Winding Back Celebrating 50+ Years of John Williamson
In 2022 Australian music icon John Williamson will celebrate his 52nd anniversary in the entertainment industry and foresee closing the book on his regular touring. Ahead of this milestone, John will be touring across Australia as he takes his WINDING BACK tour on the road, including a much-anticipated show at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre on Saturday, 3 July.
When John Williamson wandered into Richmond’s GTV9 studios in 1970 with a guitar under his arm, little did the Mallee farmer know that he’d make a 50+ year career out of singing and performing. His performance of Old Man Emu, the first song John had ever written, on Channel Nine’s popular New Faces program resulted in a number one single and a record deal. It also marked the appearance of a striking new talent: an unofficial custodian of Australian stories.
Half a century on, John Williamson has made an art of expertly capturing Australia in song. Painting lyrical pictures of our unique fauna and flora, landscapes and people, John has encapsulated the beauty, wonder and, sometimes, the heartbreak of life Down Under. From boabs to billabongs and snowy mountains to sandy beaches, the Mallee-born songwriter’s 52 albums –including 20 original studio albums–have traversed Australia like a dust-covered road train, deftly moving between larrikin humour and touching pathos.
With his honours including the ARIA Hall of Fame, an Order of Australia, 28 Golden Guitar Awards, Australian Roll of Renown induction, not to mention over 5 million albums sold and thousands of shows performed, it’s hard to begrudge the 75-year-old a less hectic schedule. First, though, there’s an anniversary to celebrate. For more information and tickets, visit www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au
