Australian icons The Bushwackers will headline a good old bushdance styled concert (in Barker Hall) at The Old Church on the Hill, Bendigo, as part of their latest tour of the countryside.

Triple Golden Guitar Winners and 2021 Roll of Renown Inductees, The Bushwackers, celebrated
the major milestone of 50 years of performance in 2021, quite a remarkable achievement by
anyone’s standards.
Although The Bushwackers are a household name to many, some youngsters may not know
entirely what The Bushwackers are renowned for. Their energetic live shows have had
thousands of fans dancing in the aisles with legendary performances at the The Port Fairy Folk
Festival, The National Folk Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, The Gympie Music Muster,
Woodford Folk Festival, The Americana Conference (Nashville) The National Celtic Festival and
countless other events.
Band stalwarts, Dobe Newton and Roger Corbett, bring their combined experience of over 90
years of playing in The Bushwackers, with all the songs, stories and history that kind of a journey
entails.
“Strangely not all that much has changed over the years” laughs Dobe Newton, who has been a
member since 1973. “We still bring that energy and enthusiasm to every gig. Our audience has
slowed a little but we’re still going as strong as ever and our band has changed a lot since the
70’s with over 105 musicians able to call themselves Bushwackers alumni.”
Roger Corbett, who joined the band in 1980, adds “The Bushwackers have so many songs that
our fans have grown up with over the last 50 years and 26 albums that they’ve shared with their
families and friends. It makes for a very special relationship. We have generations of fans who
come along and bring their families to continue the tradition.”
The Bushwackers saw a resurgence in popularity in 2023 after Roger and Dobe successfully
auditioned for the popular TV series “The Voice” and landed a spot in Jessica Mauboy’s team.
Performing the iconic “alternative Australian anthem” I Am Australian, co-written by the band’s
own Dobe Newton, the duo captured the hearts of viewers around the nation and reminded fans
that they are still very much around. However, it is in full-band mode where they shine,
performing an exciting blend of folk and country music featuring the lagerphone and tin whistle
of front man Dobe Newton, Roger Corbett on guitar and harmonica, with the addition of fiddle,
bass, electric guitar and drums rounding out the sound. The music is all-Australian, with all the
stories, humour and sense of history that has helped to forge our national identity.

It's exciting to have The Bushwackers play The Old Church on the Hill for the first time ever and we expect this show to be well supported, so hop in to get your tickets before it's too late.

Doors open 7:30pm for a 8pm start.

About the venue:

The Old Church on the Hill 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.