VERANDAH MUSIC AT THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL 2026

(l-r) Matt Nightingale, Jac Bradley, Kev Bradley, Chloe Roweth, Jason Roweth, Graham Seal, Ollie Willis, Rob Willis

This year, Rob Willis and Olya Willis received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Folk Festival, recognising their sustained collection and documentation of Australian folklore and oral history. Under the banner of Sharing the Harvest we presented an hour- long selection of traditional song and music collected from many thousands of recordings of Australians from different cultures, countries, locations and occupations all around the country. See previous post on the collection at. 

We had plenty of help from the band in the picture above. Christina Mimmocchi, Gemma Turner and Clarita Derwent (The Third Voice) were also due to join us but were prevented by a virus from attending the festival. Like all the band members, they have taken part in festival performances organised by Rob and Olya over the past thirty or so years, completing the link between collecting, archiving and sharing the folklore harvest.

Graham, Rob and Olya

LAST OF THE OLD TIME BUSH CONCERTINA PLAYERS

Bob Bolton Collection, Bush Music Club

Here are some rare film clips of traditional Australian concertina players recorded by Rob Willis while collecting with John Meredith in the 1980s.

The players are Lionel Pietsch, Ernie Wells and Bob Payne, probably the last generation of old time bush players 

You can read John Harpley’s story about Bob from the original Verandah Music book here and find more recordings of his work at the National Library of Australia.

Bob and Rob squeezing

WALTZING MATILDA – A WHOLE NEW TAKE

Renowned Australian folk musician and singer Dave de Hugard has been singing and researching ‘Waltzing Matilda’, in one version or another, for many years. He has now released the fruits of his labours – a different angle on the origins of the famous song and a compelling new composition based on the original.

You can read about what ‘Banjo’ Paterson may have had on his mind when composing the first version of ‘Waltzing Matilda’ here

Listen to Dave sing his new song, ‘Waltzing Matilda: The Real Swagman’s Story’ here. (scroll to bottom of page)

Coincidentally, Dave also has a couple of new album releases out and available here

In the meantime, here are the lyrics of the new song:

'WALTZING MATILDA: THE REAL SWAGMAN'S STORY.'

There once was a swagman camped by the billabong,

Under the shade of a Coolibah tree.

He sang as he looked, at his old billy boiling,

“Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

“Who'll come a-waltzing, waltzing Matilda

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

  A billy, a swag, carrying a water bag,

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

Down came a jumbuk to drink at the billabong

Up jumped the swagman, he grabbed it with glee.

He sang as he put it away in his tucker bag,

“You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.”

“Who'll come a-waltzing, waltzing Matilda

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

  A billy, a swag, carrying a water bag,

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

These were troubled times – shearer's camps full.

Troops, police, everywhere – they would not clip that wool.

He saw the law a-comin' – something bothered him...

It could hav e been the jumbuk...or were they comin' after him?

“What they're after I don't know – I'm not gonna wait and see!”

He doused the fire, then into the billabong went he.

“For me Liberty!” but this was not to be...

Sadly he drowned by that Coolibah tree.

No more, no more would he waltz his Matilda,

Or throw down his swag 'neath the Coolibah tree,

Or sing away merrily, as he made his billy tea,

“Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

There is a little more to this swagman story

I will tell you something that has been told to me

You can still hear him sing, if you listen carefully,

Singing merrily away 'neath that Coolibah tree.

“Who'll come a-waltzing, waltzing Matilda

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

  A billy, a swag, carrying a water bag,

  Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?”

(c) Dave de Hugard

Castlemaine 

January 2026

THE PHILIP ASHTON VIDEO COLLECTION

THE PHILIP ASHTON VIDEO COLLECTION

Dave Mathias

Philip Ashton has been recording, photographing and videoing the stories of Australia for many decades. His collection covers a broad range of fascinating people, stories and topics, including field recordings of traditional musicians Dave Mathias and Harry McQueen and rare interviews with folklorists John Meredith, Bill Scott and Shirley Andrews, and much more. 

Many thanks to Philip for permission to put several of his videos on our Verandah Music Youtube channel here

lf you want to see more of Phillip's many significant recordings go here

Buskers, balladeers and broadsiders – or beggars - in colonial Sydney

 

The Flying Pieman - William Francis King

Tony Smith has been researching colonial Sydney's street performers - forerunners of today's buskers. You can read the results in our articles section here: