW!
From:
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 09:54 AM

If you want to include modern songwriters, there is also a CD by Jacko's brother Denis Kevans called "Shoulda Been a Champion". He is backed by a nice bush band.

Murray