Long time favourite acoustic blues band, Ten Cent Shooters are starting their 25th year together at the Arts Margaret River’s concert in the park on Sunday, February 26.
The Shooters had their first trio performance at The Spaghetti Bowl restaurant in Margaret River in 1992.
Scott Wise (guitar, harmonica, mandolin, vocals) and Peter Woodward (guitar, vocals) had been performing together for over ten years when Sean Diggins (bass) called them to help him out at the restaurant gig.
“It was a fortunate twist of fate,” recalls Scott.
“Sean had a gig booked with Steve Tallis, but Steve couldn’t make it. Sean called to offer the gig and it occurred to me that Peter and I could play with him. We were happily surprised to discover a natural chemistry and had such a good time we knew it had to continue. 25 years later, we each feel the same about it now as we did back then.”
Multi-instrumentalist, singer and instrument maker Wise had recently made Margaret River his home, while double bassist Diggins had moved from Swanbourne to Yallingup.
Singer/guitarist Woodward resides in Fremantle but the trio has continued despite the geographical separation, playing throughout Australia and releasing five acclaimed albums.
According to Scott, one of the reasons for the band’s long term survival is the passion for the music being more important than pursuing fame and fortune for it’s own sake.
The trio proved to be a winning formula, and the band went on to perform at every major Australian folk festival and release five albums to date.
“Playing at the park in Cowaramup is especially significant for me,” said Scott Wise. “The Wise family band first played in the park on an Australia Day many years ago.
“I wanted to make it an annual free concert with the family band, like Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Texas, but the ever-practical Heather Locke from Arts Margaret River at that time had the much better idea of a series of concerts through February, and it has carried on from there.
“It is good to be playing there in the band’s 25th year.”
The Shooters next gig in this milestone year is at another favourite venue, Settlers Tavern on Easter Sunday April 16.
Catch the Ten Cent Shooters at the final week of the Cowaramup Summer Sundowners, this Sunday February 26. Music will begin at 4.30pm for a bumper show following last week’s weather cancellation.
