Halfway (band)

Halfway
Origin Brisbane, Australia
Genres Alt Country
Years active 2000 (2000)–present
Labels Plus One Records / ABC Music
Website halfway.com.au
Members John Busby (vocals/guitar)
Chris Dale (vocals/guitar)
Elwin Hawtin (drums)
Ben Johnson (bass)
Noel Fitzpatrick (pedal steel)
Liam Fitzpatrick (banjo/mandolin)
John Willsteed (guitar)
Luke Peacock (keys & guitar)

Halfway is an eight piece alt-country band from Brisbane, Australia.[1] The group have released five albums; most recently The Golden Halfway Record in April 2016.[2]

History

Halfway was formed in 2000 by John Busby, Elwin Hawtin and Chris Dale, all of whom originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland.[3] After making the move to Brisbane, they recruited Ben Johnson on bass, and Dublin-born brothers Noel Fitzpatrick (pedal steel) and Liam Fitzpatrick (banjo/mandolin). The current lineup was rounded out with the addition of John Willsteed (ex-The Go-Betweens) on guitar, and Luke Peacock on keyboard & guitar.[4]

Halfway's debut LP Farewell to the Fainthearted was released in 2003 to warm critical acclaim.[5] The band toured nationally, and their single 'Patience Back' received high rotation airplay on Triple J. Farewell to the Fainthearted was included in The Courier-Mail’s Top 10 albums of 2003.[6]

Their follow up record Remember the River was released in 2006. Recorded by Wayne Connolly (The Vines, Josh Pyke, You Am I) the album saw Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger in the producer's chair. Again the LP was resulted in much acclaim from critics, and generated interest in Europe and the UK, where it received airplay on BBC Radio. Remember the River was included in The Courier-Mail’s Top 10 albums of 2006.[7]

In 2008, the band's core songwriting duo (Busby and Dale) were the recipients of one of Australia's most prestigious songwriting awards – The Grant McLennan Fellowship. The selection panel included members of the Go-Betweens, the McLennan family and Arts Queensland.[8]

2009 saw the band recruit former Go-Betweens frontman Robert Forster to produce their third LP. After months of rehearsal under Forster’s guidance, a new LP was recorded, entitled An Outpost of Promise. Wayne Connolly once again was at the controls.[9]

Following extensive touring for Outpost, the band started work on a fourth record. Any Old Love was released in 2014, and was again produced by Forster. In October 2014 the album won the Carlton Dry Independent Music Award for Best Country Album.[10]

The band's fifth album, The Golden Halfway Record, was released in April 2016 through ABC Music.[11] Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, by lauded producer Mark Nevers (Calexico, Bonnie Prince Billy, George Jones), the album was met with a series of five star reviews.[12]

Their song 'Patience Back' was named in The Courier Mail's '50 Greatest Queensland Songs Ever' in 2013.[13]

in 2015, their song 'Dulcify' from any Old Love was awarded 'Song of the Year' & 'Best Country Song' at the Queensland Music Awards.[14]

Halfway have toured extensively both nationally and internationally, including shows with The Black Keys, Gomez, You Am I, J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Josh Pyke, Band of Horses, Gary Louris and Mark Olsen (The Jayhawks) and many others.[15]

Discography

Albums

References

  1. ↑ "Halfway bio".
  2. ↑ "themusic.com.au".
  3. ↑ "The Music".
  4. ↑ "Australian Musician website".
  5. ↑ "Allmusic".
  6. ↑ "Broadbeach Country Music Festival".
  7. ↑ "Laughing Outlaw - Remember The River".
  8. ↑ "QMusic".
  9. ↑ "Alberts Music".
  10. ↑ "AIR".
  11. ↑ "Rolling Stone Australia".
  12. ↑ "The Australian newspaper - music reviews".
  13. ↑ "Courier Mail - 50 Greatest...".
  14. ↑ "QMA's".
  15. ↑ "APRA AMCOS".

External links

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