News

VOTE FOR THE STETSON FAMILY!

Hi everyone, how fabulous is it that Spring is finally here!  Our new album, The Stars, If You Look Closely has been out for a few months now and we’re so happy with how it’s been received here in Australia and overseas!  We’re totally chuffed to say we’ve been nominated in three categories at this year’s Australian Folk Music Awards:  BEST ALBUM, BEST GROUP and PEOPLE’S CHOICE. Voting for the People’s Choice Award closes in three days on 30 September and we’d love it if you could click on this link and throw a vote our way. It only takes about 10 seconds!!  

The awards will be held on Wed 23 October at the Brunswick Ballroom and tickets are available here. 

We’re heading to South Australia to the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula to play the Fleurieu Folk Festival on 25/26/27 October.  If you’re over that way, it’s a great festival in a gorgeous part of the world.  

We’ll then be back in Melbourne for a gig at the Union in Brunswick on Saturday 2 November, then at the amazing Coolart Picnic at the Coolart Wetlands Homestead in Somers on Sunday 3 November from 2-4pm. 

Don’t forget to jump onto the AFMA link and throw us a vote!

Talk soon

X Nad, John, Swan, Greg and Richo

Hi, and welcome to our winter Stetson Family update! We’re still chuffed by the response The Stars, If You Look Closely continues to get, especially overseas, with it receiving stellar reviews in some premier outlets, like Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine of out of Kentucky, and our video for Dollar in My Hand making it into the Top 10 Video Picks on The Alternate Root out of Palm Springs, California!  

It’s not why we play music or write songs, but it sure is nice to know that our music has a life of its own outside of us and is finding its way into the ears and hearts of people all over the place.

We’ve got a couple of our favourite Melbourne shows coming up over the next week, at Mountain Pickers and the Union Hotel. Hope to see you there – and in the meantime, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, hope you’re staying cozy!

See you round the traps!

X Nad, John, Swan, Greg and Richo

Hi all, now that the dust has settled from our launch shows and our album The Stars, If You Look Closely is finally out, we want to say how over the moon we are at the response it’s been getting! The album has been making its own way in the world for the past few weeks and we’re absolutely blown away at how many people are playing us and/or taking the time out to review the album. (And we’re happy to say the reviews have been fantastic!) 

We’ve been doing interviews for radio and magazines in far-flung places from Milan to UK, Arizona to Miami, have made it onto the AIR chart here in Australia for the first time, had the #1 spot on Airplay Direct chart USA as the most downloaded album by broadcasters (Global Radio Indicator Chart 20 April 2024), and made it onto CMA (America) April Rewind.  

Nad did an interview for US television to go with the videoclip for the third single ‘Dollar in My Hand’, which was then shown for two weeks on Bluegrass Ridge TV in the US, which goes out to over 50 station. The clip was premiered in the United Kingdom by Americana UK. Watch the video below!

There’s lots of people to thank; extended Stetson Family member Mike St Claire-Miller, who steps in on double bass with us live, and also plays a track on the album; Pete Fidler, who joined us on mando and dobro on a couple of tracks; Liz Stringer, lending her superb voice to the harmony mix on Better Left Unsaid and The Other Side; and Bree Hartley bringing some percussion to the mix in a couple of songs – And last but definitely not least, the amazing Ernie Rose, engineer/producer, who we’re so happy to have made this album with. He’s a true legend of the Australian music industry, having engineered, mixed and/or produced so many Australian music icons from the past 50 years. We’re still pinching ourselves that we got the opportunity to make “The Stars” with him!  As you’ll see on the album liner notes, we’ve dedicated this album to Andy Carswell, our great friend and original mando player with the Stettoes. Wherever he may be, floating around in the ether somewhere, we hope he’s digging the album.  

We’ve got some fab shows coming up, so check out the gigs page if you want come see us live.  x Nad, John, Greg, Swan and Richo.

4 stars

Surprises.

After more than twenty years exploring roots music—the good, the indifferent, and the ugly—I remain open to surprises. Most recently, a predominately blue-enveloped CD provided the most pleasing of musical wonders.

Having not previously encountered The Stetson Family, I approached their CD as I typically do the unfamiliar. To prevent myself from prejudice or outside influence, rather than reading the accompanying press material and packaging I simply slipped the disc into the machine late one night.

I was transported to a world where country music sounds little like what is now played on the radio. The songs were structured differently, the lead vocals were unlike those I had recently experienced, the instrumentation was expansive and far-reaching.

I played the album repeatedly over the next several days, looking for insight to explain how this music impressed me. Finally, after four or five listens, I examined the one-sheet and the disc package.

And I had at least part of my answer.

The Stetson Family is a well-established group from Melbourne, Australia. Perhaps that explains why they sound so different from even my favourite non-commercial country bands—they originate far from the various North American rootsicana circuits.

Having now lived with the album for several weeks while also exploring the group’s previous albums via streaming, I am confident in describing The Stars, If You Look Closely as an exceptional album of roots music, closer to ‘classic country’ than what currently passes as contemporary country. Still, this is a modern-sounding recording that should appeal to all who take the time to seek out its charm.

In my opinion, lead vocalist Nadine Budge is the star. While her voice contains elements that remind me of folks familiar such as Connie Smith, her style is completely her own: dramatically powerful—forceful, even—without betraying her bandmates by distracting from their significant instrumental foundation.

Budge (rhythm and resophonic guitar, co-producer with Ern Rose) is the writer or co-writer of many of these artfully crafted songs. As example, within “Better Left Unsaid,” she strikes to the heart of the collection:

“I wish you never said those things to me,
those notions in my head;
made me open up my heart to you,
they were better left unsaid.”

Most apparently country, but without forced rhymes in search of an elusive hook, these are songs true and honest, genuine in expression and execution. Her “Brother” is another standout number.

Each song offers strength within its insights without feeling heavy or didactic. John Bartholomeusz (guitar and harmony vocals) is the band’s other key songwriter, and his “Lonesome Valley” is pure country, but again far from cookie cutter. As they have on previous songs (notably “Hey Sister Mary, Where’d You Get That Gun?”) the band utilizes what North Americans would identify as ‘western’ imagery and situations on Bartholomeusz’s “The Other Side.”

Finally, the band has completed two songs left unfinished by The Stetson Family’s co-founding member Andy Carswell who passed in 2016. The title track and “Angel’s Hand” further the mystical elements of the album, perhaps religious but for me more a spiritual embracing of the wonderous forces of the natural world. This theme continues within Budge’s “Make Me Ashes” (“and cast me to the deep blue sea…”).

There may not be a more hopeful and inspiring roots song in 2024 than the title track: “The stars, if you look closely, can guide you to your journey’s end…” The instrumental “Nightfall” is simply lovely, a reso-rich piece that goes places I didn’t anticipate—it is a trippy tune.

Greg Field’s fiddle (he also plays mandolin and sings harmony) is an essential component of these songs including “Dollar in My Hand,” another song that recalls a previous time while highlighting current conditions. Colin Swan (banjo and harmonies) and Luke Richardson (double bass and harmonies) round out The Stetson Family.

‘Unpredictable’ is actually a fine description for this recording—unlike on many albums, both mainstream and otherwise, one doesn’t anticipate many of the rhymes, lyrical paths, and instrumental changes. There is always something fresh around the corner.

With “Mama’s Gonna Take You Home” pleasingly reminiscent of Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” The Stetson Family’s The Stars, If You Look Closely comes to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion, one rich in surprising turns and insightful lyrical choices.

