Buckley's Chance

Biography

Europe's pre-eminent Aussie bush band featuring the singing of Doug Jenner and the work of five highly experienced and accomplished musicians all of whom have played live with the band and with a range of high profile performers. The band have been presenting and promoting Australian music and culture at major British events in recent years and have developed a loyal following.

The CD album Australia, Home Again And Free! contains thirteen very different songs on this album. It opens with "Freedom On The Wallaby" and closes with a rousing "Waltzing Matilda". In between these the style is varied, from the beautifully lyrical "Bare-legged Kate" by Aussie poet and songwriter John Dengate and the strident setting of Henry Lawson's "From the Bush" to the knockabout humour of "TAB Punter's song" and "I've Been Everywhere". Two original songs from the pen of Doug Jenner are "Home Again And Free" and "If Hearts Are Stone" - the latter set roughly to John Gibbs' tune Irish Ways and Irish Laws and presenting stark images of Aboriginal Australia. The live version of Woolloomooloo Lair and Lazzy Harrys are a real treat giving a feel to the live performances of the band.

Whilst the band utilises electric and electronic instruments, it still maintains the traditional 'bush' feel and incorporates in several songs the distinctive sounds of didgeridoo and lagerphone. The broad aim of the album is to enable listeners to appreciate and enjoy a range of songs within this particular idiom..

As Doug explains, "Many people at our gigs express surprise at the variety of material that we perform, all of it within the Australian traditional idiom The songs in this selection reflect such a diversity. They express broad themes of freedom, struggle, leaving home, mateship, distance and the quest for national identity. I hope that like me, you find them by turns spirited, stirring, sad, beautiful, moving and funny." .

The Facts

Name: Buckley's Chance

Members: Doug Jenner: vocals, fiddle, bouzouki, & lagerphone;

Jan Davis: guitar, vocals;

Mick Ray: piano, fiddle, accordion, spoons;

John Hamilton: guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals;

Simon Barnett: tin whistle, didgeridoo, jaw's

Peter Anderson: accordion and vocals.

Genre: Traditional Australian Folk (Bush Music)

Home Town: London UK

Highlights: MCC Cricket Matches

Fanbase: Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Spain,

Sweden, UK, USA

Recordings: Home Again And Free (2006)

More Than Europe Knows (2002)

Website: www.keme.net/~dougjenner//

Downloads: MP3