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Halfway (band)

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Halfway
Halfway, Brisbane 2022
Background information
OriginBrisbane, Australia
GenresIndie rock, Space rock, Alt Country
Years active2000 (2000)–present
LabelsPlus One Records / ABC Music
MembersJohn Busby
Elwin Hawtin
Ben Johnson
Noel Fitzpatrick
Liam Fitzpatrick
John Willsteed
Luke Peacock
Past membersChris Dale
Liam Bray
Ryan Walsh
Chris Hess
Chris Pickering
Websitehalfway.com.au

Halfway is a rock band from Brisbane, Australia. As of 2023 the group have released eight studio albums, most recently On the Ghostline, with Hands of Lightning, released in August 2022. Previous to this the band released, Restless Dream (2021), which was a collaboration between Halfway and Aboriginal Australian elder, Bob Weatherall.

History

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Halfway was formed in 2000 by John Busby, Elwin Hawtin, Ben Johnson and Chris Dale in Windsor, Brisbane. The lineup was later rounded out with the addition of Dublin-born brothers Noel Fitzpatrick (pedal steel) and Liam Fitzpatrick (banjo/mandolin). Three of the bands founding members, John Busby, Elwin Hawtin and Chris Dale all originally hail from the Central Queensland town of Rockhampton.[citation needed]

Halfway's debut album Farewell to the Fainthearted was released in 2003 to warm critical acclaim.[1] The band toured nationally, and their single "Patience Back" received high rotation airplay on Triple J. Farewell to the Fainthearted was included in The Courier-Mail's Top 10 albums of 2003.[2]

In September 2006, Halfway released their second studio album, Remember the River. It was recorded by Wayne Connolly (The Vines, Josh Pyke, You Am I) the album saw Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger in the producer's chair. The album received much acclaim from critics, and generated interest in Europe and the UK, where it received airplay on BBC Radio. Remember the River was included in The Courier-Mail's Top 10 albums of 2006.[3]

In 2008, the band's core songwriting duo (Busby and Dale) were the recipients of one of Australia's most prestigious songwriting awards – The Grant McLennan Fellowship. The selection panel included members of the Go-Betweens, the McLennan family and Arts Queensland.[4]

2009 saw the band recruit former Go-Betweens frontman Robert Forster to produce their third album. After months of rehearsal under Forster's guidance, a new LP was recorded, entitled An Outpost of Promise.[citation needed]

In 2010, the band added John Willsteed (ex-The Go-Betweens) on guitar, and Luke Peacock on keyboards.[5]

In February 2014, Halfway released their fourth album, Any Old Love, which was again produced by Forster. At the AIR Awards of 2014, the album won Best Independent Country Album.[6]

In 2015, the song "Dulcify" from Any Old Love won "Song of the Year" & "Best Country Song" at the Queensland Music Awards.[7]

The band's fifth studio album, The Golden Halfway Record, was released in April 2016.[8] It was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, by lauded producer Mark Nevers (Calexico, Bonnie Prince Billy, George Jones), the album was met with a series of five star reviews.[9]

2018 saw the release of the band's sixth album Rain Lover. Produced by Mark Nevers and Halfway, Rain Lover's central narrative is based around the life of John Busby's father. It is a story of big dreams, conflict and addiction with songs that include real people and characters from the Central Queensland town of Rockhampton in the 1960s-1980s. The album received a 5-star review in The Australian newspaper on the week of release.[10]

In 2021 the band released their seventh album, Restless Dream, a collaboration with Kamilaroi elder Bob Weatherall[11] and didgeridoo player William Barton.[citation needed] The record's central themes are based around the work of Weatherall in the repatriation of Aboriginal remains from museums and institutions around the world.[11] The album was nominated in the 2021 ARIA Music Awards for Best World Music Album.[citation needed]

The band's eighth studio album, On the Ghostline, with Hands of Lightning was released in August 2022[citation needed] which was recorded by Yanto Browning and produced and mixed by Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Emmylou Harris, Patti Smith & The Neville Brothers) at La Maison Bleu Studio, Kingston, NY. Tony Moore wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald: "Ghost nets floating lost at sea are the core image as the band trap the power of memories and sing of Australian dreams and triumphs".[citation needed]