So, the time is fast approaching for us to launch the new album, The Stars, If You Look Closely, and, if we may say so ourselves, we’re pretty excited and happy to be bringing you this album! Thanks to everyone that’s already booked your tickets to our two Victorian launch shows:

Saturday April 6 – arvo – Archies Creek Hotel – with special guests The Yearlings (SA)
Sunday April 7 – arvo – Brunswick Ballroom – with special guests Suzannah Espie + The Yearlings (SA).

Our great mate, and amazing singer/songwriter/guitarist, Liz Stringer, guested on backing vocals on a couple of songs on the new album. She’s off wowing crowds in London and Europe as we speak so she can’t make it to the launch, but we’re happy to announce that we have the wondrous Suzannah Espie joining us at the Brunswick Ballroom show. She’s a true icon of the Melbourne music scene and we’re so pleased to have her as an extended Stetson Family member.

The two singles already released, The Stars, If You Look Closely and The Other Side have been going great in the USA, with heaps of radio stations downloading and playing our songs – enough to reach #1 on the Global Radio Indicator Charts!! Where would we be without radio.

On that note, thanks to the mighty Brian Nankervis for having us live on The Friday Revue on the ABC. Also, hats off to Denise Hylands AM having us on 3RRR TWANG. As many of you may know, Denise was recently awarded an Australia Medal for her 30+ years of service to radio and the music industry. No-one deserves it more than her!!If you haven’t pre-booked tix to one of our launch dates yet, we’d love it if you did. We don’t normally push for pre-sales, but given the current climate of gigs and festivals being cancelled and venues having to close their doors because of ongoing uncertainty in the post-Covid live music landscape, we really want to try to get our incredible Melbourne music scene not just back to where it was pre-Covid, but to build it back better than before. It’s a tough slog for musicians out there in 2024, with gigantic music platforms (you know who we’re talking about) changing their policy so they don’t pay anything – ANYTHING AT ALL – to artists who don’t reach certain threshholds of streams.  (IT MAKES THEIR RIDICULOUS AND INSULTING 0.003 CENTS PER PLAY, THEN TAKING A FURTHER 30% LOOK GENEROUS!!!)Anyway, where was I before I went down the very dark hole of musicians being ripped off by greedy multi-national behemoths? Ahh, yes – our album, our launches, our guests – we couldn’t  be more chuffed to be finally getting this album out, and to have such immense talent as The Yearlings (Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson from SA) and grand dame of the Melbourne music scene, Suzannah Espie.  They’re sure to bring something special to the shows.

And in exciting news just to hand, the video clip we’ve made for our third single Dollar in My Hand will be premiered on US TV show Bluegrass Ridge TV and Americana UK. We’re over the moon that these US and UK shows have offered to be video premiere partners! More on that down the track…

Can’t wait to see you!
x Nad, John, Greg, Swan & Richo

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It’s all happening!! After years in the making, we’re finally LAUNCHING our new album ‘The Stars, If You Look Closely’ with two big shows – one in town, one out in the sticks…

SATURDAY 6 APRIL at The Archies Creek Hotel, Victoria. Tix on sale here

SUNDAY 7 APRIL at Brunswick Ballroom Melbourne. Tix on sale here

It’s been nine years since our last album, but like a slow train coming, ‘The Stars, If You Look Closely’, is a welcome sight. It comprises all original songs, including two songs left unfinished by our late buddy and mandolin player, Andy Carswell, who left this world in 2016.

Hey everyone, welcome to our end-of-year newsletter, where we actually have some gig news to share with you! We’re finally gonna be back on stage doing what we love after nine months of Nad having hand surgeries, which we’re happy to say have fixed the dastardly carpal tunnels so she can sling on a guitar again. Phew!

We’ll be heading across the border to South Australia to play a couple of special shows, one with the divine duo The Yearlings (who’ve just taken home the award for SA Roots Album of the Year  for their amazing album ‘Luck’).  The gig’s at Adelaide’s golden live music venue, The Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton, for their Wheaty Xmas Extravaganza – Sunday 17 December 2023, 4-7pm – all welcome, free entry.

On Saturday 16 December we’ll join a bunch of other South Oz bands and musicians for the Three Brothers Arms Music Jambouree.  Look out South Oz, we’re comin’ your way!

We’ll then head back to Melbourne-town for The Stetson Family’s Xmas Hoe-hoe-hoedown on Saturday 23 December 8pm at The Union Hotel – all welcome, free entry.

While we’ve been on a live-gig hiatus we haven’t been whiling away the hours doing zip, we’ve been in the studio finishing off our next album. The first single, ‘The Stars, If You Look Closely‘ has just been released. You can have a listen on Spotify and other music platforms, or you can do us a favour and actually pay 99c and download your very own copy from our Bandcamp.

We’ve missed playing live like the deserts miss the rain, so we really hope you’ll come along and celebrate with us being back in the saddle.

See you soon!
x Nad, John, Greg, Swan and Richo

We’re so proud of this album and can’t wait to share it with you!

Well, hi there, and welcome back to our Stetson newsletter. The days of 8pm curfews and not being able to venture more than five kms from home seem like a crazy fever dream as we slowly but surely gain the confidence to get back out into the world of live gigs and get back into the studio to continue work on our fourth album, which started waaaay back in early 2020!!

We’d love you to join us as we team up with our buddies Nick O’Mara (Raised by Eagles) and his partner in all things music and life Jac Tonks, with their dreamy duo Amarillo, on Sunday the 31^st of July at The Rocket Lounge, Heathmont Bowls Club. It’s gonna be an all-you-can-eat smorgasboard of alt-country, pop, bluegrass & Americana.

Last week we could finally get the gang back together and get to work with producer Ern Rose on brand-spanking new songs, so keep an ear to the ground and we’ll let you know when the new Stetson Family album will be out in the world.

Hope the world’s being kind and the sun is shining on you! Can’t wait to see you at The Rocket Lounge – and other gigs to be announced soon.  🚀

xo Nad, John, Swan, Richo and Greg

Hey there everyone, long time no see!! If you’ve wondering what’s going on in the world of the Stetsons (and we bet you have!) like most other bands, we’ve been on the rollercoaster of booking and cancelling/rescheduling shows and festivals left right and centre – then Nad had an altercation with a car whilst riding her bike, resulting in a shiner and some other injuries, and has been laying low – but now we’re back and we’ve got some sweet gigs to announce!!

Don’t think we’ve been doing nothing whilst we’ve been out of sight – there’s new songs we’re itching to get out into the world, so if you’re in country Victoria, outer-suburban or inner-suburban Melbourne we’d love to see you at any or all the gigs we have lined up from late April to late May.  Check them out below!

The Stetson Family have emerged from the weirdness of 2020 with a new album in the making that’s itching to get out into the world, soon as it’s cooked. Working once again with master engineer and producer Ernie Rose (Renee Geyer, Little River Band, Mondo Rock, Broderick Smith and many more) the band have been in and out of the studio at every opportunity lockdown allowed, and can’t wait to get back out playing live.

We’ll be back doing a run of shows in April and May (Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine / Post Office Hotel, Coburg / Mountain Pickers, Ferntree Gully / Union Hotel, Brunswick / Red Hill Hotel, Chewton), playing old faves and taking some of the new songs for their maiden flight.  To say we’re excited to have a new album in the pipeline is an understatement, and having this time off from being able to play together has really brought home how much we love doing what we do.

Can’t wait to see you all around the traps.

Nad, John, Swan, Greg and Luke xox

Things are forging ahead and heating up as we head towards the end of 2019. Stay tuned for some exciting festival announcements for November and 2020.

