The Bushwackers Band, often simply the Bushwackers, are an Australian folk and country music band or bush band founded in 1970. Their cover version of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (1976) was listed in the APRA Top 30 Australian songs in 2001, alongside its writer Eric Bogle's 1980 rendition. Their top 60 studio albums on the Australian Kent Music Report are Bushfire (1978), Dance Album (1980), Faces in the Street and Beneath the Southern Cross (both 1981).
History The Bushwackers Band were formed as the Original Bushwhackers and Bullockies Bush Band in 1971 in Melbourne by Dave Isom on guitar, banjo, vocals and mandolin; Bert Kahanoff on lagerphone and vocals; and Jan Wositzky on vocals, harmonica, banjo and percussion.* [on-line] 1st edition: [print] 2nd edition: Isom had started the La Trobe University Folk Club in 1969 and saw a concert by the Wild Colonial Boys at The Assembly Hall, Melbourne, with Kahanoff. Isom was inspired to form his own group, its name derives from a recording, Bullockies, Bushwhackers and Booze (1967) by various artists including Martyn Wyndham-Read, Peter Dickie and Jim Buchanan. Early gigs were in October 1971 by the trio who were later joined by various players, including Mick Slocum on accordion, concertina and vocals; and fiddlers Tony Hunt and Dave Kidd. Their debut album, The Shearers Dream, appeared in 1974 via Picture Records with the line-up of Hunt, Isom, Slocum and Wositsky joined by Dobe Newton on lagerphone, whistle and vocals.
The ensemble shortened their name to the Bushwackers Band and went full-time with their first tour to the United Kingdom. With an ever-changing line-up, and adding tin whistle, harmonica, concertina, 5-string banjo, bodhrán, bones, spoons, electric bass and guitar and drums the band worked throughout Australia and Europe. Their second album, And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (1976), had Pete Howell on bass guitar joining the line-up of Hunt, Kidd, Newton, Slocum and Wositzky. It featured their cover version of the title song, which was written by Scottish-born Eric Bogle. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by the Bushwackers Band, alongside Bogle's 1980 rendition, was listed as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs in 2001 as part of the celebrations for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA)'s 75th anniversary.
Their fourth studio album, Bushfire (1978), was produced by John Wood for Image Records and peaked at No. 37 on the Kent Music Report albums chart. By 1979 the line-up was Newton, Slocum and Wositsky joined by Steve Groves on vocals and guitar, Fred Kuhnl on vocals, bass guitar and moog and Gregory Martin on drums and percussion. The Bushwackers' fifth studio album, Dance Album (1980) used the line-up of Martin and Newton with Andy Colville on electric guitar, Roger Corbett on electric bass, Michael Harris on fiddle and viola, Louis McManus on fiddle, mandolin and acoustic guitar and Bill Smith on harmonica, bones, spoons, axes, bodhrán and cross-cut saw. The album peaked at No. 35 – the group's highest placing. Corbett became the group's principal songwriter, record producer and talent manager.
In 1981 they released two top 60 studio albums, Faces in the Street and Beneath the Southern Cross. By the following year the line-up of Corbett, Newton and McManus were joined by Danny Bourke on fiddle and vocals, Tommy Emmanuel on guitar and vocals (ex-the Southern Star Band, Goldrush) and Freddie Strauks on drums (ex-Skyhooks, the Sports). McManus was replaced by Tony O'Neill on mandolin, guitar and vocals and Harris rejoined in 1983 while Strauks was replaced on drums by Robbie Ross (ex-Goanna).
In 1984 Newton disbanded the group except for reunion shows. The ABC's A Big Country aired a documentary special titled The Last Dance that year.
In 1987 he co-wrote "I Am Australian" with Bruce Woodley of the Seekers. In 1993 Newton and Corbet reformed the Bushwackers Band (initially as the Range Rovers) with Pete Drummond (later with Dragon) on drums, Michael Fix on guitar (ex-Hat Trick), Mark Oats on fiddle and Melanie Williamson on piano accordion, guitar and vocals. Fix was soon replaced by Peter Malone on guitar, who was replaced in turn by Brad Johns and then Tim Gaze by 1995. Other members have included David Brannigan (The Colinails), Dave Mattacks, Pat Drummond, Eddy van Roosendael.