Discography

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Studio albums

[edit]
Halfway at The Triffid, Brisbane. 2022.
Title Details
Farewell to the Fainthearted
Remember the River
An Outpost of Promise
Any Old Love
The Golden Halfway Record
Rain Lover
Restless Dream

On the Ghostline, with Hands of Lightning

Live albums

[edit]
Title Details
Live At The Triffid

Compilation albums

[edit]
Title Details
A Band Called Halfway
  • Released: 2015 (US only)
  • Label: Plus One Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Awards and nominations

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ARIA Awards

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The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards celebrating the Australian music industry.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2021 Restless Dream Best World Music Album Nominated

APRA Awards

[edit]

The APRA music awards in Australia are an annual awards ceremony celebrating excellence in contemporary music.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015 Dulcify Best Blues & Roots Work of the Year Nominated

AIR Awards

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The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 An Outpost Of Promise Best Independent Country Album Nominated
2014[19] Any Old Love Best Independent Country Album Won
2017[20] The Golden Halfway Record Best Independent Country Album Nominated
2018[21] Live at the Triffid Best Independent Country Album Nominated
2019[22] Rain Lover Best Independent Country Album Nominated

Grant McLennan Memorial Fellowship

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The Grant McLennan Fellowship is a $25,000 award given to a Queensland contemporary music songwriter or songwriting duo with exceptional talent. Named in honour of Go-Betweens co-songwriter and front man, Grant McLennan. The prize money is used to travel to a choice of one of his three favourite cities, Berlin, London or New York, to further their song writing craft and experience by travelling overseas.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2007 John Busby & Chris Dale GMMF Nominated
2008 John Busby & Chris Dale GMMF Won

Queensland Music Awards

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The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[23] The winner of the 'Song of the Year' award receives a bronze plaque on the Fortitude Valley Mall / Musical Walk of Fame in Brisbane.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015[24][25][26] "Dulcify" Song of the Year Won
Country Song of the Year Won
2017[27] "Three in and There's Nothing But the Stars" Country Song of the Year Won

The Triffid - Queensland Album of the Year

[edit]

'The Triffid - Queensland Album of the Year' is an annual award that is presented to a Queensland band or musical act for the best album of the year. The winner is selected from five nominees and they the spine of their album art painted on the 'Triffid Wall'.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Halfway - The Golden Halfway Record Qld Album of the Year Won

References

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  1. ^ "Halfway - Farewell to the Fainthearted Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Broadbeach Country Music Festival | July 28-30, 2017". Broadbeach Country Music Festival. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Remember The River". Laughingoutlaw.com.au. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  4. ^ "QMusic - Queensland's music industry development association". Qmusic.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Australian Musician website". Australianmusician.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2023.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "AIR". Air.org.au. Retrieved 19 March 2023.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "QMA's". Qmusic.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "The Australian newspaper - music reviews". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Halfway Bio About". Halfway.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  11. ^ a b Comisari, Jerome (25 September 2021). "Bob Weatherall has a restless dream". ABC Radio National. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Farewell to the Fainthearted (DD)". Music.apple.com. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  13. ^ "An Outpost of Promise (DD)". Music.apple.com. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Any Old Love (DD)". Music.apple.com. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  15. ^ "The Golden Halfway Record(DD)". Music.apple.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Rain Lover (DD)". Music.apple.com. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Restless Dream (DD)". Music.apple.com. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Live At The Triffid (DD)". Music.apple.com. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  19. ^ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  20. ^ "A.B Original dominates 2017 AIR Awards nominations". Theindustryobserver. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  21. ^ "2018 AIR Awards Nominees". Theindustryobserv er.thebrag.com. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  22. ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". Scenestr.com.au. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  23. ^ "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Queensland Music Awards 2015". The Weekend Edition. 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Past Winners 2015". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Violent Soho, The Amity Affliction Among Queensland Music Awards Winners". Music Feeds. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Past Winners 2020". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
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