Past Event

Dust of Uruzgan CD Launch

13th Oct 2011

Presenter: Fred Smith
Website: http://www.fredsmith.com.au/
Event Duration: 150 minutes

Fred Smith with Special Guest Liz Frencham

Fred Smith takes the stage with double bass playing partner Liz Frencham presenting songs from his highly acclaimed new album Dust of Uruzgan.  

Fred Smith has emerged over the last ten years as one of the country’s most interesting and authentic voices.  He recently returned from 18 months working as a tribal and political advisor alongside Australian Forces in Uruzgan Province, Southern Afghanistan.
 
While in Afghanistan, he wrote a collection of songs from his experiences. He played concerts on the Multinational Base in Tarin Kowt where his music has become legendary. These songs are now available on an album called Dust of Uruzgan.
 
Fred Smith is known on the festival circuit for his comic performances, and there is a thread of wry humour running through Dust of Uruzgan.  It serves as a counter weight to the darker territory explored in many of the songs, and opens up the audience to more human and three dimensional understanding of the experience of soldiers and civilians involved in this complex war.

“Every now and then you hear a song and you think to yourself “I wish I’d written that”.  Fred Smith’s album Dust of Uruzgan is chock-a-block full of songs like that."  John Schumann (ex Redgum)

Why this man isn't regarded as one of Australia 's best-known songwriters is beyond me.  His new material based on his experiences in Afghanistan is powerful, his guitar playing is understated and his lyrics incisive, deft and challenging.”  Chris Spencer, Trad & Now, May 2011

To listen to Fred Smith CLICK HERE.

DOORS FROM 7.30PM