General News
12 August, 2024
Old Schools Sessions return to Oasis
Around 40 people attended the 13th Old School Sessions at the Oasis in Rainbow recently, which featured Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Bret Mosley.
It has been a long journey from Texas where Mosley was born.
He passed through Brooklyn, New York, where his singing career took off, before moving to Western Australia in 2014, and finally moved to Melbourne, where he now lives.
Playing his lap resonator guitar, Mosley delivered a powerful set of Roots, Americana and Blues music.
His storytelling captivated the audience, and as he told his audience, his music "fits in no set box".
One audience member said that when it started, she wasn't "too sure" about the music, which was a different sound to the previous Old School Sessions.
By the end, she said it had grown on her, and she had enjoyed the evening.
Mosley played songs from his previous albums, and his newest album which was officially released on July 28.
It was an entertaining show.
“I have played over 3000 gigs in the last 15 years," Mosley said.
"It is a night like this, playing in a small intimate venue and getting great vibes back from you, in my audience - that is why I play my music.”
The next Old School Session on August 22 will feature internationally-renowned singer-songwriter Eric Bogle and his band.
Bogle was booked to feature at The Oasis before Covid lockdowns caused the session to be cancelled, and organiser Ben Gosling has finally managed to secure him again.
Regarded as one of the folk music world’s Greats, Bogle has 17 studio albums and, in nearly 40 years, has undertaken eight tours in North America, 11 tours in, and many more in Australia.
Bogle was awarded a United Nations Peace Medal in 1986 for his efforts to promote peace and racial harmony through his music, and received an Order of Australia medal in 1987.
His song "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” was named by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time, with others of his works recorded by artists including Joan Baez, Slim Dusty, John Williamson, The Dubliners, Peter Paul & Mary, Billy Bragg, The Pogues and The Dropkick Murphy’s.
Bogle will be joined by Emma Luker on fiddle, Pete Titchener on guitar, and Jon Jones on percussion.
Despite the slight price increase to finance the full band and sound engineer, the session has already sold out, and cancellations within 48 hours of the event are non-refundable.
- LES GRAETZ WITH SAMANTHA SMITH