G’day
How’s it going? Saturday the 21st of May, we had the pleasure of playing at the Finley Ricestrippers BnS Ball. This was a gig that ticked all the boxes when you ask a musician to define a dream gig. We arrived in Finley around lunch time and made our way to the show grounds. The place was filling up fast with utes and camp sites full of people from all over the place.
As we arrived, the lads from Last Chance, the other band working with us were there and we introduced ourselves. We’d never met before this gig and we hit it off really well. Top blokes and a really good band too. So we’re hanging around back stage there for a while. We set up our gear, sound checked and spent the rest of the afternoon having a look around. We could even tell as early as 4pm that people were there to have a good time. We met people from all over NSW, Victoria and even South Australia. Many miles were traveled to get to this event.
At around 5pm we checked in to our motel and got ready. By the time we got back at 7pm, the show grounds were chockers. More cars had showed up and campfires were lit and things were starting to rev up (pardon the pun). The crew from the Finley Apex Club looked after us. They served us dinner and we were treated to the best damned roast beef rolls this side of Burke. We kicked back had a few drinks and watched as the gates opened. A huge tent was set up for this event. Think of a circus tent with open sides. It was massive. By 8pm,1500 people were in the tent area. Last Chance started up and from that point right up to the last note of the night the crowd did not stop. Both bands were warmly received by the audience, they screamed, yelled and sang along. It was a lot of fun.
But OK you say, this gig is full of young people drinking Bundy and having a huge booze-up. There certainly was Bundy flowing and more than a few sore heads the next day. But what makes these gigs unique is the fact that the 18+ crowd sang along, word for word, to songs that were written before they were even born. All requests were for Creedence, ACDC, Brooks and Dunn, Steve Earle etc. We asked why and their response was the same. “We love the old stuff. The stuff on the radio today is crap”... And mate there is nothing like the sound of 1500 people singing along to Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence.
To top it off they even liked our original material and some of the older country stuff by Merle Haggerd, Marty Stuart, Johnny Cash etc. We ended the night with both bands on stage doing the super-jam with Copperhead Road and Sweet Home Alabama and even after that the crowd wanted more. The night finished for the bands at 1am but we were sure the punters were going to keep going a while longer. Judging by the breakfast next morning, many of them will have trouble remembering the night before!! We went back for breakfast, once again hosted by the Apex Club and headed off back to Melbourne. Finley rocked that night and we are already talking about the possibility of doing it all again in 2012. Why did it tick all the boxes? A big crowd, a receptive crowd, a fun crowd who appreciated country, rock, rockabilly and who were there to enjoy themselves. It’s great to see that good songs are appreciated by all ages regardless of the genre.

Read More...

Hallam Country Music Wrap Up for The Royal Children's Hospital Appeal, reviewed by Streety of the Prairie Oysters.
.....And some great pics! (Thanks Tony, Tammie, & friends)
The day started with people setting up their merchandising tables and punters filing in through the main door.

Read More...

Hi Guys,

Read More...

The Prairie Oysters have been placed in the final Top Ten as Best Group for the 2011 Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards.

Read More...

Hi Guys,
Just thought to update you on the events of this year's Red Hill Country Music Festival.
The line up of bands and artists was diverse and you couldn't meet a nicer bunch of people backstage. The Sunny Cowgirls, Amber Joy Poulton, Doug Bruce and the Tailgaters, Phoenix, (Thanks Greg!!), The Moonee Valley Drifters, Tim Farron Band, (Thanks again Brian!!), The Bona Fide Travellers, The Prairie Oysters, and many more. The local Lions Club did a fantastic job in the organisation and implementation of this event, right down to the backstage sandwiches and coffees for the artists. Many childrens' rides and "top shelf" food stalls were prevalent and the many utes and hot rods were spectacular to see. This was a great day for all families and friends, as the weather also showed a good side, with no rain and mild conditions for the day.
Perfect for lounging around the well grassed oval with the esky, blanket, or fold-up chairs, shade gazebos, and above all, great music.
I understand the next year's event dates are already out, as the day was an outstanding success. The only damper on the day was the sound, as we spoke to many people who were a little disappointed. And Warrick & Sue have this under control for next year. But this was not going to prevent all from dancing, singing and clapping along to the greatly talented artists displaying their wares, on stage!
Gary Turner MC'd the event, and even got on stage with guitar!! (I must say Gary, couldn't really pick up on your chord structures mate?) He did a magnificent job, as usual and we enjoyed every minute. The bands also had merchandising available, CD's Tee Shirts etc. and again, the Lions Club ladies did a fantastic job in manning the counters for the punters to purchase their valued preferences.
The attendance was terrific, and a huge thank you for all who turned out for this great day of entertainment. All in all, the day was an outstanding success and a testament to Country Music's constant survival in a tough town like Melbourne, where the music is always treated as a poor cousin to the mainstream commercial radio served up.
The support of the local community radio stations also needs to be recognised, as we musicians, playing Country, Rockabilly, or Rock'n'Roll, receive great assistance and exposure through this media. Without all this, we would have no scene to go to, so please continue to support all venues, festivals, and shows. We are all in this together and for the fun and enjoyment of it to continue.
And bring the kids!!! (where feasible)
I know all band members/artists certainly appreciate all of you. Rob.
The Prairie Oysters.

