Trevor Lucas and Redgum

[Sir Robert Peel]

Anyone heard of Redgum - an Australian folk-rock band?

I have just taken possession of a live CD from way-back-when, but I'm told that they enjoyed significant success in Australia after collaborating with Trevor Lucas.

Any Australian Fairporters out there? 

Sir Robert Peel

[Pugwash]

http://www.geocities.com/redgum_music/caught_in.html

Cast about an found this Peely. TL was the producer.

Get rid of some of the slashes an wotnot and yer get to their home page.

[Speleologist (Robin)]

So Sir Bob, This Cd, is it of quality? Does it come recommended? Should one seek out a copy?

[fstix (Michael)]

Yeah, I saw Redgum live many times.  Their path went along the lines of acoustic part-time band to acoustic full time, to folk-rock full time, to "founder members leaving but carrying on with no great success any more".  All the time being a very political group.  Trevor Lucas produced and appeared on a couple of their albums, plus the 1983 national #1 single "I Was Only 19" which had Trev on backing vocals on the chorus.  This was a song about the plight of Vietnam veterans so its success was surprising but welcome.  "Frankie kicked a mine the day that mankind kicked the moon / God help me, he was going home in June..."  TL did a version of this with Fairport at Cropredy '85.

The main focal point was singer/songwriter John Schumann who very nearly became a member of parliament in the late 1990s.  He also hosted a children's TV show for a while.  His Australian accent is a rather broad one.

Re Caught In The Act - it's pretty good but is the acoustic version of the band, pre-hit single though it has an earlier version of 19 on it.  It's good to have and is one of the few Redgum CDs available now.  There is also a compilation called Against The Grain:
http://store.countrymusic.com.au/store/products/item1818.inetstore
which has a broader overview.  More details about Redgum at http://www.geocities.com/redgum_music/

MH

[Neil]

Saw Redgum in the late eighties at the Kendal Brewery Arts Center I think, they were very good although I was distracted at the time. I seem to remember they were supposed to play Cropredy at one time but didn't.
I had a compilation album that dissappeared with my distraction in Kendal I think.

[Chris]

Been a fan for years, ever since TL did that number at Cropredy 85.

They were quite prolific in their time - I have several CDs....hoping for some kind of reunion might happen (without TL obviously!) at some stage in the future.

[Sir Robert Peel]

Many thanks, chaps.

I've got 'Caught in the Act' and I think it splendid.

Peel