In August 2023, Newton and Corbett, performed a rendition of "I Am Australian", in their audition on the twelfth season of The Voice Australia, in which they received a four-chair turn before securing a place on coach Jessica Mauboy's team.
Members (Not a complete list)
1970s Dave Isom – guitar, banjo, vocals, mandolin Bert Kahanoff – lagerphone Sylvester Kroyher – Fiddle (1971–72) John Spencer – Banjo, Mandolin (1971–72) Jan Wositzky Bill Smith – vocals, harmonica, banjo, percussion, bodhrán, spoons, bush bass, bones, axes, cross-cut saw John Millard – Whistle, Flute (1972–73) Mick Slocum – accordion, concertina, vocals Dave Kidd – fiddle Tony Hunt – fiddle, viola, banjo Dobe Newton – lagerphone, whistle, vocals, side-drum, cross-cut saw Peter Howell – bass guitar Dave Brannigan – Guitar (1975) Louis McManus – fiddle, guitar, mandolin, acoustic guitar Pete Farndon – bass guitar Dave Mattacks – Drums (UK 1976) John Fitzgerald – Guitar, fiddle (1977) Chris Duffy – guitar Hugh McDonald – Bass, guitar (1978) Jim Fisher – Guitar (1978–79) Doug Gallagher – Drums (1978 to present) Fred Kuhnl – vocals, bass guitar, moog Gregory Martin – drums, percussion Steve Groves – vocals, guitar Michael Harris – fiddle, viola Andy Colville – electric guitar
1980s Roger Corbett – electric bass, vocals Eddie van Rosendael – Drums (1980–81) Freddie Strauks – drums Tony O'Neill – mandolin, guitar, vocals Tommy Emmanuel – guitar and vocals Robbie Ross – drums Danny Bourke – fiddle, vocals Michael Fix – guitar Mario Gregorie – Keyboards (1984) Peter Northcote – Guitar (1985) Des McKenna – Drums (1986) Mick Hyder – Fiddle (1986) Pete Keown – Drums (1986–87, 2022–23) Steve Fearnley – Drums (1987–88) Spiro Phillipas – Bass (1985) Phil Emmanuel – Guitar (1987) Brendan O’Shea – Bass (1987) Pat Drummond – Guitar (1987) Simon Patterson – Guitar (1988) Bob Donaldson – Drum (1989–91)
1990s Melanie Williamson – piano accordion, guitar, vocals Mark Oats – fiddle Steve Housden – Guitar (1993–94) Pete Drummond – drums Peter Malone – guitar Brad Johns – guitar Guy Dutton – Guitar Tim Gaze – guitar Dave O’Neill – Fiddle (1996–97) Hanuman Das – Bass (1997) Willie Kwa – Drums (1998) Pamela Drysdale – Accordion, Vocals (1998–2002) Mike Kerin – Fiddle (1999)
2000s Andrew Clermont – Fiddle (2002) Clare O’Meara – Fiddle, Accordion (2002–present) Matt Hanley – Guitar (2003) Justin Duggan – Drums (2003–2008) Duncan Toombs – Guitar (2003–05) Michael Vidale – Bass (2005–present) Brad Bergen – Drums (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011) Mark Miller – Bass (US 2006) Rick Shell – Drums (US 2006) Ben Corbett – Guitar, Bass (2007–present) Gary Steel – Accordion (2007) Adrian Cannon – Drums (2009)
2010s David Hicks – Drums (2010) Declan O’Neill – Drums (2010–present) Brad Bergen – Drums (2011) Andy Gatus – Drums (2012–2019) Sarah Bussitil-Palmer – Fiddle (2016–present) Silas Palmer – Fiddle, Accordion (2016–present) Sue Carson – Fiddle (2017–2019) Liam Kennedy-Clark – Bass, Electric Guitar (2017–2024) Oscar Lupuczuk – Bass (2017–2020) Dave Roberts – Drums (2014–present) Gabi Louise – Fiddle (2018–2024) Ben Conciella – Bass (2019) Rory Phillips – Bass, Electric Guitar (2019–present)
2020s Josh Beveridge – Bass (2025–present) Cait Jamieson – Fiddle (2025–present)
