Yes, "BLOODY BRILLIANT!!" is a common reaction and it is a very moving tribute to so many of the wonderful Oz Folkies who have passed on (my Beloved and many friends, amongst them) since the 1st National Folk Festival in 1967.....

cheers, Rich-Joy



" This project is the work of Bruce Watson. For more information about Bruce's music and activities, visit his website.

The Idea

For many decades the Australian folk scene has produced so many extraordinarily talented people who are no longer with us, but who have left a lasting legacy through their music, inspiration, knowledge and passion. Performers, songwriters, collectors and inspirers have all played a key role in defining and shaping Australia’s changing cultural identity.



Immortal remembers and celebrates these people in a tangible, entertaining way that also provides a permanent record in the one place - and provides inspiration to the next generation. It was inspired by a similar, but simpler, project by NZ folk legend Chris Priestley called Gone But Not Forgotten.



The Video

The video runs for 56 minutes, celebrating 76 individuals — and acknowledging a further 168. Using photographs, video and audio recordings, it captures the essence of these individuals, their lives and their creative cultural contribution. While the focus is on performers, singers and musicians, it does not ignore significant people in spoken word, dance and collecting. It includes broad representation from across Australia. The list below enumerate those featured in the video.


The making of Immortal

This project is a significant piece of work. Every image, audio clip and video clip had to be sourced, dozens of people were contacted for advice, permission and material. Sometimes it would be several hours' work just to get a single picture. And then there was the editing, with thousands of decisions and judgements large and small to be made.

Some boundaries were necessary to keep the project manageable. Immortal focuses on those who died from the year of the first National Folk Festival (1967) to March 2025, when the video was completed.

Determining who to include was a complex task. More than 50 people with a long association in the Australian folk scene were asked to provide their list of who they thought should be included. A ‘league table’ was compiled from that list as a starting point. This was supplemented by many conversations and Bruce Watson’s judgement (a few important and surprising names were left out!), followed by three public screenings where feedback and suggestions were sought - making this a true community project.

Some boundaries were necessary to keep the project manageable. Immortal focuses on those who died from the year of the first National Folk Festival (1967) to March 2025, when the video was completed.

The final result can never be definitive. Whether certain people were included in the 76 or the 168 depended not only on their prominence, but also the availability of photos and audio. Judgements were also made about people's centrality to the folk scene. Consequently, some major names (such as Slim Dusty) were included in the 163 because they were linked to, but peripheral to the folk scene. I am sure I have missed out on some worthy people. I have made my very best efforts over many hundreds of hours - for any omissions, I sincerely apologise.

Where possible, family and loved ones were contacted and their permission and blessing sought. They also provided many of the photos, videos and audio tracks. Permission was also sought from copyright owners. The scores of people and organisations to be thanked are acknowledged in the credits at the end of the video. In some cases neither family nor copyright owners could be tracked down.

Presentations at festivals, etc

Prior to finalising the video, it was shown at three folk festivals in early 2025. These screenings were accompanied by a panel discussion featuring a range of prominent people from Australia's folk movement. These discussions explored issues of change and continuity within the folk scene and Australian culture, and generated huge interest and excitement.

Bruce would love to screen the video and host discussions at more festivals, folk clubs and other events. For more detail, see the Live Screenings page of this website.

Thanks

Since the project commenced in early 2024, around 150 people helped by providing advice, information, material and permissions for the project. Their generosity is inspiring and greatly appreciated. They are acknowledged in the video.

This project is supported by a grant from the Troubadour Foundation. Thanks so much to the committee for showing faith in this work, and in making it so much easier for it to happen. "