Read More...

Hi Guys,

Read More...

Well we've survived a great hectic weekend of gigs for our "Livin' For The Weekend" CD launch. Started Friday night at The Pascoe Vale RSL, with special guest artist Alice Plumb. Great turnout, and Alice, Andy and Greg, were lovely people to work with. We had an absolute ball!! Big thank you to The Australian Country Music Guild, for all the ongoing support they show the many local and overseas Country Music artists, and this place is, (unofficially), The 'Oysters 2nd home. Thanks Keith Green and to all the wonderful crowd who turned up to have a ball, cause we did too!!!!!!

Read More...

Hi Guys,
Just recovering after a great night at The Monash Hotel last Saturday night. (17/07/2010). It was a celebration of Yorkie's 50th, (albiet unofficial), and we were wrapt to see a quite a few turn out for what ended up being such a great night.
Thank you to all who attended and made the night such a blast.
Caught up with quite a few old faces and saw some new faces we hadn't seen also.
Good to see The Monash Hotel, with new management, still going strong, as we hadn't played there in quite some time. Everybody seemed to really enjoy getting there early for a meal, a few drinks, and a major dance and party!
Dave banged out a few new songs and the dance floor was jumpin'.
We enjoyed some special guests on stage, and a very happy Yorkie played up, (sorry about the "saints" mate), and rocked the night away until around 1.00pm, with Tony's sweet redition of a little ditty to end the night on a high - Rock & Roll....Led Zepplin!!! Yeah, right. I'm still reeling from Tony's high "A" notes...
You guys really got into the singing with our old favourites, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, and Tony even had you all trying the last bit of the Led Zepplin song! And you managed even that!!!
All in all a great night, with the hope of many more to come. A HUGE thank you to all and we will see you all again soon.
Keep an eye on the websites - www.myspace.com/oystersonline
www.theprairieoysters.com.au
Feel free to add you name to our mailing list, or drop a comment into our guest book. we do love hearing from you all.
www.facebook.com/theprairieoysters
All the best, Rob.
The 'Oysters

Read More...

Hi Guys,

Well, we just played at The Power Ranch at Lardner's park, near Warragul, (in Victoria, Aust., and I must say, it's great to see some genuine people trying to enjoy and promote Live Country Music. the turnout was great, with many people bring tents, caravans, and utes, all decked out. Country music with the younger people around, is sure thriving, as the loud car stereos blasted out all over the campsites.
We shared a stage with our good mates, Ruckus, and alternated sets all night, with a rather crowded "all in" last set, which included some favourites, such as Sweet Home Alabama, and Cold Chisel's, Khe Sahn. Looked like a bus queue with all the musos on stage at once! (No bus though.....)
Brett and the guys from The Power Ranch have been trying to run a monthly event to give the locals and people from all over Victoria/NSW, something semi-regular for a live all in venue to camp at, and enjoy the music played. Unfortunately, the local council is slapping a of of unrealistic conditions to prevent this from occurring.
I don't know, you elect public servants, and they seem to grow an ego, and base a lot of decisions made on individual's $$ return, and suddenly don't represent you, the voters who put them into office!!! Also moving the goal posts every time you attempt to comply to the new impositions and rules.
Anyway, we had a ball, and many thanks to Mark, at Lardner Park, for having us there at such short notice. People came from as far as Wangaratta, Echuca and Melbourne itself, as well as locally. The wind died down, and it didn't rain, so the camp sites were quite dry, externally anyway. (The rums, scotches, and beer all went down very well internally!)
The night went really well with Ruckus and the Prairie Oysters alternating sets.
The music production was thanks to Mick & Baz, from Ruckus, and we shared the drum kit, thanks to Andy Giles, from the Aaron Daniels Band. We all hope this venue, and idea keeps going, as the Country Music artists are very interested in supporting this, and just so the younger ones get a shot, they also run talent nights and a, "get up and play" type night, further encouraging new bands and younger people, who generally cannot deal with the agents, managers, and corporately supported festivals and venues. Partitions were distributed for signage, to keep the music live, with generous donations offered for the fight to survive for the venue.
The night closed at around 1.00 am, with echoes of "encore", which left all of us very satisfied we played what the public wished to hear, and wanted more. Hey, nothing better than playing, on stage, with all of your mates, and seeing all the faces of the people enjoying what you do.
A great night had by all, and I'm sure Brett and the guys, from The Power Ranch, will get the continued support the venue deserves. And they conquer this political crap imposed on them, restricting their continued operations.
A GREAT night had by all, and many more to come!!!

Rob.

The 'Oysters.

Read More...

Hi Guys,

Read More...