Perth Voice Interactive

IT’S seen off covid, the cost of living crisis and a few changes of government, but you might not have heard of the Perth Folk and Roots Club.

Founded by Perth muso Keith Anthonisz in 2012, the not-for-profit started out life at the Oxford Hotel and Mt Lawley Bowling Club, showcasing live music by folk and roots artists.

Over the years it has evolved to become more than just a gig, partnering with various organisations including Act Belong Commit and Stirling Council.

The end result is a community-minded event where artists and the audience have a mutual respect for each other.

“Many musicians have noted how they appreciate playing at Perth Folk and Roots Club shows where people are friendly, listen to the music and show their appreciation,” Anthonisz says.

“Other venues have music that is in the background where no one listens.

“So we are the solution for people looking for live music and a cheap night out, and we have people who love the atmosphere of our shows, which revolve around the musicians.

“It’s also good for people’s mental health and that is why we partnered with Act Belong Commit.”    

Now based at two venues – the Inglewood Bowling and Sports Club and Tattersall’s Bowling and Recreation Club in East Perth – they hold at least two shows a month, featuring a mix of up-and-coming and seasoned performers.

“We’ve had Richie Power, a singer-songwriter from the town of Dungarvan in Ireland, Steve Tallis, a Perth blues shaman who now lives in Paris, and country and soul singer Buck Edwards from Melbourne,” Anthonisz says.

“We also organised a couple of shows at the Lyric Underground in Maylands that featured Dave Graney and Clare Moore from Melbourne, doing a CD Launch.

“Dave won an ARIA for Best Australian Male Artist after having many hits in the Australian charts in the 80’s and 90’s.”

In recent years the live music scene in WA has taken a battering with many Perth venues going to the wall including Badlands Bar, Convenience Store and The Sewing Room.

Music festivals have been dropping like flies too with Promise Village, Groovn The Moo, BluesFest and Splendour In The Grass just some of the casualties.

The cost of holding an event, especially insurance, has skyrocketed and coupled with the cost of living crisis, it’s the perfect storm. It’s got so bad, earlier this year the federal government held an inquiry into the state of Australia’s live music scene and what can be done to resurrect it.

Anthonisz says The Perth Folk and Roots Club has survived partly thanks to the support of local government and community sponsors.

“Being a not-for-profit association, we are focussed on supporting musicians, offering free events with lower cost shows,” he says.

“We have support from local government sponsors through the City of Perth and City of Stirling. We have also received sponsorship support from the Australian government’s Live Music Australia, Realestate88 and Masonic Care.”

Right now, the Club is getting ready to put on a free show to mark WA Seniors Week, featuring The Calaveras, a 1970s rock cover band, and headliner Izzy, who does great versions of Bob Dylan songs.

Also on the bill are the Club House Band with Steve Warner Jones on harmonica, Pete Birch on drums and Anthonisz on vocals/guitar.  The event is supported by the Council for the Aging, but Anthonisz says they all still feel young at heart. 

“It may be funny for some of our Club to think that we are a part of the support for the seniors crowd, but then we have to remind ourselves that a lot of our artists are seniors and do cover songs from the 60’s and 70’s or are even playing older blues and jazz standards!” Anthonisz says.

The Calaveras and Izzy are playing the Perth Folk and Roots Club (Tattersalls Bowling and Recreation Club, 2 Plain Street, Perth) from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday November 14. It’s free, but you can register at eventbrite.com.au. To find out more see perthfolk.org.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK