CHAT SESSION 74 with Watty Thompson
Topic- Watty has been on the road since early July spreading his message across the country. The tour ends right here on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula at The Rye Civic Hall on Friday September 27th.
Catch up and listen to our chat session https://megaphone.link/LCRUI2762213571
Monday 23rd September 1pm rppfm.com.au
In a gloriously unabashed Antipodean drawl, Watty Thompson explores themes of inward and outward love, togetherness, and a desire to strive and live beyond the material. It's affirming, joyous and inspiring, all played out against a background of rollicking country flavoured Australiana folk. Like it says on the tin, a little bit country, a little bit folk, 100% heart.
In January 2020 Watty Thompson made the decision to move from the big smoke of Melbourne, where he’d plied his trade for over a decade, treadin’ sticky carpets with various bands, to return to the country for the rugged coastland, beaches and the mountains of the Otway Ranges. His timing it seems was impeccable, because just after his move the globe underwent…well you all know how that story goes.
In his new surrounds, and the space and contemplation it afforded him, Thompson began writing and crafting material for a new project. He found the music being created had a different concern. As he wrote and gathered a cohort of friends around him, Thompson found he was creating something that held a new space for the listener.
That space was one of love and empathy, where hard won experiences could be readily shared. A space big on community, a space big on honesty and a place big on love.
After his Australian Music Prize nominated 2023 debut album scored a direct hit into the hearts of fans and critics alike, winning praise, accolades, and airplay, it announced the arrival of a new positive voice in Australian music.
Voted Music Victoria’s Regional Artist of the Year in 2023, Watty and his ‘Total Fire Band’ have connected with a growing number of believers through stellar showings at festivals including Dashville Skyline, Riverboats, Out On The Weekend, Boogie, OK Motels and of course their life-affirming set at Meredith Music Festival.
Since then, Watty has been taking stock, quietly working toward his next message of hope. The bush born empath gathered up the multi-limbed talents of his ‘Total Fire Band’ and headed into the studio to capture more of his patented heart on sleeve messages to self-belief. The first fruit of those efforts is the rollicking affirmation ‘Rock & Roll’.
In a country where it's somewhat engrained to keep our hopes and dreams to ourselves through fear of getting cut down, ‘Rock & Roll’ seeks to encourage other artists to follow their calling, regardless of what society might suggest is a safer path.
“It can take guts to follow your true calling”, Watty admits. “All kinds of things can make you second guess yourself, but if you know in your heart that you’re meant to be doing something, give it your all if you’re able to do so.”
At a time when the Australian music industry is doing it tough, ‘Rock & Roll’ seeks to edify fellow artists to hang on and keep fighting for their art.
As ever Watty is trying to live by example suggesting, “it's a long road sure, but I’ll be striving hard until the day that I die, even if it means forever digging ditches in between to make it possible.”
He says,” the world needs art and as artists, I reckon we’ll reach the end of this life with a full heart regardless of how full or empty our pockets are. We’ll be fulfilled and content knowing we did what we were supposed to do.”
Watty has been on the road since early July, spreading his message across the country and on Friday September 27th, the tour ends at The Rye Civic Hall.
Watty is excited to be performing in front of his beloved Ninch music community. The Rye Civic Hall holds a special place in his heart. In mid 2016, his previous musical project Sheriff hosted an album fundraiser at the hall entitled ‘Give ‘Em A Leg Ya Bastards!’
The event saw a few hundred local music fans fill the hall to enjoy performances from artists such as Redro Redriguez and his Inner Demons, Sheriff, Zombeaches and Chris Russel’s Chicken Walk. It was an inspiration for Watty helping a group of Peninsula mates to put on the first NinchFest 6 months later early in 2017. An event that continued for 6 years and helped create fertile grounds for a thriving Peninsula music scene that still bustles today.
Witness Watty return to the Rye Civic Hall stage some 8 years later, this time with his 10+ piece ‘Total Fire Band’, QLD power rock trio EMU and local artists Names, DJ Centipede and the Earthworms and Mia Grunden who performed at the very first NinchFest.
Tickets at wattythompson.com
Follow Watty Thomson
Check out this amazing video WATTY THOMPSON ROCK & ROLL TOUR
My hope is that when you’re looking at yourself in the
‘The Daily Mirror’
YOU SMILE
EMBRACE BEING YOU
AND FIND 10 MINUTES IN YOUR DAY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL!
To get in touch with Cathy email smileinthedailymirror@gmail.com
'The Daily Mirror' acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.
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