frank the poet | Timber and Steel

Frank The Poet Compilation Album to be Launched June 1st & 2nd 2012

May 19, 2012 at 18:32 (Album News, News)
Tags: banished now from my native shore, frank the poet, max savage, mia dyson, the timbers, the verse of frank the poet, the yearlings, todd sibbin, tom west

Image Courtesy of Stobie Sounds

Last year we introduced you to the “Banished Now From My Native Shore- The Verse of Frank The Poet” project. At that point we were very excited and optimistic about Stobie Sounds‘ concept of commissioning an album of songs written using the verse of early Australian convict and legendary poet Francis McNamara. Six months of hard work later, the album is almost ready to be launched, and it must be said that the end product promises to be worth the wait.

Stobie Sounds (a South Australian community Blues & Roots record label) have brought together contributions from some amazing artists who all found inspiration in Frank’s verse and provide a modern day interpretation of his words. Equally impressive is Stobie Sounds‘ committment to exploring Frank’s work and providing a truly wonderful product that anybody in their right mind would love to own. The album itself is presented in the covers of antique cloth-bound books with contributed essays and foreword by some of the premiere scholars and authors on the subject (along with copies of all the poems used in the project). You can pre-order the beautifully presented album here– and get in quick only 200 copies of these cloth-bound album-books are being produced.

The album will be launched over two nights (June 1st & 2nd, 2012) at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton (Adelaide in South Australia) and promises to be a launch of epic propotions. Stobie Sounds have invited 16 artists to launch the album- playing songs from it and much more. Joining local folk artists such as Tom West, Todd Sibbin, The Timbers, A.P D’Antonio, Joe Man Murphy, Snooks La Vie, Cal Williams Jr and The Yearlings will be interstate guests Matt Walker, Sean McMahon, Jimmy Dowling, and Heath Cullen. Click here for full details and tickets.

Stay tuned for a review of the album.

1. Moreton Bay
The Yearlings
2. Labouring With The Hoe
Sean McMahon
3. For The Company Underground
Max Savage
and the False Idols
4. Jim Jones in Botany Bay
Heath Cullen
5. Bold Jack Donohoe
Matt Walker
6. Ballad of Martin Cash
Jeb Cardwell
7. A Dialogue Between Two Hibernians in Botany Bay
Nick Kipridis
8. McQuade’s Curse
Jimmy Dowling
9. Moreton Bay
Mia Dyson
10. Convict’s Tour to Hell
Tom West
11. The Ballad of Martin Cash
Cal Williams Jr
12. The Convict’s Arrival
The Teahouse Fire
13. Petition From The Chain Gang at Newcastle
Snooks La Vie
14. For The Company Underground
Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson

Bonus Disc

1. Bold Jack Donohoe
A.P. D’Antonio
2. Labouring With The Hoe
The Timbers
3. A Petition From The Chain Gang at Newcastle
Todd Sibbin
4. Moreton Bay
Joe Man Murphy
5. Seizure of The Cyprus Brig in Recherche Bay
Brillig

Banished Now From My Native Shore: The Verse of Frank the Poet

December 31, 2011 at 13:17 (Album News, News)
Tags: anthony d'antonio, banished now from my native shore, bearded gypsy band, emily davis, francis mcnamara, frank the poet, max savage, mia dyson, psessed by paul james, stobie sounds, the tea house fire, the timbers, the yearlings, todd sibbin, tom west

The Frank the Poet demo letter blocks by Stobie Sounds

How rare it is that Australian blues and roots artists take the opportunity to reflect on our own history. It seems to be the case that those paying homage in the contemporary arena tend to look to periods in the USA when society’s movements and the movements in music are well documented and inseparable, which is fine, but comparatively, Australia’s history goes mostly overlooked as a source of inspiration (with the exceptions of the old codgers in the RSLs).

