By KATH GANNAWAY
THEY kick it up, and people far and wide love it.
Yarra Valley band ‘Ruckus’ have been favourites on the local country rock scene for over a decade, but it’s not only the locals who love their music … and their words.
Their latest album ‘Love This Country’ is rating well with the title single entering the Australian top 40 Country charts at No 26.
The band has been hitting the high notes on a number of fronts, including blitzing the Canberra Country Music, Blues and Root Awards coming away with eight awards.
‘Love this Country’ got Best Country Album, and there were seven more ‘bests’ to follow – Engineering and Production, Album Cover Artwork, Contemporary Country, Traditional Country, Country Rock, Honky Tonk and Alternate Country.
Three of their songs also made it into the finals of the Australian Songwriters Association and they made it into the top 10 in the country music section of ‘Songs Alive’ in March.
Founding band member Mick Abrey says the new album has seven original songs and four covers.
Mick said he and the other band members Barry Tiplady, Roly Kretchmar, Craig Nichols, and Penelope Somerville were thrilled when they heard about their success in Canberra.
“We actually found out beforehand with a call saying we’d better get up there because we’d just about cleaned up,” Mick said.
“It was awesome, but we were doing the Lilydale Show and didn’t want to let them down, so we couldn’t go up ourselves to collect the awards.”
Apart from their music, the band has a reputation for reliability and for their support of local events and charities.
“If we think something is worthwhile, we will try to help out as much as possible,” Mick said.
The Easter fund-raiser at Warburton, held over the weekend, is a good example with Ruckus firm favourites and a definite drawcard.
Asked about favourite songs, Mick didn’t hesitate. “I think for the audience, it’s ‘We are Australian’,” he said.
“We get into trouble if we don’t play that one.
“I love them all,” he added, dodging the question of a personal favourite.
“We all really enjoy playing new, original stuff.
“The original material means a lot to us.”
There’s a special mention, however, for ‘Devil Pub’, a parody of ‘The Devil Went Down To Georgia’ that trades the fiddle contest for a drinking contest, and always leaves the audience on a high.
“It’s a favourite to finish with … energetic, and we love it and they love it,” Mick said.
The new Ruckus album “Love This Country” is available online at www.ruckus.net.au, and at Ruckus gigs.
