Davidson Brothers

Davidson Brothers
OriginYinnar, Victoria, Australia
GenresBluegrass
Country
Years active1998-present
LabelsIndependent
MembersHamish Davidson
Lachlan Davidson
Websitedavidsonbrothersband.com

The Davidson Brothers are an Australian bluegrass and country music duo. Originally from Yinnar, Victoria, the brothers are Hamish and Lachlan Davidson.[1] They have written and performed together since their youth,[2] and "are multi-instrumentalists on banjo, fiddle, and mandolin and have won many awards on the country circuit".[1] They released their first album, Blue Spruce, in 1999 when they were both in their early teens. This was the beginning of what would span into numerous recordings and national awards.[3][4][5] "With their dynamic brand of classic bluegrass and more contemporary newgrass music, the pair has not only blitzed the Australian country music industry, but has attracted plenty of attention in the United States and Europe as well."[6][7][8][9][10]

While they have toured extensively as the Davidson Brothers, they have also shared the stage with many well-known Australian artists including Andrew Farriss, Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider, Sara Storer, Joy McKean, Anne Kirkpatrick and Hugh McDonald. They have entertained troops in the Middle East, made regular appearances on national television (Hey Hey It's Saturday, Good Morning Australia, The Panel, Spicks and Specks) and played on many recording sessions with a range of other artists (Smoky Dawson, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Joe Camilleri, Bruce Rowland).[2][10][11][12]

Since completing university the Davidson Brothers have made Bendigo, Victoria, their home[13] and split their time between music and their other interests. They were among the Top 10 Most Outstanding Musicians in the 2010 Melbourne Prize.[14] In 2011, the brothers established the Australian Youth Bluegrass Scholarship to encourage and nurture singers and musicians who demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication in the field of Bluegrass Music.[15][16]

Career

1999: Blue Spruce

Hamish and Lachlan recorded Blue Spruce with Andrew Clermont in 1998 at the Davidson family home in Yinnar Victoria. This album only has one vocal track, "Lonesome Road Blues". The album also features their younger sister Ailsa on a couple of tracks.

2003: Stay All Night

Stay All Night was recorded in 2003[17] across two cities. The eight Bluegrass music tracks were recorded at Allan Eaton Studios in St Kilda, Victoria. The studio was familiar to the boys as they had previously played on The Man from Snowy River: Arena Spectacular soundtrack at this studio. Five Country music and Western swing tracks were recorded at Swinging Doors Studios in Kareela, New South Wales. Laurie Grundy and Josh Grundy, members of their live band at the time, played on all of the tracks.[18][19]

2004: Where I Want To Be

Where I Want To Be is a three track EP, recorded in 2004 by Hugh McDonald (formerly of the Australian group Redgum) in Melbourne, Australia. The tracks are all original and feature Melbourne musicians Gerry Pantazis on drums and James Clark on bass. The brothers went on to film a live music video for "Where I Want To Be" at the 2004 Deniliquin Ute Muster. The song was renamed "Where I Wanna Be" and rerecorded in 2006 on the Davidson Brothers' Raised on the Road album.[20][21]

2006: Raised on the Road

This is the first album the Davidson Brothers recorded overseas. It was produced by Mark Thornton (Jerry Reed band) in Nashville, Tennessee. Musicians appearing on the album are Bryan Sutton (guitar), Randy Kohrs (dobro) and Dennis Crouch (bass). There is also a guest vocal by Travis List of South Australia.[22][23][24]

2007: Davidson Brothers

The Davidson Brothers recorded this self-titled album in Madison, Tennessee, in September 2007. This was the second album produced by Mark Thornton. This album has lots of variety, from traditional bluegrass to country to intense gypsy swing. Guest musicians appearing on the album are Bryan Sutton (guitar), Rob Ickes (dobro), Dennis Crouch (bass), and a guest vocal by one of the pioneers of Australian bluegrass, Trev Warner, as well as vocal harmonies from Larry Marrs and Cia Cherryholmes.[25] "Left Hand Drive" won the 2009 Golden Guitar (Country Music Awards of Australia) for Best Instrumental.[26]

2009: Born to Play

The third album to be produced by Mark Thornton, 'Born to Play' was again recorded in Madison, Tennessee. However, this time around, Hamish and Lachlan set out to showcase their ability to slip comfortably in and out of different musical genres, including bluegrass, country, gypsy, swing and Celtic music. Guest musicians appearing on the album are Bryan Sutton, Randy Kohrs, Kevin Grant, Kenny Malone, The Cherryholmes family, Pat Bergeson, Jeff Taylor, Larry Marrs and Jerry Salley.[27]

2011: Here to Stay

Here To Stay was recorded in Nashville in April 2011 and release on 1 July 2011,[28] Here To Stay is the sixth studio album released by the Davidson Brothers, with producing duties shared between Mark Thornton and Larry Marrs. There are eleven original tracks, ten of them written by Hamish and Lachlan.[29]

2014: Wanderlust

Recorded in Melbourne in March 2014 and released on 20 June 2014,[30] Wanderlust is the seventh studio album released by the Davidson Brothers, this time self-produced. There are eleven original tracks, all of which are written by Hamish and Lachlan.

