Redgum

Redgum was a political folk rock band founded in Adelaide, South Australia in 1975. The group’s original lineup was composed of songwriter John Schumann (guitar and vocals), Michael Atkinson (guitar and vocals), and Verity Truman (flute/vocals). Soon after their formation, they would bring in Chris Timms (violin) to bolster their sound. The band members had all been students at Flinders University in Adelaide and began to play parties, local clubs, and rallies. With lyrics that addressed domestic politics and Australian culture, the band’s reputation and popularity was cemented with the release of their 1978 debut album If You Don’t Fight You Lose. Two years later, after signing with Epic Records, the band members quit their full-time jobs and released their second album, Virgin Ground (1980). The album was met with critical and commercial success and the band toured Australia. The band’s lineup would change over the course of their career including fiddle player Hugh McDonald replacing Chris Timms. The band’s popularity continued to rise with the release of the album Brown Rice and Kerosine (1981) and the EP Cut to the Quick (1982). The high point of their popularity came with the 1983 release of their live album Caught in the Act. Produced by Fairport Convention’s Trevor Lucas, the album featured the Number 1 singe “I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green)”. Following the release of the album Frontline (1984), John Schumann left the band to pursue a solo career. Michael Atkinson left after the release of the band’s 1986 album Midnight Sun and the band finally folded in 1990.

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