We’re also in a writing frenzy and in pre-production for our fourth album.  Stay tuned….

In the meantime, hope to see you out and about at a gig somewhere in this beautiful Melbourne Spring weather.

x Nad, John, Swan, Richo and Greg

It’s on again! The Original Cartridge Family and The Stetson Family team up for ‘A Family Affair’ on SAT 24 AUG at The Spotted Mallard. It’s a really fun family-friendly feast… try saying that after a sip of moonshine! 🦝

Grab your tix here! 

Hi everyone – yeah, we know it’s been a while since we last put a newsletter out.  We’ve been flying under the radar for a few months, for lots of reasons – none more exciting than the arrival of a new Stetson baby! This one’s not even a musical one, it’s a real human one! Our double bass player Luke Richardson and his gal Holly had a bouncing baby boy who goes by the name Fox Richardson-Wild. He’s quite the cool chap (see below)!

We’ll be back playing this coming weekend, with our special guest bass player Mike St Clair-Miller (pictured above). He’s a dab hand on the bass, so we hope to see you at the UNION HOTEL – SUNDAY 26th MAY, 5-7 PM.  We’ll be rolling out some new songs too!

We’re thrilled to announce we’ll be part of the fabulous line-up for this year’s BELLO WINTER FESTIVAL. This one’s worth jumping on a plane to Coffs Harbour and to the beautiful town of Bellingen, NSW.  It’s brought to you by the fine folk who put on Mullumbimby Music Festival, so it’s full of vibe, fun and great music.

Sheesh, a lot’s gone down in the last 10 years! To celebrate the DECADE milestone we’re playing a special show THIS COMING SUNDAY the 23^rd of September at the beautiful old Spotted Mallard in Brunswick.

We’ve invited our buddy, songwriting master and singer extraordinaire Charles ‘Chuck’ Jenkins to come and warm the room and beguile the audience in his own inimitable way.    We’d love you to come along and help us celebrate, as we regale you with stories of the time we all had to share a bed together, the time we drove on the wrong side of the road out of Nashville airport, the time John stage dived into an audience of retirees – and of course we’ll be playing songs, old and new!
Love to see you there:  The Spotted Mallard – 314 Sydney Road, Brunswick.
Presale tix are available or at the door.

A DECADE OF THE STETSON FAMILY rolls on…

Well, there it is, the first leg of our 10-year anniversary tour done and dusted.  One of the many great things about playing music is that it takes you to places you would never otherwise go – one such place being the Jarrah forests of Western Australia where we got to play the fabulous Nannup Music Festival. Never a friendlier bunch of people will we meet! We had such a blast playing gigs, being joined on stage by Tracy McNeil, Dan Parsons, Bree Hartley, Jordie Lane and Clare Reynolds – and the Winding River Harmony Workshop we did gave us spine tingles! Huge thanks to Phaedra and the gang for a mighty festival experience.

At our Minya Winery and Mountain Pickers Association shows we were also greeted by fabulous audiences who were certainly up for celebrating! We felt really loved and special being there.

So now the second leg of our celebrations roll on in a few weeks… Details below, and in the meantime, we’ll be back in the studio putting down some new tracks.

SAT 28 APR: Union Hotel, Brunswick VIC. Playing again at our favourite local, with special guests. FREE / MAY 4-7: Wintermoon Festival, Camerons Pocket, Mount Charlton QLD. Held on a beautiful property halfway between Mackay and Proserpine, this festival in North Queensland is set against the stunning backdrop of Eungella National Park. We’ll also get to slip out onto the Great Barrier Reef so bring on the sunshine! / SUN 20 MAY: The Shed, Maryknoll VIC. We can’t wait for this very special house concert, hosted by a couple of very awesome music lovers – this is a ripper for the diary. Bookings recommended. Email: bonesy.mackinnon@gmail.com

More shows and announcements coming up again soon! See you ’round!
xoxo Nad, John, Colin, Richo and Greg

A DECADE OF THE STETSON FAMILY!

It all started out when three members of 80s synth-pop band Schizo Scherzo met 20 years after the band split up – throw in a banjo, take out the synthesizer and roto drums, add some sweet harmonies – and now, 10 years down the track as Americana-bluegrass band The Stetson Family, we’re still happily rolling. Our first ever Stetson gig was at the closing of Melbourne’s iconic Rainbow Hotel, that ‘dirty hotel’ that we loved so much, which is the setting in our song Dark Side of Town.

Synths, flat tops and mullets eventually gave way to banjos, felt hats and denim (Thank God!)
For me, Nad, John Bartholomeusz and Colin Swan, we’re not just joined by our musical history from the 80s when it was all about chasing the dream of a recording exec coming to our shows and signing us – (we were “the next big thing” that never happened) – these days we just genuinely love creating music together. We like writing it, singing it and playing it, and if people come to our shows and enjoy it, then that’s what floats our boat – pretty simple really! (sidenote: If you have a stack of old Countdown magazines, flick through and keep an eye out for us back in our 20s when we opened for Farnsy on his Whispering Jack tour, as well as supporting The Eurythmics and The Monkees. What a time!).

This year we’re celebrating our 10 years together as The Stetson Family, with fellow members Luke Richardson and Greg Field by playing some very special shows and festivals. We’d love you to join us somewhere along the road. The first of our Decade of the Stetsons mini-tours is coming up later this month.

SAT 24 FEB: Minya Winery, Connewarre VIC. This is an extra special setting with the Moonlight Concert Series stage set in an amphitheatre overlooking a billabong… I kid you not, it’s gorgeous! Bookings are essential for this show

TUE 27 FEB: Mountain Pickers Association, Ferntree Gully VIC. We’re delighted to once again head out to the Dandenongs and play for this wonderful bunch of music lovers. It’s always amazing to see so many people gathered (especially on a weeknight!) ready to kick up their heals. Tickets

MAR 2-5: Nannup Music Festival, WA. We’re heading out west for the first time! Crossing the Nullabor to play the amazing Nannup Music Festival with many of our good pals (Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife, Dan Parsons, Jordie Lane), set amongst the old Jarrah trees. Come on over! Tickets

There’s more special shows and festival announcements coming up!
See you ’round!
xoxo Nad, John, Colin, Richo and Greg

Happy release day for our new single ‘Brother’! Hope you enjoy it x

True North has once again been included in the Top Americana Country Chart 2016 on America’s Roots Music Report – second year in a row! We’ve come in at #41, which was a really unexpected but great surprise. Big cheers and thanks for the support from the many US radio stations who’ve had us on their playlists!

Great reviews keep coming in too from the other side of the globe: “The Stetson Family is based in Australia, but the rugged, down-to-earth charm of their music is universal.  True North is a ‘must-have’ album.” The Music Shelf – Wisconsin USA.

Closer to home we were very proud to be nominated for Best Group 2016 at the Australian Independent Country Music Awards last September and to be on the line-up for some amazing festivals around the country.  As a self-managed, independent band it’s gratifying to be acknowledged by our peers, audiences and radio, so thanks to all the people who keep coming along to our shows, buying our music and spinning our tunes.

2017 sees us celebrating our 10th anniversary – 10 years!!! – so we’re gearing up for some special shows later in the year.   Stay tuned!

As 2016 came to a close we raised a glass to our dear Andy, whom we continue to miss, but we’ll keep playing his songs and take his indelible spirit with us wherever we go…

And if you’re up for a huge belly laugh, click below for a stirling Stetson stage dive when we played the world’s skinniest stage at a little gig on a Tuesday night in the hills…

– Nad, John, Colin, Luke & Greg

It sure was a great way to burst into Spring to find out we’d been nominated for Independent Group/Duo of the Year at the Australian Independent Country Music Awards! We didn’t take home something shiny for the mantel piece but we’re mighty chuffed for the nomination and extend our congrats to all the winners.

