“The Australian Band” Rolling Stone Magazine

The Bushwackers are Australia’s best-known, most-loved Australiana band, celebrating over 50 years of performance.

A high-energy meeting point between Australian folk and Celtic tradition — built for dancing, singing and joining in.

The Bushwackers are one of Australia’s most influential folk bands, performing Australian music shaped by the Irish and Scottish traditions that travelled here with early settlers. Drawing on bush dance tunes, working songs and storytelling, their sound sits naturally alongside the Celtic canon while remaining unmistakably Australian.

Led by founding members Dobe Newton and Roger Corbett, The Bushwackers bring more than 50 years of songs, tunes and renowned dance calls to the stage. Their performances thrive on audience involvement, driven by rhythmic arrangements, strong melodies and a shared sense of celebration.

The band combines original material with traditional repertoire, reflecting Australia’s social history with clarity and conviction. More recent favourites like Marijuana Australiana Rehashed and Leave It In The Ground add humour and contemporary relevance.

The Bushwackers’ bush dances of the late 1970s and 80s attracted thousands nationwide, and their Dance Album remains a staple in Australian schools. Now in their 54th year, the band continues to energise festivals across Australia and internationally.

Featuring fiddles, accordion, mandolin, guitars, bass, drums and Dobe Newton’s unmistakable lagerphone, The Bushwackers deliver a dynamic, inclusive performance that connects Australian folk music to its Celtic roots.