The band was established in 1987 and has had various lineups over the past 21 years. David, Tania and Jane are original members. Graeme and Reg joined in 1990.
EUROPE 2008 TOUR BAND - 5 piece
Graeme Murray - vocals / lagerphone / percussion / whistle [][][][] Jane Brownlee - violin [][][][] Tania De Santi - piano [][][][] David De Santi - piano accordion / concertina [][][][] Samuel De Santi (11 year old) - bodhran / spoons
FULL LINEUP IN AUSTRALIA - 8 piece
Graeme Murray - vocals / lagerphone / percussion / whistle [][][][] Reg Murray - banjo [][][][] Tim Kendall - vocals / guitar [][][][] Johnny Spillane - whistles, harmonica [][][][] Tania De Santi - piano [][][][] David De Santi - piano accordion / concertina [][][][] Samuel De Santi (11 year old) - bodhran / spoons [][][][] Jane Brownlee / Miffy Ryan - violin
PREVIOUS MEMBERS
Chloe Roweth, Jason Roweth, Neil McCann, John Harpley
Influences
Bushwackers (the 1950s Sydney version), Bushwhackers (the 1970s Melbourne version), Chris Kempster, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Peter Ellis, Rob Willis, John Meredith, Arthur Bowley, Alan Scott, Jacko Kevans, Dennis O'Keeffe, Alistair Hulett
"this ensemble is highly regarded in the field of interpreting authentic Australian traditional music, song and dance as a performance art. The group is recognised in Australia as a leading force in the revitalisation of our folk traditions ... "
"Wongawilli is the pre-eminent group performing Australian folk music in this country. The music they play is uniquely Australian, but without any of the clichés usually associated with Australian folk music. In the years they have been performing, they have built an unequalled reputation for fine musicianship and entertainment, backed up by extensive research into the traditional origins of the music and the people who played it in the past."
Wongawilli is considered as one of Australia's premiere traditional music bands. The band performs traditional style Australian bush songs and tunes - reels, jigs, polkas, schottisches, mazurkas and waltzes. The band takes great pride in presenting authentic songs and tunes from the bush of Australia along with songs pertinent to Australia's current multicultural population.
The band is very lively with a combination of lead instruments - accordion and fiddle - and a strong rhythm section of vamping piano, bodhran, percussion and the traditional Australian percussion instrument - the lagerphone.
"They present their entertaining and distinctive interpretations of traditional and tradition-influenced Australian folk songs and tunes. As professional folklorists that they are, they also present a wide variety of educational Australian traditional music and dance workshops." Jamie McKew, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Australia
They have won 16 awards at the Australian Bush Music Championships and Awards.
Hello from Asturias, thanks for añadinos to your space, are an honor, your music is very pretty… surely that conoceis to the group flag of folk Asturian “FELPEYU”… pleases to us that in those latitudes it feels and the folk music with root is also loved celtas… luck in the way and that God blesses to you…
Hi guys, great to hear from you ! We misted you in skagen this year. But we still got great memories of last year ! All our instruments still have wongawilli-stickers ! All the best from Et Encore and stay in touch !!!
