Tasmanian Appalachian Folk
Tony Newport
Singer Songwriter
Busker & Storyteller
About Tony
I was born and raised in a mining town in the mountains of Western Tasmania.
At the time Rosebery was a four hour train trip from the port of Burnie.
My grandmother had a Carter Family LP. Many years after her passing I was at an Autoharp Gathering in Pennsylvania where I met George Orthey who had made autoharps for June Carter Cash. The autoharp pictured is made out of Tasmanian special timbers: Fiddleback Blackwood, King Billy and Huon Pine. The Blackwood, King Billy and framing timber were donated by Ian Bradshaw from his family sawmill in Queenstown. The luthier is Paul Mineur who added the Huon Pine buttons and bar holders and who was born in Queenstown and is based in Hobart. The harp is called: The Bradshaw Harp. The tone of this instrument reflects the soul and spirit of its west coast origins.
Featured Songs
From Williamsford to Rosebery Town
From the West Coast Song Book
Photo: Rosebery Township from Mt Read
Bill and Jack Becker grew up in Williamsford. In the mid 1950’s they were granted carpentry apprenticeships at the EZ mine in Rosebery. For five long years they rode their pushbikes five miles downhill on a gravel road in snow, frost and incessant rain for nine months months; and in baking heat for the the other three. That was the easy part. Coming back home was a steep unrelenting climb with no gears. They both became fully fledged tradies.
Soapbox Willie
Photo: Texas History.unt.edu
As if our news is not dire enough we now have influencers and the scourge of keyboard warrior posts on social media. Outrage is our new newsfeed currency. Taking the piss has always been a popular Australian past time. Algorithms have changed all that. Taking the piss is now a very serious business and if the truth gets in the way – well so be it. The modern Soapbox Willie looks nothing like the attached image – the outrage nonetheless is now immediately magnified and transferable. We live in interesting times.
Milligan and Spike
Image: Old Blue Eyes Boston Terrier.
Source: Etsy
This is a shaggy dog story. Starring a pedigree pooch and some notable Rosebery (Tasmania) ratbags.
Laid back and whimsical. Upbeat and Lyrical. From the green fields of post war France to the myriad greens of the Huon Valley. From the grey of 9/11 Manhattan to the gravel heart of gritty Queenstown. From lust and love to Celtic rhythms and secular hymns – a record attendance at the 25th Tamar Valley Folk Festival this weekend feasted on music for the soul performed by a diverse range of some of the best musicians and singers Australia has to offer. Forget your mainstream pop. This is live music played with heart. To paraphrase Eric Bogle the star attraction of this year’s festival “I love recordings of my favourite artists but they never make me cry – only live music can really make you cry” And cry many of us did as he reprised ‘Safe in The Harbour’ and reminded us of the power of the lyric with his plaintive Scottish vocals and his mastery of musical narrative. As did guest poet Tasmania’s Tim Thorne with a sustained and moving veneration of language that was part soliloquy but ultimately a shared and passionate cry – for empathy for each other and for the earth. 26 events, all well attended, 32 acts and 72 performers. Tasmania has its prominent gems in Mona and other festivals and it has its hidden gems – none more so than this Festival. This a rich, accessible and immensely enjoyable weekend of entertainment for all ages. Make sure you put it on your next year’s calendar. 25 years strong and growing – congratulations to all involved. In this festival the Tamar Valley, the people of George Town and Tasmania really do have something to celebrate.
Tony Newport 