By Nick Hartgerink, honorary publicity officer for the Illawarra Folk Festival
Eric Bogle fans are in for a special treat at the 38th Illawarra Folk Festival in January when the musical maestro delves into his vast catalogue of songs to present a chronological retrospective of his storied 50-year career over two two-hour shows.
Bogle’s appearance at the festival at Bulli Showground on January 17-19 will be his fifth appearance, having previously appeared at the Illawarra Folk Festival in 1988, 2012, 2014 and 2018.
Scottish-born Bogle has written some of Australia’s best-loved songs, from his ode to his adopted land Shelter, his tribute to a struggling farmer, Now I’m Easy, to the timeless songs about the futility and loss of war, And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and No Man’s Land (The Green Fields of France).
International artists from Joan Baez, Donovan and Billie Bragg to The Pogues, The Dubliners and The Fureys have recorded his songs, with And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda being covered by more than 100 artists. Bogle is rightfully considered one of Australia’s greatest songwriters.
When he turned 80 in September, Bogle decided it was the perfect time to reflect on his career and perform a chronological selection of his songs.
“Who knows how much longer I have on Planet Earth?” he said. “I decided I would like to perform a cross-section of my songs and take people on a journey with me … showing the audience what I was, what I am now, and how I have changed over the years,” Bogle said.
“I have about 230 songs, and so it was a bit of voyage of discovery for me as I hauled them out of the vault. A bit of a fillip for my ego too, if I am being honest …
‘I have had to choose the best songs – or at least the ones I like best – from the first song I wrote to the last. I need around 60 songs for the two shows and it has been an interesting exercise deciding which ones to perform. I have had to tread a fine line in my selections.”
Bogle tested the chronological concept at a series of three 90-minute concerts in Adelaide to celebrate his 80th birthday, and is excited to be bringing the show to the Illawarra Folk Festival in the form of two two-hour shows.
“I will be performing between 25 and 30 songs in each show – depending on how verbose I get with my introductions,” he joked. “I want to explain the circumstances of how each song came about, and why I wrote it, but I will need to discipline myself and not get carried away …”
Bogle warned that he would be keeping to a strictly chronological order with the songs.
“That poses a bit of a problem, because some of the songs that people know me for, like Now I’m Easy and And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, are from early in my career so I’ll be doing them at my first show. So if people want to hear them, they’d better come to the first show.”
Bogle said he realised it was an “indulgence” taking up a festival stage for two two-hour shows. “I didn’t want to hog the main stage, so I asked the organisers to find me a reasonable gig at an more intimate venue off the mainstage,” he said.
However, anticipating strong demand for the shows, festival organisers have instead scheduled Bogle’s performers as morning shows at the two main stages – The Black Diamond Marquee at 10.30am on Saturday and the Slacky Flat Bar at 9.30am on Sunday.
Bogle will be joined on stage at Bulli Showground by Peter Tichener (guitar), Emma Luker (fiddle) and Jon Jones (percussion).
“When I last played at the Illawarra Folk festival in 2018 it was my last gig with John Munro, my great friend who I had played, recorded and travelled with for 40 years,” Bogle said. “John took ill and died soon after that festival, so it will be sort of bitter-sweet being back at the festival where we last played together.
“But I have always enjoyed performing at Illawarra. These days I restrict my performing to festivals that I like and where I know the people – and Illawarra is one of those.”
Early bird tickets for the Illawarra Folk Festival are available until December 22. Visit www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au. Watch Eric Bogle performing No Man’s Land on YouTube.
About the writer
Nick Hartgerink has more than 40 years experience in the media industry as an editor, journalist, freelance writer, publicist and media consultant. He worked at the Illawarra Mercury from 1977-2001, and was Editor of the paper from 1995 to 2001, when he established his own media consultancy. Nick is the author of eight non-fiction books, including a best-selling biography of Australia’s first world 500cc motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner, published in 1989 and a history of the University of Wollongong, published in 2011. He has been the Honorary Publicity Officer for the Illawarra Folk Festival for around 15 years.