We’ve got a couple of shows coming up that we’re really excited about. On November 5 at the Caravan Club we team up with our nearest and dearest, the fabulous Tracy McNeil & The Goodlife, to celebrate the southside launch of their already highly acclaimed album Thieves, and our latest release True North spending seven months on US charts. What’s not to celebrate!  Tix onsale now….

But firstly, now that daylight savings has switched on, it’s time to take a trip out west for Out on the Weekend. We’re stoked to be playing this fabulous festival on October 15, amongst an amazing line-up of local and overseas artists.

So don’t forget to get out there and support live music and the musicians who make it!

We also be heading to the other side of the mountain, Nov 18-20, for this year’s Mountaingrass Festival of Bluegrass and Old Time Music. It’s in the gorgeous town of Harrietville and is the home of the finest pickin’ around!

Doors open at 8pm (Show 8.40pm )
Price: Reserved Seats$29+bf, General Admission$20+bf
$23 at door if available

Tix on sale now!

Hey Brisbanites, come hang with us, have a dance, drink apple whiskey and maybe throw an undergarment over a moose’s head as we hit Australia’s favourite old-time music hall, Lefty’s. We’ll be letting the reigns loose and playing three big sets with every song we know: 15 Caxton St, Brisbane City QLD FREE! 

And we’re so excited to be invited back to one of our all-time favourite festivals, the Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass, August 19-20. As an extra special Stetson Family member, we’ll have Gleny Rae, that heel-kickin’ fiddler from The Junes & Gleny Rae Virus & her Playboys joining us, and word on the vine has us teaming up to form a super-fun-group with The Original Cartridge Family!

Last but certainly not least, we couldn’t be more thrilled to be included in the line-up for Out on the Weekend 2016! This festival is a major highlight on Melbourne’s bursting Americana and Alt-Country scene. Click here for the international and Australian line-up, including Marlon Williams, Lindi Ortega, Jo Pug, Cash Savage..lots more.  Put a big ol’ star on your calendar for this one ‘cause you won’t want to miss it!

The last 12 months has been one helluva roller-coaster ride for The Stetson Family, full of the highest of highs, lots of music and laughter, and of course profound sadness as we come to terms with the loss of our best mate and mando player, Andy Carswell, in March. When Andy was diagnosed with cancer three years ago we set about spending as many precious moments together as we could, playing music, writing, recording and generally hanging out doing what we love. Out of this came our third album, True North. We’re so glad we got to finish and release it while Andy was still well – and what a cracker of a time we had touring the album last October, full of moments on and off stage we’ll treasure forever.

It’s been pretty amazing and celebratory to see True North not only hit charts in the USA but remain on the Roots Music Report chart for seven months, reaching #7 on the Top 50 Americana-Country chart, and #1 – yep #1 – on the RMR Australian Albums chart, alongside Oz music luminaries, Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, Courtney Barnett and our good mate, Fiona Boyes. Go little album go!

If you’re here in Melbourne, Australia, we hope to see you on Sunday the 29^th of May as we raise a glass to our little buddy, Andy, at his favourite local, The Union, with loads of special guests. More details soon – in the meantime, keep on keepin’ on!

Hi everyone. Normally when we send out newsletters it’s to say what a whizz-bang time we’ve been having with The Stetson Family, so it’s with a heavy heart that this newsletter is to let people know that our mandolin player, Andy Carswell, passed away recently. Those close to the band have known that three and a half years ago Andy was diagnosed with liver cancer. Being the humble and philosophical person he was, Andy played this very close to his chest, and, as the band, we followed his lead and kept it on the down-low. He never wanted a fuss made and he wanted to keep playing with us whenever and wherever he could. Treatment at times made this not possible, then when he was back on his feet it was as if nothing was wrong and back to the business of having fun and playing, writing songs and touring round the countryside having a ball.

The ‘family’ part of The Stetson Family has never felt more true. John and Andy knew each other since childhood down in the Latrobe Valley, being best mates since their crazy teenage days – and the rest of us, apart from the young’un, Luke, have known eachother and played music together on and off for over 30 years. We’re all still reeling from the fact that one of us has now gone – our friend, band member, co-writer and fellow traveller….you were the best Andy, and we’ll love and miss you till the cows come home.

 We’d like to say a huge thank you to the amazing players who have stepped in for Andy over the last few years, often at short notice. We’re gathering these fabulous, talented, fun-lovin’ folk – Greg Field, Gleny Rae, Marni Sheehan, Nick O’Mara, Ian Tritt and Pete Fidler – and having a tribute to Andy on Sunday 29 May at the Union Hotel, Brunswick, 5-7 pm. We’d love you to join us and raise a glass to our little buddy, Andrew Carswell.

x x x John, Nad, Swanny and Luke

News flash – It’s been quite a week with news that True North made the cut onto the USA’s Roots Music Report Best of 2015 Americana-Country Albums. It’s one of the few “self releases” on there…we’re pretty proud of that.

It also turned up on a Top 10 Best of 2015 List in Italy’s premier music magazine Buscadero.  Mama Mia!  

2015, what a year you’ve been!  After recording most of our third album last year, we began this year putting final tracking down and then headed into the mixing cave and emerged a few months later with the finished project, True North. We released it in Australia and the USA in August and we’re mighty proud to say that our self-produced, independently-released album sees out 2015 at #26 on the Top 50 Americana-Folk Albums on the Roots Music Report Chart, and #4 on the Roots 66 Alternate Root Charts in America! Thank you so much to all the US broadcasters who have kept it on high rotation.  It’s kinda weird to know so many people are hearing our music over there (weird in a really good way) and True North is out in the world with a life of its own. Good on you, little album!

Read some of the nice things people from all over the world have written about True North HERE

Thanks to everyone who came to our shows, had a dance, had a chat, bought an album, wore a T-shirt or kept your beer cold with a groovy Stetson Family stubby holder.  You’re the best!! See you round in 2016.

 Nad, John, Swan, Eck and Luke

Boy, there’s been lots happening since last we spoke!  The new album, True North, is well out there making its own way in the world, and we’re tickled pink to say it’s had lots of airplay here and overseas – enough to put it on some airplay charts in the US.  It entered the Roots Music Report, Top 50 Americana Country Albums, making its way to #37, and the song ‘Let it Ride’ hit #20 on the Top 50 Americana Singles. Woot!

We’ve also been receiving really great reviews from all over the place – including Czechoslovakia, Italy, Benelux and the Netherlands!

After the official launch here in Melbourne we played some regional Victorian gigs before Nad and Luke took off to check out the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. We had a blast – and that’s putting it mildly. There’s so much great music out there in the world and to be in the midst of a city like Nashville surrounded by it is truly inspiring, and fun! You never know who you’re going to bump into (and without getting too big headed, let’s just say it might’ve been Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, and Del McCoury…..look!)

