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Mick Thomas Named Port Fairy Artist Of The Year
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Mick Thomas – Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of The Year – Sponsored by Maton
This the fourteenth year the festival has presented the Artist of The Year Award. The award is a handcrafted Maton guitar EA80C valued at $3389 and made out of Otway rescued timbers. This year the guitar is awarded to legendary Melbourne musician Mick Thomas.
"Mick Thomas is the real deal, no doubt about that! It’s a long track back to Geelong, to the “sleepy hollow” days and Saturday night’s fun was a “bush dance”. A long winding road later, it is a very special moment to be proudly announcing that this inspired balladeer and troubadour is our Artist of The Year" – Jamie McKew, Festival Director
The opening bounce of Michael James Thomas’ most successful radio hit, ‘Away Away’ all those many years ago said simply, “A picture’s worth a thousand words, but it can barely scratch the surface” His songs such as " Father's Days, Monday's Experts are Australian urban hits.
Mick Thomas is of Australia’s most important singer songwriters and often uttered in the same breath as Paul Kelly? His audience know the worn flannel check shirts; the long, distinctive sideburns and stubble; the burly, robust performances; the broad Aussie accent; and the swashbuckling handling of his guitars. He calls himself a folk balladeer.
The solo performer, leader of a legendary folk–rock band he is also founder and head of Croxton Records. He has produced the likes of The Go Set, The Gadflys, The Waifs, Ruby Hunter, Nick Barker and The Vandas.
"His songs are chronicles of Melbourne, its secrets and lies, its inner life. The big symbols and the hidden detail … The muck in the city cracks, or the skipping of a joyful barracker’s heart in the autumn rain” – Chris Johnstone, The Age.
Mick brings his legendary outfit Weddings Parties Anything to Port Fairy to celebrate the new DVD. The band has probably had close to ten line up changes and a career dogged by all the slings and arrows that the music industry could throw at any ensemble. He’s still standing, writing, performing and always remaining true to his art.
"Folk music for Mick Thomas has never been a dead horse. He’s saddled it, got it out of the mounting yard and onto the track. He’s ridden it hard. He’s used the whip when it was needed and got it over the line. In various incarnations, some legendary, Mick Thomas has given Australian folk music its own voice and character. He’s roughed it up and caressed its heart. He’s given it its roaring days" – David Connoley
Previous artists of the year:
1995 Danny Spooner
1996 John McCutcheon
1997 Judy Small
1998 Margret RoadKnight
1999 Eric Bogle
2000 Tiddas
2001 Rick E Vengeance
2002 Maddy Prior
2003 Bernard Carney
2004 Kavisha Mazzella
2005 Shane Howard
2006 Dobe Newton
2007 Fiona Boyes