A tribute to The Go-Betweens

Thu 3rd May, 2007 in Local News

The Go-Betweens, is there anything that hasn’t been said? The prodigious songwriting duo of Robert Forster and the late Grant McLennan flew the Australian indie flag internationally for near on 30 years, making admirers of such luminaries as Belle and Sebastian, Wilco and even U2. Now a new tribute album will further cement their reputation as one of the finest bands to have ever emerged from Australia.

On Thursday November 30, 2006 the proverbial cream of Australia’s singer/songwriter community came together to celebrate and pay tribute to The Go-Betweens. With youth broadcaster Triple J and former Custard front man Dave McCormack at the helm, the project grew from a one-off performance to something much more than that.

It was soon after, that Write Your Own Adventures Down came to life. Featuring the likes of Bob Evans, Josh Pyke and Patience Hodgson (*The Grates*), the release is a finely crafted mix of the songs that defined an era, tastefully re-ignited to give this music to a new generation.

Formed in Brisbane in 1977, The Go-Betweens released six albums before initially disbanding in December 1989. - œSpring Rain’ and - œStreets of Your Town’ were just a couple of their alternative radio hits.

In 2000, Forster and McLennan reformed The Go-Betweens, assisted by all three members of Sleater-Kinney, and recorded the album The Friends of Rachel Worth. The most recent line-up (2005) included Forster, McLennan, Adele Pickvance (bass) and Glenn Thompson (drums).

In May 2006, Grant McLennan tragically passed away; his passing occurring just as The Go-Betweens had recaptured their magic with a brand new album, Oceans Apart. The release subsequently won an ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album in October 2005.

Write Your Own Adventures Down is released June 9 on RED LABEL.