  Now we’re back and gearing up to head north on our Album Tour this Friday for some pretty special gigs. We hit the Gold Coast on Saturday for some Miami Marketta fun, then on Sunday we’re doing a very special “double-launch” show in Mullumbimby (Ex-services, Club Mullum) with the one and only Suzannah Espie, who’s touring her extraordinary new album, Mother’s Not Feeling Herself Today. We’re delighted to have Suzannah guesting on our album on the song ‘Every Second Beat of My Heart‘, and Nad is part of the beautiful choir of women on Suzannah’s album on the heart-wrenching ‘I’m Sorry‘. No doubt there’ll be some cross-pollination at the double launch in Mullum – but wait, there’s more!  We’ll also be joined by the fabulously talented and bloody funny Gleny Rae (The Junes, Gleny Rae Virus) who’s coming up to play fiddle with us. What more could we ask for? We’ll then have a few days of annual Stetson whale watching in Ballina before heading down the coast to Sawtell to check out what the fuss is about at 63 First Ave, then it’s on to Dorrigo for our first ever Dorrigo Bluegrass Festival. We’ve been hanging out to play this festival, so look out, here we come!

The fun then continues back here in Victoria on Friday 30th October for a lunchtime in-store at Melbourne’s independent music institution Basement Discs, then we head to Maldon Music Festival, then we’ll wrap up the tour at Jamgrass 2015 at its new venue at Bundoora Parklands!

Phew – busy!  Hope to see you at gig somewhere!  Nad, John, Swan, Eck and Luke

We’re hittin’ the road with our new album TRUE NORTH…hope to see you somewhere in our travels!

So the official launch of our third album TRUE NORTH exceeded all our expectations as we played to a joyous full house at The Spotted Mallard on Sunday July 26, along with some of Melbourne’s finest musicians and generally awesome people, Suzannah Espie, Dan Parsons, Bree Hartley, Nick O’Mara & Greg Field as our “extended family” guests. We were overjoyed at the turn-out and over the moon at the response we got from such a wonderful audience. In short, we had a ball and want to give huge thanks to the people who came and helped us celebrate the last couple of years of making the album.

(Photo by David Harris, Festivals Of Australia)

In early July we pre-released True North into the United States and popped a bottle of bubbles when it finished #2 Bluegrass/Folk Album for the month of July and #6 Top 50 Albums across all genres on APD Global Radio Indicator Chart (broadcast industry chart). True North is distributed through MGM Distribution and is now available in stores (our faves here in Melbourne town being Basement Discs and Readings – keepin’ it real and independent) and online from August 7.  You know you want a copy! (Buy Physical or Buy Digital)

Reviews have begun to flow – and they’re good!!!  They’ve come from all over the world including Czechoslovakia, and we even found ourselves on a cover of something in Uruguay with Kenny Rogers. Just goes to show you gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away and know when to run! Here’s a few snippets of reviews True North has received so far:

“It is with their originals that this band shines…. all songs have the potential to become classics! “ Niall Toner (Ireland), Prescription Bluegrass, Kingman, Arizona

“With their tight harmonies and vibrant sound, it’s hard to believe that The Stetson Family has only been together since 2008.  They blend like one of the legendary bluegrass or country families, and on TRUE NORTH they sound better than ever with some of their best material yet.”
Rick Moore, American Songwriter and Music News Los Angeles

“In 29 years of presenting the program I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about an Australian bluegrass recording….they’ve gone to a whole new level with this one.” Bill Lawson, Bluegrass Unlimited, Radio Adelaide, SA

(Photo by David Harris, Festivals Of Australia)

Thanks to Suttons House of Music, The Old Hepburn Hotel and Major Toms for hosting our regional launches.  Big shout out too to Bangalow Bluegrass & BBQ Festival in northern NSW. I had such a kickin’ time guesting with the Mid North and just being at this pearler of a festival. Put it in your calendar for 2016!

(Photo by Lyn McCarthy, Niche Pictures)

We’ll have a little hiatus through September while Nad heads to the US to check out the Americana Music Festival (and has a cool road trip) and then we’ll be back for some gigs up the East Coast and some pretty fun festival announcements.

Hope to see you round the traps real soon!
Nad, John, Colin, Andy & Luke

With the launch of our third album, True North, just a week away, we’re happy to say that we’ve been completely blown away by the response we’ve had in the lead-up to its release and we’re really excited that our new album will be fully let loose soon to go off into the world all on its own! Be free, little album – have fun out there!

Here’s some of the media feedback True North has received over the last couple of weeks:

“With their tight harmonies and vibrant sound, it’s hard to believe that The Stetson Family has only been together since 2008.  They blend like one of the legendary Bluegrass or Country families, and on TRUE NORTH, they sound better than ever with some of their best material yet.” Rick Moore, American Songwriter and Music News Los Angeles
Enjoying our spot at #1 on a US radio broadcast download chart and some airplay in Uruguay:

ALBUM LAUNCH ON SALE NOW!

It’s been two years coming, making it’s way through hell and high water to get here, and now we’re thrilled to be launching album number three, True North.

True North is grassy with more than a hint of down-home Americana, and follows in the footsteps of Hey Sister Mary, Where’d You Get That Gun, and The Devil In His Sunday Best, noted by Rhythms Magazine as “a landmark Australian roots album”.

True North will be let loose on Sunday July 26 at The Spotted Mallard, 4-7pm (presale tickets on sale now through trybooking.com).

Joining us on the day to help celebrate will be ‘extended family’ members in the form of Suzannah Espie on a BV or two, Nick O’Mara bringing home some steel geetar, and Bree Hartley drumming up a storm, plus more!

Opening the arvo, is troubadour, Dan Parsons, with his sublime songs evoking the halcyon days of Laurel Canyon and all-night jams at Big Pink.

So look to the stars and head True North – and we’ll see you at the Spotted Mallard!!!

Nad, John, Swan, Andy and Luke

Greetings fellow Earthlings!

Yes, we know we haven’t sent out a newsletter for months, but we’ve been busy as busy bees and, let’s face it, who needs too many newsletters!  We thought though we’d just let you know that the new album is set to launch on Sunday July 26, at The Spotted Mallard here in our beloved Brunswick – epicentre of Melbourne’s thriving live-music scene (insert sound of popping champagne cork here!). We’ll let you know about ticket details soon.

So we now go into some non-gigging time while Swanny heads off on his annual family OS adventure, but with the way time is flying by, we’ll be back playing live in no time.

We’ve had some smashing gigs and festivals so far this year, culminating in a very celebratory gig last Saturday night at The Union Hotel. It was a corker way to end this run of gigs and festivals and we can’t wait to get back in the saddle in July with the new album under our belts.

So until next we meet, take care out there in world, be kind to each other  and keep on keepin’ on!

x x x Nad, John, Eck, Luke and Swanny

Thanks to all who came to our first gig for 2015 at the Union last month and making it a standing-room only affair. It was a great start to the year!

Last weekend we headed out of Melbourne to the Minya Winery near Torquay. It was definitely one of the most beautiful settings we’ve ever played, an amphitheatre on a billabong…and after a brief spell of summer rain at sunset, the sky put on a quite show for us – check out the photo below. Promise there’s no fancy filters or anything, just nature at her best…..stunning! And what a great audience, including the dancer who joined us on stage after sampling the winery produce. Lots of fun and great hospitality from our hosts.

Nice to also see that our single Travellin’ Man has been getting some spins over in the States too…

We’ve got some great festivals coming up (click on the show tab to see where), and in the meantime we’re putting some final touches on the brand spankin’ new album, which we’re pretty excited about. Obviously more about that over the next few months in the lead-up to its release. Till then, see you at the Yarra Hotel’s birthday party, along with a bunch of other terrific Melbourne bands, or at a festival near you!

Nad, Johnny, Swanny, Eck and Richo

It’s time to kick back a bit as the year winds down and we get to hang out on the back porch and hit the beach for the summer.  Our last gig for the year is on Saturday the 20^th of December at The Union Hotel in Brunswick – no better place to drink something bubbly and play some tunes.

