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RENEGADE - Gary Shearston Work on a great upcoming album from the legendary Australian folk singer and songwriter GARY SHEARSTON has just been recorded here by ROGER ILOTT at Restless Music. Watch this space for rmore details as they come to hand. Gary's previous double album THE BEST OF ALL TRADES (released by Undercover Music), was also recorded at Restless Music. Check out the Undercover Music website for more information. Most of Gary Shearston's back catalogue is available through the Undercover shop. Gary also has an official website And a wikipedia entry. Photo at left shows Gary in the studio during sessions for RENEGADE. Back to top

BEATING ROUND THE BUSH Arthur Le Feuvre Arthur's years of travelling round the Queensland bush working for the DPI inspired most of the stories, poems and songs on this album. Arthur's incisive wit and larger than life personality shine through on all 25 tracks, including the bonus track Wormboss - first recorded in 2004 -which has proved an ever-popular hit on the DPI websit!. Musical accompaniment and production by ROGER ILOTT. The CD will be released on the Restless label in the next month or so. Back to top

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First ever Restless Record to be released in Europe! Back in 1983 Penny Davies & Roger Ilott built their first studio in the backyard of their house in Balmain, Sydney, Australia. The purpose of the studio was to record some demos so that Roger could get work as a session guitarist, however he didn't rate himself as much of a singer in those days, so asked Penny to do some vocals. The album "RESTLESS" came out before they had ever performed together in public. Only 500 copies were pressed and a copy recently sold for almost $200 on eBay. Guerssen Records in Spain has taken an interest in this historic album and has now released"RESTLESS" as a limited edition CD. Back then they said: "(Restless) succeeds because the album is put together with care and good taste… Penny Davies' voice is warm and natural, with an endearing occasional rough edge. Roger Ilott uses acoustic and electric 6 and 12 stringers, pedal steel and bass, to weave delightful counterpoints to the melody."Stringybark & Greenhide, Vol. 5, No 1, 1983 Now they're saying: Hay varios discos mágicos para amantes del folk- psych, folk- prog y folk- rock en los primeros 80. Esos álbumes les dan mil vueltas a muchos discos del género en los 70; mientras algunos discos son constantemente sobrevalorados por el simple hecho de ser 70's, muchos otros sufren lo contrario y son infravalorados o incluso ignorados por el hecho de ser 80''s. Guerssen quiere tomar cartas en el asunto y hacer su parte echando luz sobre estos grandiosos, desconocidos y olvidados discos. Primero fue Bob Theil, luego Walti Huber, y ahora es el turno del dúo australiano Penny Davies & Roger Illott. Penny y Roger llevan en activo desde 1983, cuando comenzaron su carrera discográfica con este excelente disco. Se trata de folk- rock de primera línea, con guitarras acústicas, y eléctricas de 6 y 12 cuerdas a cargo de Roger, más la voz femenina de Penny (con alguna ayuda de Roger), a lo que se añade ocasional percusión, pandereta, mandolina.....nada de batería, nada de bajo...sólo desnudas y directas melodías que enganchan a la primera. 16 temas en total, 5 de ellos bonus tracks inéditos hasta hoy y grabados en las mismas sesiones que el álbum!!! Nuevo diseño de portada (a petición del dúo), booklet con fotos y notas escritas por los músicos y, como es habitual en nuestras ediciones, con slimcase. Recomendado!!! Ref. GUESSCD009 Check out http Guerssen Records by clicking here THEN PUT RESTLESS INTO THE SEARCH FIELD AND VOILA!

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Bill Scott's brilliant song WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN features on ABC Talking Book SUGAR IN THE BLOOD
When Penny Davies & Roger Ilott recorded Bill's song, Where The Cane Fires Burn, they had no idea how many people would grow to love the song. As Penny says "It's about being homesick, and I guess everyone has had that feeling at some time in their lives".
The song struck a chord with the producers of ABC Talking book SUGAR IN THE BLOOD, by W.S. (Bill) Oliver. The book, read by Drew Forsythe, is introduced by a verse of the song. Many more people have fallen in love with the song since the production of the talking book.
WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN is featured on OPAL MINER - The Songs Of Bill Scott. Click here for description of the album.

Bill Scott – A Legacy of Words and Music
Warwick Arts Council, in conjunction with Warwick Folk Club, hosted a special concert on Sunday, April 23, 2006, to celebrate the life and works of noted Australian writer, songwriter, folklorist and poet Bill Scott , of Warwick, who passed away in December, 2005, after a long illness.
Featured artists at the concert were Stanthorpe folksingers, Penny Davies & Roger Ilott, along with their son, Jordy Davies-Ilott. The Davies-Ilott family were long-time friends of Bill's, and have performed and recorded many of his songs over the years, including Australian folk classics such as “Hey Rain!” and “Where the Cane Fires Burn”.
The concert, Bill Scott – A Legacy of Words and Music, went ahead on a lovely sunny afernoon in the beer garden at O'Mahoney's Heritage Hotel, Grafton Street, Warwick, near the railway line. One of the audience members rode a horse to the event, which was attended by friends and fans from far and wide.
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For more information on Bill see our page Hey Rain The Bill Scott Songbook

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HEY RAIN -THE BILL SCOTT SONGBOOK - NOW PUBLISHED IN USA
Hey Rain! The Bill Scott Songbook, compiled by Penny Davies & Roger Ilott and first published in Australia by Restless Music in 2002, has been published in the U.S.A. by Timberhead Music, legendary American folksinger Gordon Bok's publishing company and record label.
Gordon has recorded several of Bill's songs on his albums, and spent some time visiting with Bill, Penny and Roger when he was in Australia touring with Carol Rohl in 2003.: "Gordon became friends with Bill Scott through correspondence, finally meeting up with him on his trip to Australia in April 2003. Timberhead Music is proud to offer the American edition of this Australian treasure, compiled by Penny Davies and Roger Ilott. Bill has written many wonderful songs about his homeland, a few of which Gordon has had the pleasure to record. This collection of songs, photos and notes, first published in Australia in 2002, is full of the heart and humor of a very special man. 56 pages."
To order the American songbook go to Timberhead Music and check out Gordon Bok's songbooks and CDs too.