2017: All You Need is Music

Recorded in Nashville in December 2016 and released on 7 April 2017, All You Need is Music is the eighth studio album released by the Davidson Brothers, produced by Mark Thornton and Larry Marrs. There are thirteen tracks, twelve of which are written by Hamish and Lachlan.

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
Blue Spruce
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: Hamish and Lachlan Davidson (HLCD001)
  • Format: CD
Stay All Night
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Hamish and Lachlan Davidson (HLCD002)
  • Format: CD, digital download
Raised on the Road
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download
Davidson Brothers
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download
Born to Play
  • Released: August 2009
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download
Here To Stay
  • Released: July 2011
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download
Wanderlust
  • Released: June 2014
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download
All You Need is Music
  • Released: September 2017
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Where I Want to Be
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Davidson Brothers
  • Format: CD, digital download

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011[31][32] Here to Stay Best Independent Country Album Nominated
2014[33] Wanderlust Best Independent Country Album Nominated

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973.[34][26][35][36][37]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2009 Left Hand Drive Instrumental Won
2010 Fox on the Freeway Instrumental Won
2012 OMFG Instrumental Won
2018 Back Where I Started Bluegrass Won
2018 Evelyn's Kitchen Instrumental Won

Australian Bluegrass Championships

The Australian Bluegrass Championships, take place in Tamworth, NSW[38]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2000 Hamish Davidson Fiddle Champion Won
2008 Lachlan Davidson Mandolin Champion Won
2008 Hamish Davidson Horizon Award – Best Overall Won
2009 Hamish Davidson Banjo Champion Won
2009 Lachlan Davidson Mandolin Champion Won
2010 Lachlan Davidson Mandolin Champion Won

References

  1. ^ a b ABC City Life; Davidson Brothers from the album Davidson Brothers
  2. ^ a b Davidson Brothers Bio
  3. ^ Fuller, Kelly. ABC The Davidson Brothers setting hearts racing
  4. ^ Haynes, Jim. The ABC Book of Australian Country Music. ABC Books, 2009, p236-237
  5. ^ Cameron, Ben. "Davidson Brothers win third Golden Guitar". Bendigo Weekly. 2 February 2012 Article
  6. ^ Country Music Capital News, November 2011 (Vol 36 No. 11) DAVIDSON BROTHERS: HERE TO STAY Archived 24 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ International Bluegrass Music Association Leadership Bluegrass Alumni, 2000–2012 Archived 29 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ International Bluegrass Music Association Bluegrass Music Industry News – March 2012 Archived 24 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ ABC Country Davidson Brothers invited to Nashville Archived 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ a b Nutting, John. ABC The Davidson Brothers on Saturday Night Country
  11. ^ Hamish Davidson Bio
  12. ^ Hay Mate Andrew Farriss & Davidson Brothers - Tears in the Rain
  13. ^ Cameron, Ben. "Davidson Brothers to headline Port Fairy Folk Music Festival". Bendigo Weekly. 14 October 2011 Article
  14. ^ Melbourne Prize Trust Melbourne Prize for Music 2010; Finalist Catalogue, p14[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Music Victoria Australian Youth Bluegrass Scholarship
  16. ^ Country Music Channel DAVIDSON BROTHERS ANNOUNCE MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP
  17. ^ Ibiblio; The Public's Library and Digital Archive Bluegrass Discography; Stay All Night
  18. ^ Davidson Brothers Stay All Night
  19. ^ "On The Edge". Bluegrass Unlimited. Warrenton, Virginia. September 2004 (Volume 39, Number 3), p70.
  20. ^ Davidson Brothers Where I Want To Be
  21. ^ Hugh McDonald Studios Artists produced by Hugh Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Davidson Brothers Raised on the Road
  23. ^ Ibiblio; The Public's Library and Digital Archive Bluegrass Discography; Raised on the Road
  24. ^ "Davidson Brothers". Bluegrass Unlimited. Warrenton, Virginia. March 2008 (Volume 42, Number 9).
  25. ^ Davidson Brothers Davidson Brothers
  26. ^ a b Country Music Association of Australia Golden Guitar Winners Announced Archived 20 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ Davidson Brothers Born To Play
  28. ^ Kendall, Steve. "Davidson Brothers – Here to Stay". Bendigo Weekly. 1 July 2011 Article
  29. ^ Country Music Channel DAVIDSON BROTHERS: HERE TO STAY
  30. ^ AUSTRALIAN INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS ASSOCIATION. 11 July 2014
  31. ^ "Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced". tonedeaf. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  32. ^ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  33. ^ "CARLTON DRY AIR AWARDS 2014 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". speaker tv. September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Past Award Winners". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  35. ^ History of Country Music in Australia Golden Guitar winners tally
  36. ^ 2015 Golden Guitar Finalists! Official Website: Tamworth Country Music Festival [1] Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "PAST GOLDEN GUITAR AWARD WINNERS". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  38. ^ Australian Bluegrass Blog Bluegrass Champs