Discography Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS The Shearer's Dream Released: 1974 Format: LP Label: Rainbow Records (PRF 1007) - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda Released: 1976 Format: LP Label: Image Records (ILP 753) - Murrumbidgee Released: 1977 Format: LP Label: Image Records (ILP 776) - Bushfire Released: 1978 Format: LP Label: Image Records (ILP 806) 37 Dance Album Released: May 1980 Format: LP Label: Image Records (ILP 815) 35 Faces in the Street Released: April 1981 Format: LP Label: Avenue Records (L 37585) 54 Beneath the Southern Cross Released: October 1981 Format: LP, Cass Label: Telmak (TMAK 043) 57 Down There for Dancing Released: November 1982 Format: LP, Cass Label: CBS (SBP 237825) 97 Warrigal Morning Released: 1983 Format: LP, Cass Label: CBS (SBP 237975) Note: Music for the film Bush Christmas - Billy of Tea Released: 1994 Format: CD Label: - Oz Rock Salutes Released: 1997 Format: CD Label: ABC Music (742382106326) - No Nuts 'Til Monday Released: 1998 Format: CD Label: - Australian Songbook 30th Anniversary Edition Released: 2001 Format: CD Label: The Bushwackers (BW002) New Recordings - Ned Released: January 2005 Format: CD, DD Label: The Bushwackers () - Australian Songbook Volume 2 Released: 2009 Format: CD, DD Label: The Bushwackers (BW006) - The Official Dance Album Released: 2011 Format: 2x CD Label: The Bushwackers (BW009) - Australian Songbook Volume 3 Released: 18 January 2013 Format: CD, DD Label: The Bushwackers () - The Lawson Project (with Dobe Newton) Released: 4 March 2013 Format: 2x CD, DD, streaming Label: Dobe Newton - The Hungry Mile Released: 24 March 2017 Format: CD, DD, streaming Label: The Bushwackers (BW011) - Dyed the Wool Released: 10 January 2020 Format: CD, DD, streaming Label: The Bushwackers (BW012) -
Live albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS Lively! Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cass Label: CBS (SBP 238004) 94 Jubilee 25th Anniversary Concert Released: 1996 Format: CD Label: EMI Music Group (4892832) -
Compilation albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chartpositions AUS The Bushwackers Collection Released: 1982 Format: LP, Cass Label: Avenue Records (L 37821) - Waltzing Matilda Released: 1984 Format: LP, Cass Label: J&B Records (JB 195) 43 Celebration Released: 1988 Format: 2xLP Label: CBS (460860 1) - The Very Best of Redgum & The Bushwackers Band Released: July 1990 Format: CD, Cass Label: J&B Records (JB415) 61 So Far... 1974–1994 Released: 1994 Format: 2xCD Label: EMI (4797782) - The Great Bushwackers Band Released: 2002 Format: 3xCD Label: Rajon (R0011) - The Very Best of the Bushwackers Released: 2008 Format: 2xCD Label: MasterSong (580822) - Australian Songbook Collection Released: January 2013 Format: 3xCD, DD Label: The Bushwackers (BW0010) Features Australian Songbook Collection volumes 1,2&3 -
Extended plays + List of EP, with selected chart positions Title Details Original T.V. Themes (with Brian May and The ABC Showband) Released: 1975 Format: LP Label: Image (IEP-3) Shores of Botany Bay Released: 1976 Format: LP Label: Image (IEP-5) Bushwacked Released: 1995 Format: CD Label: ABC April 25 Released: 2006 Format: CD, DD Label: The Bushwackers (BW004)
Singles