It’s been a creative and inspiring year for us ‘cause we got ourselves back into the studio to record the new album, which will be coming out in the first half of 2015.  With our Stetson studio being sold last year we had to look around for somebody to work with and could not have made a better choice than the ever-so lovely Colin Wynne at Thirty Mill Studio. What a gem is our Col! So the album’s all tracked and is now in the mixing stage – my favourite stage! We released the two-sided single, Travellin’ Man / Haunted Hills in November and have been getting lots of airplay so we can’t wait to get the rest of the album out into the world.

We’ve also played some fabulous festivals this year, including our very first National Folk Festival, the Lost Highway Karuah Bluegrass Festival and the Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival. Karuah and Bangalow were first-time festivals and I have to say they were both excellently run and fantastic fun. We LOVE festivals! Get on their websites and check them out and start planning now for 2015.

We also want to give a big shout out to Mick Thomas and Clanger and all the gang at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford. They had us there for the November Sunday arvo residency and we had a ball. How lucky are we to live in Melbourne with such a vibrant live-music scene!

Also where would we be without the world’s best community radio stations, RRR and PBS, not to mention our local ABC radio – give them all the support you can….they need it now more than ever!

Last but so-very-not least, thanks to all the folk who come along to our gigs, have a laugh with us, buy our music and generally be great audiences. Without you….well, it just wouldn’t be as fun!

See you at The Union on Saturday – or check the gig guide for when we’re back. (You won’t have to wait that long – back in January). Have a great Christmas, stay safe, and keep on keepin’ on!

x x x  Nad, John, Swan, Eck and Luke

Since their last release, The Devil In His Sunday Best (described by Rhythms Magazine as “a landmark Australian roots album”), The Stetson Family haven’t been resting on their laurels – far from it! In 2013 they released a compilation, O Winding River, in the USA which achieved chart success (even spending a day at #1 as the most downloaded album across nearly 900 US radio stations) and gained international recognition in the UK and Europe.

Now they are excited to release a ‘double-single’,  Travellin’ Man and Haunted Hills from their upcoming album (due early 2015). To celebrate, The Stetson Family will be playing a month of Sunday arvos from 4-6pm at The Yarra Hotel – every punter and Melbourne muso‘s favourite live music venue!

Travellin’ Man – the true story of a man whose lived his lonely life along the banks of the Murray with only the sky as his blanket and the moon as his light…

Haunted Hills – set in the spooky Gippsland hills where there’s strange disappearances and no-one knows why the cattle stampede on the east side of the hill…

“Every now and then, if you’re patient, you discover a real treasure trove of wonderful music. That’s exactly what happened to me when I first played The Stetson Family ‘O Winding River’ album. Superb harmonies, outstanding musicians and top quality production makes this album a must for all lovers of Bluegrass and country music.” Joe Fish – BBC Radio UK

“The Stetson Family’s sound is what happens when veteran musicians and vocalists are confident of their strengths and are dedicated to the music as a whole instead of individual contribution.” Prescription Bluegrass, Arizona

What a great time we had at our first National Folk Festival! We jumped on a plane early Good Friday morning and touched down to bright blue skies and a festival already buzzing with people. There began four days of playing gigs to very appreciative audiences, and catching shows of other performers, and generally hanging out enjoying the very friendly festival vibe. Amongst the many highlights was a spell-binding concert from Archie Roach, beautiful shows from Tift Merritt and Lindi Ortega, and lots of laughs as well as amazing music from Jordie Lane & Clare Reynolds. A huge shout out goes to all the soundies at the festival. As we all know, the quality of the sound can make or break a show for both performers and audience, and the guys and gals at the National were all top notch – hats off to you all. Huge thanks to all the people that bought our CDs and came and said ‘hi’. Given that many people simply download musicians’ music freely these days or have no qualms in telling you how they’ve burnt your CD for all their friends, we really appreciate you supporting us.

Next weekend it’s off to Karuah Bluegrass Music Festival (just north of Newcastle NSW) for some more fun times on the banks of the river, then back to go and put some more songs down in the studio. Lots of Melbourne gigs happening at well, so hope to see you somewhere soon

Nad, John, Swan, Eck and Luke

March – how did that happen!! Last time I looked we were cracking a bottle of champagne, counting down from 10 backwards and welcoming in 2014, now summer has come to an end and before long we’ll be eating Easter eggs, hot cross buns and putting the heater on!

It’s Wednesday night, which in Stetson parlance is kebab-and-rehearsal night, so Nad’s house is full of new songs being worked up which we’ll be cracking out at up-coming gigs around Melbourne.

And we’re also revved up and excited to be back in the studio recording the next album, this time around with the mighty Colin Wynne, the man with the cheekiest grin in music, at his wonderful Thirty Mill Studios.  It’s been a couple of years since the last album, but Stetson Family life has been like the third drawer down in my kitchen, in other words, full of a bit of everything, so we’re really excited to be back in a space where we can all get together and record again.

At Easter next month we head north to Canberra where The Stetson Family hit the National Folk Festival for the first time. It’s a corker line-up and we’re chuffed to be part of it – then it’s on to Lost Highway Karuah Bluegrass Music Festival in Port Stephens to play music and hang out with some of the finest and funniest musos around!

All in all a busy, fun, creative and exciting time!  See you somewhere ‘round soon – Nad, John, Luke, Andy and Colin

Well, there it is, another year done and dusted! I love this time of year, crazy as it is in that lead-up to Christmas and New Year. When it all calms down and all the food, drink and festivities subside, it’s a great time to kick back and ponder the year that’s been and make plans for the year ahead.

2013 was certainly a big and surprising year for the Stetsons – most excitingly it offered us the opportunity to focus on getting our music outside of Australia. It was quite a project sending our music across the oceans, but as with most things that take time and effort, the feedback has been fabulous and we’ve actually found ourselves hitting some charts in the U.S. and picked up some great reviews. We want to tip our hats and say thanks to all the radio broadcasters who have embraced our music – where would we be with you! We also want to give a big shout out of thanks to the wonderful Bree Hartley for her unwavering support and assistance, and to all the folk that come to our gigs, buy our albums, and to the venues and festivals that keep live music thriving. Good karma to all of you!

2014 will see us recording a brand spanking new album (which we’re very excited about) and we’ve got some great gigs coming up and some festival announcements soon.

All in all we’re so happy that the Stetson wheels keep rollin’ along and we feel pretty blessed to all be around and making music together. We hope to see you round the traps or round the world soon and wish you all a happy and healthy 2014. Keep on keepin’ on!

We’re also hugely excited that O Winding River has been included on the following U.S. charts during 2013:

• #43 Roots Music Report – Roots/Country Top 50 Albums, Dec
• #3 Roots Music Report – Australia Roots Chart, Nov
• #13 The Alternate Root, Sept
• #5 AirPlay Direct – Top 50 Bluegrass/Folk, Sept
• #3 Foggy Hollow, Aug
• #15 WAGS Radio, South Carolina, Sept

x Nad, John, Andy, Colin & Luke

What an interesting and great year it’s been so far. Exactly a year ago Johnny and I found ourselves on a plane heading to Nashville for a whirlwind week to present O Winding River at the International Bluegrass Music Association songwriter showcase. We had an amazing time witnessing the ‘tradition’ of bluegrass in full flight, watching players who had grown up with the music coursing through their veins. We met great people and saw some of the most amazing pickers in the world! At the same time we got to observe the raging debate of “what is bluegrass today”? This was interesting to us as we’ve never considered ourselves purely a bluegrass band. We just do what we do and respectfully tip our hats to the genre and hope people like our music.

