Cobbers

The Cobbers Bush Band were an Australian bush folk band. The group first came together with John Armstrong, "Big Ron" Howard, and a couple of others, as Freewheelers in Melbourne, Victoria, 1968. They played in the pubs and coffee lounges of Melbourne's eastern suburbs and in 1972 they became The Longford Street Band, and then, finally in 1973, Cobbers – The Bonza Bush Band or Cobbers. The band formed their own record label, Bushland Records, and in 1975 released their first album, the live 'All For Me Grog' with the line-up of Christy Cooney (vocals, banjo), John Armstrong (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Chris Armstrong (vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle) and Maitland "Maity" Swallow (accordion). In something of a rarity, the band licensed it distribution rights only and retained complete control over its product. The album was reissued on the Festival label in 1978. Before their second album was recorded the band added bassist Mark "Blossom" Brown (bass) who also became their business manager. In January 1979, on the eve of a national tour he was tragically involved in a car accident and died. More albums and singles followed over the next decade, including a few line-up changes they ceased to be a full-time concern by 1989, continuing in a lesser fashion. The band finally called it quits in 1998 and played their final show at Corryong on April 18. However, later that year following the death of "Big" Ron Howard, the band reformed for a one-off tribute gig. In 2007, with Maity Swallow battling and eventually dying of kidney disease and a brain tumour, the band again reformed for a benefit concert to assist with Maity's medical bills. In their thirty years together, Cobbers shaped the way many people viewed Australian Folk Music. Cobbers were at the forefront of the Australian folk/bush movement, and for over 30 years took Australian folk and bush music out of the folk clubs to a much wider audience in pubs, clubs, schools,, television and radio. The sound was a mix of Australian folk, old bush ballads and Celtic music. The most famous line-up: Chris Armstrong (vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle), John Armstrong (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Mark "Blossom" Brown (bass), Christy Cooney (vocals, banjo), Maitland "Maity" Swallow (accordion), Mark Brown (guitar), Bruce Cawthorne (accordion, harmonica), "Big" Ron Howard (bass) Current members Members Chris Armstrong – vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle John Armstrong – vocals, guitar, fiddle Bob Bedford – (1968–1969) Mark "Blossom" Brown – bass (1970–1979) Henry Butcher – fiddle (1998) Noel Craven – guitar (1969) Pat Formston – (1970–1971) "Big" Ron Howard – bass (1968–1969, 1979–1991, 1998) Bruce Cawthorne – accordion (1978–1979) Christy Cooney – vocals, banjo (1972–1983, 1996–1998) James Cooney – (1996) Inge de Costa – vocals, fiddle (1972–1973) Mick de Groot – Matt Dickie – (1972–1974) John Fitzgerald – Norman McCourt – bass (1991–1998) Tony O'Rourke – vocals, banjo, fiddle, guitar (1983–1985) John Rodgers (Richard John Penhelog) – (1968–1969) Maitland "Maity" Swallow – accordion (1974–1978, 1983–1998)