THE QUAREFELLAS

 

The Quarefellas were four immigrants who met by accident at Mulligan's Irish Restaurant in Perth in 1972. Mick McAuley from Ireland was the restaurants bouncer and spent much of his time bouncing out the rabble. Londoner Anita Blacker worked as a kitchen hand and helped to serve the Irish stew. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music. Alan Ferguson a Scot, was there mainly because he maintained the beer at Mulligans which was the cheapest in town! Fred Rae another Irishman collected the cover charge on the door. The four came together musically after members of the restaurants resident band ended up in hospital following one of the typical brawls at the venue.

The new group previously unknown to each other as musicians named themselves after Brendan Behan's book The Quarefellas (Irish slang for an itinerant musician). The Quarefellas were an instant success . From Mulligan's they went on to cover the Western Australian scene with concert, TV and radio appearances, including an ABC special and much acclaimed appearances at the Perth Concert Hall. The group had a popular residency at Albert's Tavern. They added Colin Merrey before they recorded their first album 'The Quarefellas First (Governor Broome Folk Club)' on the Clarion label in 1974. It was highly successful with the traditional and contemporary folk scene in WA. Merrey left the band before they recorded their second album 'Bottom Of The Punchbowl' the following year. It is unknown how long they soldiered on for.

Members

Mick McAuley (vocals, lagerphone), Fred Rae (guitar, vocals), Anita Blacker (fiddle, vocals), Alan Ferguson (bass, guitar, flute, vocals), Colin Merrey (mandolin, banjo)

SINGLES
''Put A Light In Every Country Window / Bricks And Mortar'' 1974 Clarion 

ALBUMS
'The Quarefella First' (Governor Broome Folk Club) 1974 Clarion 
'Bottom Of the Punchbowl' 1975 Clarion