When we returned, for reasons that life threw our way, we couldn’t play gigs for a while, so we decided to put a compilation album together made up of songs from Hey Sister Mary and The Devil in His Sunday Best to send over to people we’d met in Nashville to introduce them to some more Stetson Family music. The idea then became a bit bigger and grew into trying our hand at independently releasing an album in the U.S. We set about the huge task of navigating our way through the vast U.S. frontier and sending our new project O Winding River on it’s merry way. To cut a long story short, the album took flight and to our great surprise turned up at #5 on the Top 50 Bluegrass/Folk Albums on the Global Radio Indicator Charts for August, and is still loitering on there at #11 as we write this. We then discovered it had made the Alternate Roots Chart, making it’s way to #14. Then to our further amazement, we realised it had crossed the Atlantic to the UK and Europe and we were contacted by many stations there including two BBC stations telling us we were on their playlists. Go you good thing!

Howdy! We’re back. Holidays are over, therefore it’s time to get down to the serious business of playing fun music. We’ve got some shows coming up at some of Melbourne’s favourite venues, check out the gig page for more info.

If you’re wondering what to do with dear old Dad this Father’s Day (Sunday September 1), we’re doing a lunch show at the gorgeous Hickenbotham Winery in Dromana with a view across the vines to the bay. Bookings are essential for this special event.

We’re thrilled to be a part of JamGrass 2013 once again and what a top line-up it is! It just gets bigger and better each year, so be sure to check it out and get your ticket – this is a three-day event not to be missed at the beautiful Thornbury Theatre. Also coming up is a fun weekend up at the Guildford Banjo Jamboree. We’re looking forward to getting up there and having a good ol’ pick. We’re on around 2pm on the Saturday arvo, so make sure you get there early.

In late-breaking news, yesterday we stepped back into the studio to lay down the first notes of a new album. Exciting!

It’s great to be back – see you all soon.

– Nad, John, Andy, Colin & Luke

It’s time to board that big ol’ jet plane once again and head off for our annual winter break. This time we’re scattered around the planet in far-flung places like New York, Croatia and Thailand. It’s a great time to get out of the Melbourne chill and reflect on all the things that have been happening for the band, and to gear up for the second half of the year. There’s a new single release coming up here in Australia, as well as our first album making it’s way to the USA after being in Nashville in September last year for the International Bluegrass Music Association songwriter showcase. Woo hoo!

So bon voyage from all us until mid-August, when we’ll be back playing some gigs around town, releasing the new single and announcing the summer festivals!

In the meantime, keep on keepin’ on!

– Nad, John, Swanny, Eck and Luke

Here we are once again, as the days get shorter and the afternoon shadows get longer. Autumn is such a magic time in Melbourne.

We want to give a big shout out of thanks and gratitude to all the people who have been supportive of us over these last few months.  As many of you will know our John was diagnosed with Lymphoma last year and has been a pretty crook bloke, hence us not playing very much.  We’re incredibly happy and relieved to report that the treatment he’s been undergoing has gone really well and he’s expecting to be off the bench and match fit again soon. Phew!  We’ll be laying pretty low over April but will be back fighting fit with a bunch of local gigs and new songs in May, before heading up to Queensland for the inaugural Broadbeach Country Music Festival.  Check all gig details here.

So once again, thanks for all the kind words and good vibes.  We couldn’t do it it without him, and we couldn’t do it without you!

Cheers,
Nad, John, Swanny, Andy and Richo

We’re back! And ready to get down to the business of having some serious fun in 2013. It’s always great to get back from holidays, regroup and have a good ol’ catch up about what pressies we all got for Christmas, then check the calendar and see what’s coming up. It all kicks off this Saturday at our old fave, The Drunken Poet. Lots more from then on including a live-to-air for Triple R from the Sydney Road Street Party, The Clarkefield Music Festival (a big bash to raise funds for the Cambodian Kids’ Foundation with us, Mick Thomas, Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel, Tim Rogers, The Toot Toot Toots and lots more), Healesville Music Festival and a jaunt up to Queensland for the inaugural Broadbeach Country Music Festival.

A big thanks goes out to Felicity Urquhart of ABC’s Saturday Night Country for including our song, O’ Winding River, on the Favourites of 2012 compilation. It’s available now at your local ABC Shop or you can buy it here.

While Nad is usually found performing within the comforting surrounds of the band, this week she was a guest at the Unpaved Songwriter Sessions, solo (yep, solo, for the second time ever!) playing in the company of two of Melbourne’s finest, Sal Kimber and the dapper Dan Lethbridge. The Unpaved Songwriter Session at The Old Bar is based on Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe songwriter sessions. It’s a true up-close-and-personal listening experience, and yet another reason why Melbourne’s live-music scene is second to none in Australia.

We hope you’ve all had a great start to 2013 and wish everyone the best of health and look forward to seeing you at a gig soon.

Don’t know about you, but as the year torpedos to a close, we’re sure looking forward to some quality time with friends and family and all the excesses that this time of year brings!

We’re wrapping up 2012 with our final shows this weekend – Friday night at the fabulous Coburg Night Market (presented by the Queen Vic Night Market folk) which is a great way to spend a balmy evening with wonderful food, wine and music on offer under the palm trees at Bridges Reserve on Bell St, near the corner of Sydney Rd. Then on Saturday, you’ll find us at The Union Hotel in Brunswick from 5pm ‘knee-deep in the Bluegrass groove’ (if there is such a thing!).

It’s been a really great, busy year touring and playing, and it’s sure had its highs – one of which was our inclusion at the International Bluegrass Music Association ‘World of Bluegrass’ in Nashville, Tennessee  – and our nominations for Best Group and Best Song at the Victorian and National Country Music Awards.

As a nice way to cap off the year, we’ve recently learned that O Winding River will be included on the ABC’s Saturday Night Country Favourites of 2012 compilation, due for release in January 2013. Thanks Felicity Urquhart for your impeccable taste in music!

We’d like to give a special hats-off to these amazing musicians: Ian Tritt, Marni Sheehan and Nick O’Mara, who have become part of the extended Stetson Family this year. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Already 2013 is gearing up to be another big year with a bunch of new songs ready to be recorded, travel plans and festivals booked.

So, however you’re spending Christmas and New Year we hope you have a really happy, safe and healthy holiday season.

31,047.6 kilometres for a five-minute gig – that’s gotta be some kind of record!  That’s how far Nad and John travelled last week from Melbourne Australia to Nashville Tennessee and back again to play one song, O’ Winding River, which had been chosen as one of 10 songs to be showcased at the International Bluegrass Music “World of Bluegrass 2012” Conference and Festival.

And what a week it was – we were loving ourselves as we were driving our Chevy out of the airport until we turned left directly onto the airport exit ramp – we weren’t going to let that Wrong Way Go back sign tell us what to do!

Okay, so now we’re back on the right side of the road, we’ve had a bit of sleep, we’ve eaten some ribs, got some Oreos and we’ve been to see the Tennessee Titans show those Detroit Lions how it’s done.  All good – now it’s down to business.

Our five-minute gig (no pressure there!) went off without a hitch. All nerves aside, it was a lot of fun and we met some great people and saw some of the most incredibly talented pickers who’ve grown up with bluegrass coursing through their veins.

The next few days we just took in all the music and sights and sounds of Nashville and saw the very cool Alabama Shakes play on the steps of the courthouse. They’ll be here in January – be sure to check them out.

