Much-loved Country Roots musician, Andy Baylor, returns to Tamworth ’24 with a special Hank Williams show at Diggers -“SONGS FROM THE LOST HIGHWAY-The Legacy Of Hank Williams “
Andy Baylor –fiddler, guitarist, singer, song -writer and roots music legend has been appearing at Tamworth since the early 1980’s. He has released many independent CDs, appeared on Starmaker in the 90’s with his ’96 album “The Bush is Full Of Ghosts” and been a fixture on the Australian Country Music scene since the early days. In 2006 he won a coveted Golden Fiddle Award with his folksy album “Possum Stole the Pumpkin” , a mix of original Australian/ Cajun-Inspired fiddle tunes. Down through the years he has played with everyone from the big stars under the spotlight to the buskers down on Peel Street and garnered a reputation as Australia’s King of Roots Music. He has supported the likes of Robert Plant and Bob Dylan and journeyed to the heart of American country music, Nashville, on more than one occasion. Andy has also spent time in the backwoods and hills of West Virginia and the bayous around Lafayette, Louisiana learning Cajun music from some of the greats. His long standing residency at Tamworth’s Southgate Inn with his Cajun Combo for over 20 years was a favourite amongst Country music fans. Andy has been highly influential in creating a sound and feeling in Australian country music which draws on the roots of the music and makes something new of it –Old Hillbilly, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun and Classic Country –it’s all there. And who better to pay tribute to than the great Country troubadour himself, Hank Williams, whose songs still travel that Lost Highway with us all.
Andy has been invited to appear at the 2024 festival and present “Songs from the Lost Highway- the legacy of Hank Williams” with his fine band the Cajun Combo. He has an all star line-up with guitar wizard accordion /keyboard virtuoso Garry Steel ; Michael Vidale is on the big double bass, Ron Mahony is on drums, Pete Fidler is on steel guitar plus guest singers to be announced “Songs from the Lost Highway–The Legacy of Hank Williams “-Andy Baylor and his Cajun Combo