Watling & Bates live in Unumgar in the Northern Rivers of NSW. United by a love of old time mountain music, their original tunes draw on old time country traditions, swept by the headlights of oncoming trucks.
Minus Three, the second radio single from the Small Town Tales album, was released through Checked Label Services on 17th November 2018. The instrumental, by Kym Watling, recreates the feelings of cold mornings when its minus three degrees (C) at Unumgar. The sound of bare feet hitting a cold floor, coffee on the brew, and fresh firewood being piled on last nights embers.
Minus Three was produced by Thor Phillips, whose Dobro and flatpicked guitar joins Gareth Bjaaland's banjo, Christopher Ridgway's mandolin, Watling's fiddle, and Bates' rhythm in a playful bluegrass feel. Watling plays fiddle , and Bates plays rhythm guitar and vocals. The track was mastered by Paul Blakey at 12th & Vine Post. The video was directed and produced by Watling & Bates, recorded in various locations on the highways from Barraba NSW to Texas Queensland during the drought-affected winter of 2018.
Minus Three can be purchased through our website store, through digital download, or on the Small Town Tales CD.
I Got Gold, our first radio single from the Small Town Tales album, was released through Checked Label Services on 24th July 2018. The song, by Geoffrey Bates, speaks of finding gold amongst life's gravel, and holding it tight. Of being grateful for simple joys that sustain us during the hard times.
I Got Gold was produced by Thor Phillips, whose sparkling Dobro complements Watling's fiddle and banjo, and Bates' guitar and vocals. The track was mastered by Paul Blakey at 12th & Vine Post. The video was directed and produced by Watling & Bates on location in Ashford NSW.
I Gold Gold can be purchased through our website store through digital download or on the Small Town Tales album.
Absolutely thrilled to receive this review of our Small Town Tales album from Haley Sheridan in the November edition of Country Music Capital News. Many thanks to Haley for the kind words, and to Country Music Capital News for including our album for review.
It is with the utmost excitement that we announce the Whistle-stop Shindig! Bundaberg Regional Council are teaming us up with local young gun Matthew Munro to host open-mic nights at three of the gorgeous small halls in the Bundaberg region - Buxton Hall, Goodnight Scrub Hall, and Waterloo Hall. Selected performers will join us for the finale at the magnificent Moncrieff Entertainment Centre in the heart of Bundaberg, where we'll be joined by none other than Thor Phillips on the big stage! Can we stand this much excitement? Let's find out ...
August is a fabulous month with three Friday night shows at some extremely cool venues. Friday 3rd August finds us in Ipswich Qld at Banshee's Bar and Artspace from 8 pm. A week later, on Friday 10th August, we'll be at Two Goats Cafe and Baa in Armidale NSW; then the week after that we'll be hopping up for one song at the Bangalow BBQ & Bluegrass Festival's Old Time Variety Night on Friday 17th August!
We are now fully licensed, council approved, bonafide street performers in Brisbane's Queen St Mall! We've tested the waters and will be commencing our regular busks in late July, after we return home from our Bow & Curtsy tours.
Looking forward to returning to Tintenbar Up Front on Friday 8th June. It's always a wonderful evening in this glorious old hall. The committee is raising funds for a new floor and invite you to 'pledge a plank'. Here's a photo from our last visit with Johnny Rumble on the bull fiddle.
It's been a long time since we worked on our Unumgar Inclusions, so we have devoted a couple weeks to making some new creations. We're setting up our resin casting studio in our old tank and hope to have a heap of inclusions ready for our Market Month of May. In addition to our inclusions, we will also have our Small Town Tales and Before I Met You albums and USBs with our entire collection of MP3s. Look out for us at the following markets!
We're back in Brisbane on the 3rd April at The BUg (Brisbane Unplugged Gigs) at the New Farm Bowls Club. Looking forward to seeing the Brisbane folk again!
Chuffed as a pony to be part of this years Days Music Muster at Windara. Come along for a fabulous afternoon of country music, bush ballads, rockabilly, and old time Gothic hillbilly honkytonk!
Our Small Town Tales album launch at the Eden Creek Hall was a fabulous day. Our exhibition curator Rebecca Tapscott was awarded Best Picture of a Chicken by popular vote, Jean and Graham Warburton (Couple No.1) won Best Waltzing Couple, and Adam and Lindee-Anne Flack (Couple No.2) were the slickest and snappiest dressers. Many thanks to our waltz judges Angela Dickson (Griffith University), Susanna Freymark (Editor, Richmond River Express Examiner), and Councillor Hayden Doolan (Kyogle Council). Grateful thanks to the Committee of the Eden Creek Community Hall for keeping this wonderful old hall full of life!
