Mal Bennett (guitar, banjo, fiddle, vocals)
Tanya Caldwell (vocals, flute, whistle)
Naone Carrel (vocals, percussion)
Graham Chalker (snare, mandolin, vocals)
Tim Field (guitar)
Ros Hales (vocals, ukulele, percussion)
Frank Nizynski (bass guitar, guitar)
Jim Roberts (vocals)
Bronwyn Todd (fiddle, vocals)
Influences
Many and varied - traditional and modern folk - mainly Celtic at present, but we're not fussy - country rock, jazz, blues, country...... bit of everything!
Take a couple of folk musicians, a classical flautist, a 60s rock guitarists and a few community choir singers and you have Humbug! The common thread is a love of Celtic music. Humbug's lively performances feature distinctive vocal harmonies combined with rich instrumental backing, reviving songs rarely heard these days - from the poignant love ballads of Robbie Burns to rousing Irish and Scottish favourites.
Since getting together in 2007, the band has undergone a few lineup changes and has grown to become Canberra's only Celtic 'big band', playing regularly at the Canberra Burns Club and The Merry Muse folk club. Festival credits include Beechworth Celtic Festival, Music at the Creek, the National Folk Festival, and the inaugural Snowy Mountains of Music and Tuross Music Festivals.
Humbug recently launched its second cd, featuring the beautiful ballads of Robbie Burns in honour of the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2009. It also includes a number of other stirring Celtic ballads, old and new, as well as some lively Scottish and Irish favourites. Email humbug@humbugsings.com for your copy!
Check out www.humbugsings.com
g'day Humbug. Humbugs were those black and white striped lollies that my grandfather used to like. Hope to catch you fellas down at the Major's Creek festival coming up next month. best to you. Wayne.
oooh look - we got in early and beat the rush to pop yer commentary cherry! Onya, Humbugs, and a big hupdeediddley from another band also deeply into the evocation of other times and places. Unfortunately, in our case it's usually West Belconnen in the mid seventies.