All in all we felt pretty chuffed to be invited over there and to be amongst some of the greats……it’s not every day you get to sit around a table with John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and hear first hand how in 1972 they managed to get together two generations of musicians, amongst them Earl Scrugg, Doc Watson, Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff and Merle Travis and record in one weekend the album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, that’s gone on to be one of the finest documents of folk music and musicians ever to be gathered under the same roof.

Back home now but I can still hear the night-time circus of crickets and that American sound of freight trains sounding their whistles off in the distance …good times.

Now, we get to pack our bags again and head off and play some gigs in NSW, SA, Melbourne and Regional Victoria.  Check out the gigs below and hope to see you somewhere along the way. There are still tickets left for JamGrass but be quick as they’re selling fast!

We’ll be in having a chat with Lindy Burns on her evening show on ABC 774 Melbourne on Tuesday 16 October and performing O’ Winding River live in the studio.

On Tuesday September 25, Nad and John will hit the stage in Nashville, Tennessee, to perform their song O Winding River, which has been chosen as one of 11 songs to be showcased at this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association’s ‘World of Bluegrass Conference 2012′.

The Nashville trip coincides with the release of O Winding River as the second single from The Devil in His Sunday Best and when they return, the full band will head off on a tri-state tour, playing gigs and festivals in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia throughout October/November.

Be sure to tune into 774 ABC Melbourne on Tuesday October 16 @ 9.30pm to hear O Winding River performed live in the studio on Evenings with Lindy Burns, plus stories direct from Music City USA.

We’re back from our mini break and have some pretty exciting news we’d love to share. Happy to report that O Winding River (from The Devil In His Sunday Best) has been selected to be showcased at this year’s International Bluegrass Music Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Nad and John will be heading over in September to present the song. A long way to go for a 5 minute gig, but we’re very chuffed indeed and can’t wait to check out the sights and sounds of Nashville!

First gig back is this Saturday (July 28) at The Union Hotel, Brunswick from 9pm. We’re also heading out of town the following weekend to Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel in Beechworth and St Leonard’s Winery in Wahgunyah. Check out the gig page for all details of upcoming shows.

Hope to see you soon…we’ve missed you!

Photo by Tony Proudfoot from ‘These Machines Cut Razor Wire’ with Bree Hartley, Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair

The Stetsons are now on their annual mini break – heading off to different parts of theworld. Look out Telluride, NYC, Croatia and Northern NSW!

They’ll be back in August with some new songs and rarin’ to play. Check gig details here, with lots more to be announced. See you on the flip side!

Is it May already? Time sure does fly when you’re havin’ as much fun as us!

It’s been a great festival season, having played to really fabulous audiences around Victoria. Most recently we headed down the Great Ocean Road to the Apollo Bay Music Festival where we had two great fun gigs – one in the big top and one in a church with a view across the bay…special moments indeed. At Easter we hit Beechworth with lots of our favourite Melbourne musicians travelling in convoy to the Golden Horseshoes Festival – it was like our very own version of ‘Festival Express’! A weekend of incredible music and lots of laughs, not to mention the odd sore head or two.

Congratulations and thanks to the organisers of the inaugural Avoca Festival (a gem of a gig – check it out next year) and to Les Thomas for putting together a great show, ‘These Machines Cut Razor Wire’ which raised over $3000 for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.

This brings us to our last couple of gigs until August, as we all take a well-earned mini break. Some of us head to Colorado to check out the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, some go to Croatia and New York City, and some of us pop up north for the annual Humpback whale migration…how’s that for a bit of variety!

We’d love to see you this weekend at The Union Hotel in Brunswick (Sat 9pm) or at The Drunken Poet in West Melbourne (Sun 6pm).

Til we see you again in August, keep the home fires burnin’.

– Nad, Colin, John, Andy, Luke

If you happen to be getting out of Melbourne over the next few months, you might run into us at any of the fine music festivals that seem to be in abundance in Victoria over Autumn. Such a gorgeous time to get out of town and into the surrounding countryside. If you find yourself wondering what to do over Easter, there’d be no better place to be than in beautiful Beechworth for the Golden Horseshoes festival. Some of Melbourne’s finest will be playing there such as Liz Stringer & Van Walker, Tracy McNeil Band and Raised By Eagles as well as us. Rumour has it that we’ll all be sharing the stage together at some point – that’s gonna be big!

Other festivals you’ll catch us at are Avoca Music Festival and Apollo Bay Music Festival. Check out the gig guide to find out where we’re playing around Melbourne too.

Something else we’d love you to throw your support behind is ‘These Machines Cut Razor Wire‘ – a fundraiser for the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre – coming up at The Thornbury Theatre on Sunday April 15. It’s a great lineup and we’re happy to be a part of it and stop these issues being pushed onto the backburner.

We’re back!

Holidays are over and 2012 is already gearing up to be quite a year.  After a ripper of a year in 2011 with the release of our album, The Devil In His Sunday Best to great reviews, we’re extremely chuffed to find out that we are finalists in not one, but TWO categories of the Victorian & National Country Music Awards for ’Best Group’ and ‘Best Song’ for our single Fool’s Gold. Fingers crossed that we’ll bring home something that can go straight into the pool room!

Now that we’re all back in the same place at the same time, gigs are starting up as of next weekend where we hit Oakleigh’s Caravan Music Club with our good mates Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel. You’ll also see us around numerous festivals in the next couple of months. Hope you’ve all had a great start to 2012. We can’t wait to get back into playin’ and hope to see you at a gig soon.

The Devil In His Sunday Best is now available at JB Hi-Fi stores around Australia and online at iTunes. Thanks Vitamin Records! You can also pick up a copy at your local independent record store such as Readings, Basement Discs and Pure Pop Records. What a perfect Christmas present!

From Rhythms Magazine, Nov 2011 by Marty Jones

Well it’s taken almost two years, but The Stetson Family have finally delivered the long-promised follow-up to 2008’s mini-album Hey Sister Mary, Where’d You Get That Gun. And as strong as that first release was, the band has progressed significantly since then, making The Devil In His Sunday Best a landmark Australian roots album for 2011… (read the full review here)

The Stetson Family want to say a huge thanks to all the folk who came along to the launch of The Devil In His Sunday Best on Sunday at The Penny Black here in good ol’ Melbourne town.  What a joyous and fun afternoon it was! We’d like to thank the wonderful guests we had on the day – Tracy McNeil & Luke Sinclair with Sean McMahon, Marni Sheehan & Sharin Anderson, Bree Hartley & Liz Stringer.  Cheers also to Lisa Sorgini for the photos, Toby on film and Tim on sound.  Hats off to you all for making it everything we’d hoped for…and more!

Check out more photos from the day – as well as upcoming gigs.

Hope to see y’all again soon! x Nad, Colin, John, Andy & Luke

Thanks to Alex Morton from The Last Record Store (Melbourne misses you LRS!) for his review of our album for Upstream Whispers. Read it in full on our Reviews page.

The Stetson Family are excited and proud to release their brand spankin’ new album, The Devil In His Sunday Best. The new album brings a rootsy and original edge to the familiar and timeless sounds of bluegrass and alt.country with songs that are at times dark and dusty, lovelorn and heartbreaking, or just downright tongue in cheek.  Guests on the album include some of Melbourne’s finest singer / songwriters, Tracy McNeil, Liz Stringer and Marni Sheehan. The Stetsons love doing what they do and audiences are eagerly encouraged to get on board and come along for the ride!

“The Stetson Family is the only band I can listen to without getting upset.”                   (Jean Macumber, 88 years old, Viewbank)