Scott Cook and Pamela Mae - www.scottcook.net

Scott Cook sings sturdy, straight-talking songs that see the good in you. Born in West Virginia and raised on the Canadian prairies, in 2007 he quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan to move into a minivan and embark on the life of a full-time troubadour. Since then he's toured almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging over 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year, all the while distilling his experiences into empathetic, keenly observant verse. His seventh and latest recording Tangle of Souls was recorded in Australia and comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations. The album spent two weeks at #1 on Alberta's province-wide community radio network CKUA, and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, for English Songwriter of the Year. Its second single "Say Can You See" was the second most-played song of 2020 on Folk Alliance International's folk radio charts, and took top honours for the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. Scott has already completed nine tours of Australia, including talked-about performances at Woodford, Port Fairy, Cobargo, Candelo, Cygnet, Healesville, Mullumbimby, Newstead, Kangaroo Valley, Dorrigo, Maldon, Illawarra, the National, and Yackandandah folk festivals. He’s been back on the road full-time since January of 2022, living in a campervan named Roadetta with his sweetheart Pamela Mae on upright bass and vocals, and this year he’s bringing her for her first visit to Australia.

"Scott Cook’s seventh 'love letter' to the world is all strings and beauty, a 12-song agnostic endorsement of love over fear... It doesn’t condemn, it summons to one fire... Of all his records this one simply feels the best. ✭✭✭✭✭" –The Edmonton Journal

"Damn, this is a gorgeous album. Scott Cook’s voice –– vocally and lyrically –– is as clear-eyed, optimistic, and straightforward as ever... Tangle of Souls is the medicine we could all use right now." –Adobe and Teardrops

"He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own... He has a good eye for imagery, a gentle human touch, a wry sense of humour, a whole lot of integrity, a warm, rugged voice and a bunch of memorable lines... Truly one of Woody Guthrie's children." –RnR Magazine

Doors open 7pm for an 7:30pm start.

About the venue:

The Old Church on the Hill is on Djaara Country - the land of the Dja Dja Wurrung people and is located on the corner of Harkness and Russell Streets, Quarry Hill, Bendigo. Barker Hall is to the rear of the Old Church and entry is via Harkness Street.
The Singer/Songwriter Showcase events, staged at the Old Church by the Bendigo Blues & Roots crew on a semi-regular basis, are an opportunity to enjoy a House Concert vibe in a public venue. The door charge is kept as low as possible to ensure accessibility to all. Under 12s free and, although drinks are available for sale, the focus is on THE MUSIC. (In this case, we hope the focus will also be on the dancing and singing along!)
Proceeds from drink sales go to supporting the Old Church crew and their many worthy initiatives.
We look forward to your company for an intimate concert experience like you’ve likely never experienced before.