COBBERS

After performing in various bands during the late 1960s and early 1970 in the pubs and coffee lounges of Melbourne's eastern suburbs, the first line-up Cobbers - The Bonza Bush Band occurred in 1974. As with most bands of more than 10 years' longevity, Cobbers endured many line-up changes. The band formed their own record label, Bushland Records, and in 1975 released their first album, the live 'All For Me Grog' with the lineup of Christy Cooney (vocals, banjo), John Armstrong (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Chris Armstrong (vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle) and Maitland "Maity" Swallow (accordion). In something of a rarity, the band licensed it distribution rights only and retained complete control over its product. The album was reissued on the Festival label in 1978. Before their second album was recorded the band added bassist Mark "Blossom" Brown (bass) who also became their business manager. In January 1979, on the eve of a national tour he was tragically involved in a car accident and died.

More albums and singles followed over the next decade, including a few lineup changes they ceased to be a full-time concern by 1989, continuing in a lesser fashion. The band finally called it quits in 1998 and played their final show at Corryong on April 18. However, later that year following the death of "Big" Ron Howard, the band reformed for a one-off tribute gig. In 2007, with Maity Swallow battling and eventually dying of kidney disease and a brain tumour, the band again reformed for a benefit concert to assist with Maity's medical bills. Cobbers were at the forefront of the Australian folk/bush movement, and for over 30 years took Australian folk and bush music out of the folk clubs to a much wider audience in pubs, clubs, schools,, television and radio.

Members

Chris Armstrong (vocals, guitar, mandolin, whistle), John Armstrong (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Mark "Blossom" Brown (bass), Christy Cooney (vocals, banjo), Maitland "Maity" Swallow (accordion), Mark Brown (guitar), Bruce Cawthorne (accordion, harmonica), "Big" Ron Howard (bass)

SINGLES 

''Going Home / Moreton Bay'' 1978 Elektra
''Bushland Dreaming (Theme From The Film Country Editor) / The Black Velvet Band'' 1979 Elektra
''Poor Ned / Puffing Billy Jig'' 1979 Festival
''Bushland Dreaming / The Lachlan Tigers'' 1980 Festival
''Clair / The Legend Of Eliza Emily Donnithorne'' 1981 Festival
''The Barbeque Song / The Brown Jug Polka'' 1981 Festival
''The Endangered Species / Leaving Song'' 1984 Festival
''The Fighting Kangaroos / Waltzing Matilda Again'' 1984 Festival
''The Ballad Of Ben Hall / The Street Of Forbes'' Bushland

ALBUMS 
'All For Me Grog' 1975 Bushland Records
'Cobbers' 1977 Elektra
'Australia -- From Celts To Cobbers' 1978 Bushland Records
'Listen To The Band! (Vol. 3) 1978 John Bye Productions
'Bushland Dreaming' 1979 2 Festival
'Portraits of Australian Women' 1981 Bushland Records
'Cobbers By Request' 1982 Festival
'Rolling Home' 1986 Bushland Records
'Bushdance Party' Dino Music

References

http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/cobbers