Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 07:55 AM

thread drift - Noel Gardner won the Dale & John Dengate Parody. competition at Illawarra Folk Festival in 2018!

we now return to our regular program ...

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: rich-joy
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 07:33 AM

Hey, thanks Bugsy, and Nancy!!

I'd forgotten about "Windstorm" - was the first song my little sister Alex sang in public (probably at The Peninsula FC, Bugsy!) ..... These days she sings harmonies and plays bass in her husband's band : "Noel Gardner & the Party Faithful".

I'm not really in contact with many Folkies from the earlier days (daze?!), but I'll keep asking 'round :)

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: GUEST,Nancy Prentice
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 04:14 AM

Nancy Prentice (New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA)

I met Greg Hastings in Toronto, Canada in 1979 (or there abouts) when he was busking in a subway corridor there. I was a Morris dancer and my Morris side (from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was dancing at an ale in Toronto. Greg joined us and we had a marvelous time dancing, singing, and getting to know this wonderful man. Eventually, we brought him with us, back to the USA where he connected with the folk music community in Pittsburgh. I will always remember how he enchanted me with the song, "Tam Lin". I feel sad about his passing from this Earth.

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Aug 25 - 04:11 AM

Nancy Prentice (New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA)

I met Greg Hastings in Toronto, Canada in 1979 (or there abouts) when he was busking in a subway corridor there. I was a Morris dancer and my Morris side (from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was dancing at an ale in Toronto. Greg joined us and we had a marvelous time dancing, singing, and getting to know this wonderful man. Eventually, we brought him with us, back to the USA where he connected with the folk music community in Pittsburgh. I will always remember how he enchanted me with the song, "Tam Lin". I feel sad about his passing from this Earth.

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: Bugsy
Date: 08 Aug 25 - 11:07 PM

Sorry for the delay in posting on this thread, but I've been a bit occupied with Mrs Bugsy who's just recovering from sepsis.

I first met Greg back in 1983 at the Peninsula Folk Club, In Maylands WA. He'd just returned from Europe. I was already friends of his parents, Stan & Dot and his sister Val.
We struck up a friendship that lasted until his passing.

When I had the idea of getting a group together for the 1985 National Folk Festival in Perth, he was up the top of the list.
Unfortunately, he left the group shortly after to tour Australia, but we kept in touch whenever he returned to Perth.
I remember in 1989, I was about to record my first album, at the ABC studios, and asked Greg if he'd mind if i recorded his song "Windstorm". He said he'd be delighted. However, within a couple of months, he released his new album, "Windstorm" which meant my recording would have to go on my 2nd album, some 10 years later.

One story that comes up on a semi regular basis, is when Greg was at a Come all Ye at a folk club and the MC said to him, "We're running a bit late, so just do 2 songs".
"No worries" says Greg, then sings Tam Lin and Matty Groves!

I have many fond memories of my friendship with Greg, a great performer, songwriter and racoteur, who lived life on his own terms.

May he rest in peace.

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: rich-joy
Date: 06 Aug 25 - 08:46 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 06:37 PM

he was a good bloke, Welsh-Australian with a love of Australia

I got (back) into the folk world in 1995 & can only remember a few acts from the early days, but he stuck in my memory.

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia) (1948-2025)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 11:29 AM

I was sorry to hear about Greg Hastings. I have added his name to our "In Memoriam" roll of those who have died and send my condolences to all those who know and love him. He is one of those people that I never had the pleasure of meeting, but would have liked to. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: rich-joy
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 03:14 AM

Thank Mate! I'll try PM'g him .....

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 31 Jul 25 - 02:14 AM

@Rich-joy, Bugsy has posted on his FB page, but I haven’t seen him posting here recently.

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 11:11 PM

oops, I forgot to Preview

From the Archives - Bob Bolton collection - Album no. 105 - Loaded Dog Folk Club 1997

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 08:38 AM

href="https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/2025/07/from-archives-bob-bolton-collection.html">From the Archives - Bob Bolton collection - Album no. 105 - Loaded Dog Folk Club 1997

Subject: RE: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 07:58 AM

Greg came east way back in April 1997 & appeared at my local folk club. Bob Bolton took photos & I'll scan them & post on the Bush Music Club Blog - good thing my scanner has been fixed - I'll be back soon!

I still remember some of his songs - Testing, testing 1-2-3 is my absolute favourite song & I have been known to sing the refrain under my breath at times ...
He was a great didgeridoo player & I loved his story about the Japanese tourist on his little put-put motor cycle.

old facebook page
Greg's website
website - lyrics After seeing many a night 'ruined' by mismanaged sound systems, Greg penned this song.

TESTING 1, 2, 3

For many years I've sung in places all around the world
No sweeter than the human voice in chorus can be heard
But now with our technology all reason has been lost
Sometimes I wonder if the end defeats the cost.

CHORUS
Cos it's testing, testing 1, 2, 3
We don't need electricity
Don't need a microphone to sing a song
So nice to hear the music back where we belong.

Once not long ago if you had a mind to sing
Friends would gather round you and make the rafters ring
But now with these amps they run in mortal fear
With the booming of a microphone ringing in their ear

CHORUS

Now the local musos gather round
With their ultra quado phonic sound
The crowd was stunning nearly yelled for more
When one he counted up to four !
His quiet little voice was made to sound
Just like Michael Jackson in the London underground
With digital delays, effects by the score
Just one check blew his audience through the door

CHORUS

I stayed at that club till just a few were there
Speakers the size of tea chests standing on a chair
I checked, it buzzed, everything went wrong
When I finally got to singing, the audience had gone.
Saying why can't you just sing to me
Without this testing 1, 2, 3
We long for the day you can do without
Because it's far too loud and it hides your mouth.

CHORUS

Yes, I feel acoustic music is music of the soul
Sharing it in harmony should always be our goal
The way things are going it's very plain to see
Before we can speak we'll have to test 1, 2, 3
But they'll flick a switch and they won't say when
Before you know we'll have to sing again
But I can sing to you and you can sing to me
There'll be no more testing 1, 2, 3


Copyright Greg Hastings ©

Subject: Obit: Greg Hastings (Australia), 1948-2025
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Jul 25 - 05:38 AM

News just in from The Antipodes is that well-known "Wandering Man" - troubadour and shantyman, Greg Hastings - has departed this earth plane for adventures further afield.

I'm not on FB, but managed to find this link :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3644218679012527/posts/9642952459139089/


Hopefully, 'catter BUGSY, will stop by to talk of Greg's life and his passing???

I recall when Greg, sister Val, dad Stan (all excellent singers) and mum Dot, arrived one Friday night in the early 70s at the Governor Broome Folk Club in Perth, West Aussie (a pub - on the "wrong side" of the tracks - which also doubled as a brothel - EXCELLENT FC though!!!)
The family was recently from Wales.
Stan moved on to run the newly established Stables FC (in an old money portion of the city - but which was later destroyed in the name of big money's Progress - there was A LOT of that going on in the Fair City of Perth!)

Greg had a long performing career wandering the country and was well-known in the Top End too.
Also a founding member of much acclaimed Perth shanty group F'O'C'S'LE FIRKINS (along with the aforementioned Peter Bugden) and of the much acclaimed Perth folk band, MUCKY DUCK BUSH BAND.

There is more information online, but maybe folks who knew him better can tell some Greg Stories here??!!

VALE, GREG.

Cheers, R-J
Maleny, Q. (ex-Perth / ex-Darwin)