Stobie Sounds, a South Australian community blues & roots record label of tremendously noble creed who previously brought us These Are My Blues: A Tribute to Big Joe Williams, are at it again having put the line out, reaped and collected the finest songs from some of the nation’s best up and coming and established blues and roots artists- all derived from the poetry of one of Australia’s most important early poets, Francis “Frank the Poet” McNamara (listen to The Timbers‘ interpretation of Frank’s poem “Labouring with the Hoe” below). It’s worth noting that amongst the national and international artists contributing to the album, at least half are South Australian. We’ll provide the full track-listing when it is finalised shortly.

As a convict arriving in Australia in 1832, and a man that spent what was his second chance of freedom in a new land incarcerated and condemned to hard labour, Francis McNamara’s poems speak poignantly of the hardships of life in a new and undefined land. This project, graced by dream-team of blues and roots highlighted by the likes of Mia Dyson, Possessed By Paul James (US), The Timbers, Todd Sibbin, Emily Davis, A.P D’Antonio, Bearded Gypsy Band and Tom West, will provide a beautiful opportunity for a rare link to be made from blues and roots music to the history of Australia and breathe new life into these moving chronicles of our past.

You may have come across Stobie Sounds before. Despite administrating a non-for-profit community record label (gods), they’ve also made a name for themselves for their handmade products using traditional letter-press, lino cuts and screen printing techniques for t-shirts, album covers, CDs, tea-towels, posters and even the odd kick drum. Check out the video of below of the making of the Frank the Poet demo release.

To launch the record, and hopefully reign in a welcome top-up of funds for the project, a fundraiser gig will be held at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Adelaide on February 11, 2012 featuring Max Savage and the False Idols, The Yearlings and The Tea House Fire. A donation of $20 to the Pozible fundraising page (click here to visit) will get you into the event.

Stobie Sounds Call For Song Contributions For New Concept Compilation Album

February 25, 2011 at 17:15 (Interviews, News)
Tags: acoustic, bearded gypsy band, blues, cal williams jr, call for contributions, compliation, folk music, frank the poet, kirk special, roots, stobie sounds

Image courtesy of Stobie Sounds

Stobie Sounds is a non-for-profit community record label based in Adelaide, South Australia, which releases music from up-and-coming “roots” artists. The label was set up by volunteers as a means of supporting roots musicians, and has been doing exactly that. Stobie Sounds release limited edition, hand-printed, DIY albums made from recycled materials, and whilst they’ve only been releasing small batches of albums from emerging musicians, their significance or quality of production is not to be underestimated. This label have put out superb albums from some of SA’s biggest talents including Bearded Gypsy Band, Cal Williams Jr and Kirk Special, as well as (amongst many other things) putting together a concept album last year comprised of reworked versions of songs by Big Joe Williams, by various contributing roots artists and groups.

The concept/compilation project is an annual event for Stobie Sounds, and this year they’ve really broadened the possibilities for contributions. Instead of asking for contributions of re-worked covers, they’ve decided to call for original compositions based around the poetry of Frank The Poet (AKA Francis McNamara). This is a fantastic opportunity for any artist to have their music released by one of the remaining “good guys” is the music industry. If you’re not familiar with Frank The Poet’s work; no matter- it doesn’t take long to learn about. The subject is interesting, engaging, and will provide inspiration by the bucket-load.

Stobie Sounds are seeking submission from anybody- local, interstate, or international. On the subject, the label said; “Apart from celebrating this important body of Australian folk literature, we want to link in local Adelaide artists with like minded scenes around the globe. We did this pretty successfully with the last compilation These Are My Blues: A Tribute To Big Joe Williams.”…”The only thing artists need to know is that we want the album to be dark and brooding. Dirgey. Epic. Intense. We’re not looking for naff garden variety bush balladry or rough imitations. This is an album recorded in 2011 and we want it to sound like that.”

So if you think you can explore the works of classical Australian literature in the language of today’s roots music, then head to this page to learn more about the specifics of the project, or get in touch with Stobie Sounds via this link. If they receive enough quality contributions, their minds are open to making the release a double-disc album with two different artists’ interpretations of each of the 12 poems, so get proactive and get writing.