The songbook is still available here in Australia of course. The songs are notated with full lyrics and guitar chords perfect for the beginning folk singer, as well as the seasoned performer.
Bill Scott s songs tell of working life, the landscape and climate, and the Australian character; there is comedy and longing, irony and insight.
Hey Rain - The Bill Scott Songbook collects together 23 songs, some of which appeared on Opal Miner -The Songs Of Bill Scott (CD RM075), a few more that have emerged since, and a couple of neglected classics from Bill Scott s considerable treasure-trove of Australian song.
For more information go to the HEY RAIN page or head straight to HOW TO ORDER.

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RUSTY DUSTY BROS RECORDING PROJECT - FEATURING JORDY DAVIES-ILOTT

We've been involved in recording with Roger Ilott's old band from Sydney, Rusty Dusty Bros. Roger played guitar with them in the 1970's. Jordy Davies-Ilott is drumming for them too. He's a busy lad! The photo below shows Jordy drumming in the studio during the September holidays when ex Rusty Dusty Bros bass player Jed Hudson was visiting and we spent about 90% of our time in the studio working on songs, old and new. Since then we've had another visit from Jed, along with Joe Cannon, songwriter and guitarist from the old band,, and some more recording went ahead. Then, in May, Roger went to Sydney and spent some more time working on music with Joe & Jed, plus old bandmate Peter Garrety (songwriting, vocals, sax, guitar). There should be something available for afficionados by the end of 2006.

As you have probably gathered, we're a family as well as a music studio, and Jordy, our youngest member, has been a huge part of the making of the upcoming album of his parents, Penny & Roger. He drums for their dance band The Ring Ins and with his own band Arrahfest (who recently supported Intercooler at SYCfest, in Weeroona Park, Stanthorpe). He plays guitar too, and anything else he can get his hands on, and is keen to develop those skills and front a band sometime in the future. This is his final year at school, so it will be a challenging one. Life for us all is busy & full of work and music.
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Penny and Roger's son, Jordy, playing drums in the studio in the RDB's sessions last September

(Some of the) RDB's in Sydney in May 2006 L-R:: Peter Garrety (guitar, sax, vocals), Jed Hudson (bass), Joe Cannon (guitar & vocals), Roger Ilott (Rickenbacker 12 string guitar)

do re mi "Music For Children
Penny Davies is Stanthorpe's do re mi "Music For Children" teacher. A website for do re mi Teachers in Australia is currently being developed and the address will be linked to this site shortly. do re mi Music For Children classes are based on the philosophy of Zoltan Kodaly (1882-1957) - a prominent Hungarian composer, linguist, musician and educator. The ideals of Kodaly can be summarised in five simple points:
That true music literacy - the ability to read, write and think music - is the right of every human being.
That music learning should begin with the child's own natural instrument -the voice.
That to be completely successful, the training of the musical ear should begin as early as possible (before Kindergarten).
That a child's musical “mother tongue” is the folk music of the child's own culture and musical skills and concepts should be taught using Folk song.
That only music of the best quality should be used in the education of children.
The Kodaly Music Education Institute was established in Australia in the early 1970's.
PENNY DAVIES B.A. (Communications) Folksinger, performer, songwriter, children's entertainer, trained in Musicianship and Kodaly Methodology at University of Queensland Summer Music Schools by K.M.E.I.A. Kodaly Music Education Institute of Australia Inc.) and affiliated as a do re mi teacher with K.M.E.I.A.
K.M.E.I.A. Inc. is part of an International body of Music Educators who strive to promote the concept of music education initiated in Hungary by the composer Zoltan Kodaly
do re mi classes
are the ideal introduction to music education, giving children the skills on which to base later experiences such as instrumental lessons, further musical study, a musical career or music purely and simply for fun;.
provide a secure learning environment that can strengthen family relationships through natural interaction;
are beneficial to the child's total development:
For more information email penny at restless_music@yahoo.com.au
Photo below shows a Toddler class in action - Penny is at far right.
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ABOUT RESTLESS MUSIC

Restless Music was started in 1982 by folksingers, Penny Davies and Roger Ilott, who were living in Sydney. The studio was originally known as Restless Recordings. From 1983 until August, 1987, when Penny and Roger relocated to a 32 acre property at Storm King Dam, Stanthorpe, Queensland, Restless Recordings was the centre of the Sydney folk music recording scene. During that time, Penny and Roger produced 20 albums on the Restless label, as well as albums for other small labels such as Tindola, Sandstock and Crossover. Since moving to Stanthorpe they have continued to produce their own music (see catalogue) and albums for Australian Bush Poets and country performers.
For more information, click here : Studio & Label
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