Based in the Southern Highlands of NSW, David mainly performs either solo or with Paddys River Band. He also reaches out to Sydney and Canberra to play with Bundy On, , The Yarralumla Woolshed Hoppers, and the Heritage Ensemble.
There's nothing like the spirited singing of shanties. Those work songs of sailors in the days of sail when tasks aboard ship were done by manpower. To coordinate the heaving, hauling and pumping the shantyman would lead a rhythmic song with words that might mock the ship's officers or tell of adventures on shore and of loves left behind.
ShipMates
Meet at Bundy Bowlo 1st Weds 7.30-9pm
Making Australian music available to musicians and singers is key to maintaining its ongoing performance. The Bush Dance folio (1984) established David's reputation and many publication have followed on, providing access to a wealth of material, much of which is freely available for download.
Dave's recordings are relatively sparse but there are some of performances and some recorded in studios and some home-recorded. The songs assembled for the CD Rough Sawn feature him multitracked on vocals, guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, concertina and bass.
Music playing is a pastime best explored socially. Of course players need to put in the time to develop their own skills but playing with other musicians allows the music to gain a social depth, with mutual encouragement and genuine camaraderie.
To this end David coordinates sessions in Goulburn and in Bundanoon.
Perhaps inspired by a new sound-post, cut and fitted to a fiddle or by a need for a tune for a bush dance, or just evolving from the buttons of the concertina, new tunes happen and beg to be written down. And a family tradition of writing tunes as gifts has flourished.
There is an exciting development in the wind for a Heritage Bush Orchestra.
For over ten years David has arranged the music and conducted the National Folk Festival Bush Orchestra with bush dance tunes arranged in multiple parts.
Now there is a plan to have regular meet-ups of folk interested in playing such tunes in parts. Details are not finalised yet.
The musical repertoire for social dance in Australia has never been static. In former times popular tunes were added to the repertoire without hesitation.
To ensure an ongoing rich tradition David encourages the writing of new tunes that are rooted in the tradition.
Tunes are welcome for addition to the collection.
After disagreements about the direction of the NFF, a camp at my property at Penrose was proposed by the Bush Music Club and has been held over Easter since 2024.
In this congenial country atmosphere, with campfire and billy tea, folk immerse themselves in tunes, songs and yarns and poems.