Keep The Circle Unbroken is a series of concerts being presented across many of Australia’s iconic towns featuring an incredible line-up of Australian musicians, spanning two generations and performing songs inspired by one of the most influential albums in the history of music, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s 1972 album ‘Will the Circle be Unbroken’.
This live show is an audible bridge stretching across generations, cultures, sexes, politics, race, and musical genre.
The circle of artists represents sitting around a campfire, being at the family dinner table, or at a traditional music session. While there is a core of artists who play most of the shows, each location the show plays at has some of its’ finest musicians join this amazing ensemble of incredibly talented musicians.
The Hobart show’s guest artists included ARIA award winners, Monique Brumby and Vikki Thorn (The Waifs), Tasmanian songstress extraordinaire, Ange Boxall and Tasmanian/Japanese banjo meister, Montz Matsumoto, all of whom joined the members of Row Jerry Crow.
Row Jerry Crow is another collective of fine musicians comprising Paul Woseen (The Screaming Jets), Rob Hornbuckle (The Master’s Apprentices), Greg Patten (My Friend The Chocolate Cake), Coberg Tipping (Russell Morris Band), Delsinki & John Kendall (Uncle Bill).
From the opening song of the first set right through to the final song of the encore, the Keep The Circle Unbroken crew kept the appreciative crowd enthralled with their brilliant musicianship and synergy between the members. Their obvious joy of playing together filled the venue with a palpable sense of exhilaration. In fact, I was approached by a lady who told me her and her husband were on holidays from Western Australia and had just happened to be passing and decided to come in and check out this show – she then said it was one of the best nights they had ever had – high praise indeed.
The band’s ability to connect with the audience with their banter between songs was as much part of the evening as was the music itself. Even when the surprise guest, Grim Fawkner was asked to jump up on stage and join in the fun, the band never lost momentum.
I am always uplifted when watching/photographing/listening to live music, but this one, for some reason, elevated me that little bit higher.
The tour continues into Victoria and South Australia, with dates as follows:
- February 16 Thornbury
- February 17 Swan Hill
- February 18 Archie’s Creek
- February 22 & 23 Adelaide
Feature photo and gallery images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller
