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Blue Mountains singer and songwriter
‘…outstandingly talented’ (Blu-FM radio)
‘his songs are lyrical and evocative …. (Portugal Beach) is simply one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard’ (Cornstalk Gazette)
‘ Tony sings about important issues with a quiet intensity … He combines sweet vocal tone, a good feel for tradition and a light hand as a song writer.’ (Helen Rowe)
‘Tony’s songs are graunchingly (sic) beautiful’ (Nancy Kerr) – she has a way with words, our Nancy!
Tony is gaining a growing reputation for his poetic song writing and soulful interpretation of both traditional and contemporary folk music. Some of his earliest influences were US protest singers of the 1960s and then contemporary British singers of the folk revival.
He played in various folk clubs and sessions in the midlands
of England in the late '60s and after moving to London in
the early '70s became involved in the squatting movement
and community politics. This led to participation in left
music groupings like the Hackney & Islington Music Workshop
and Music for Socialism and instilled in him a sense of the power of music in political culture and the importance of participation, not just consumption. “Music doesn’t change the world, but it can change people and that’s a big first step.”
After a long break from music, during which he even gave away
his old guitar, he rediscovered his roots in folk music
when he moved to Australia in 1995 and joined Sydney's Solidarity Choir. Since then he's started singing solo again and writing songs. His repertoire is now eclectic, ranging from traditional ballads to his own originals and those of other contemporary writers. A regular performer at folk clubs and festivals, Tony has collaborated with Maree Robertson, bass player Liz Frencham (Jigzag) and others as The Rosewood Project. His version of Hearbreak Hotel, in Maree’s Love in the Lost and Found show at Woodford 2003 persuaded many that Elvis had not left the building. Tony also played guitar on the ‘The Slow Return’, the recent CD from Brisbane folksinger Helen Rowe (Tangled Web, Bessie etc.), which was reviewed in Queensland’s Folk Rag as “a breathtaking fusion of sweet melody, sensitive harmony, wondrous poetry and beautifully blended instruments.” As well as melodic guitar, Tony now plays a beautiful Jack Spira guitar-bodied bouzouki. He has continued to collaborate with Helen when geography permits.
Outside of his solo work, Tony sings with the enigmatic Spooky Men’s Chorale, a sly hit act on the festival circuit, and with Sydney’s deep green ensemble, Ecopella. He has also devised a multi-media themed concert/workshop entitled ‘The Barricade and The Rose - songs of struggle and dissent from 1970s Britain’, which he has presented to audience acclaim at festivals including Cobargo, Maldon, St Alban’s and Woodford. A number of Tony’s songs have been recorded by other groups and artists, including 'Come Away With Me' - an audience favourite in the Ecopella repertoire and 'Taken', written for friends in the trio Touchwood. Their version appears on the Jamberoo 2004 compilation CD and also on a collection of songs about refugees and asylum seekers (Behind the Wire), produced by Miguel Heatwole. Tony’s song ‘Footsteps On An Empty Road’ appears on a newly-released collection of performances by Blue Mountains musos, Local and Live, produced by Blu-FM radio.
Tony has just released his debut CD 'Desires Lines' and tracks from his demo recording have already had wide airplay on folk music programs on several radio stations around Australia, including 2 MBS-FM Sydney, 2 MCE-FM Bathurst, 3 RPP-FM Melbourne, Macleay Valley Community Radio, Kempsey, and BLU-FM in the Blue Mountains. In February 2004 it was one of the winners in a demo competition run by BLU-FM. Tony will soon be opening a new website at www.tonyeardley.com where information and purchasing details about the CD will be available.
To contact Tony email him on t.eardley@unsw.edu.au or call on 0402288655.
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