About

Bruce Watson is an icon and longtime favourite of the Australian folk scene.
His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation.
He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative, heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Bruce has appeared at almost 200 folk festivals as well as innumerable folk clubs and other venues across Australia, NZ and the UK. He has received a stack of prestigious songwriting awards and had his songs covered by performers of the calibre of Eric Bogle, Joe Dolce, Greg Champion, and a host of other Australian and international performers. He has been a support act for many high profile international performers.

He has produced eight albums of original songs. He has received radio airplay across Australia
and is a favourite on Macca’s Australia All Over He appears on over 20 compilation albums
alongside artists such as Yothu Yindi and Christine Anu.
Eric Bogle has described him as “the best songwriter I have seen in a long time.” Melbourne
folk institution The Boîte calls him “An Australian folk hero!”

Reviews
Bruce has a rare talent.. . the best songwriter I have seen in a long time — Eric Bogle
Bruce Watson is a wordsmith, a teller of tales, a spinner of yarns. He is a contemporary songwriter
with lots of stories he tells with passion and integrity. An Australian folk hero! — The Boîte
Absolutely f...ing brilliant! — Derek Guille, ABC Radio Melbourne
He rocked the festival with a series of hysterically funny & heart wrenching songs — Woodford Folk Festival
He has a terrific rapport with the audience and a great range of songs. — Peter Thomas, Radio 3AW
Bruce Watson belongs in the front rank of folk artists. — Trad&Now magazine
The high class singer/songwriter many of us would like to be but few will be.
— Graham Dodsworth, Folk Alliance Australia
Bruce is up there with the likes of Eric Bogle & Judy Small when it comes to writing and performing.
One of the most entertaining and engaging performers at the Festival.— Illawarra Folk Festival
Bruce Watson is a brilliant Australian singer-songwriter. Bruce really is the complete package.
He performs great serious songs, hilarious funny songs and has a great line in patter.
— Keith Donnolly, British singer-comedian, TV personality
What a lovely album! Another Bruce Watson CD to add to my “play when I need to feel good about
the world” pile — Judy Small
From Bruce’s 2023 UK tour:
He had the audience right there in the palm of his hands — Tamworth Folk Club. I have hosted many events
over the years, including some famous names, and no performer is as consistently entertaining as Bruce. You
could not ask for a better evening of song — St Albans Folk Music. Superb - just superb! I came away
absolutely transfixed. By any standards, Bruce’s performances was special — Woodman Folk ClubSongwriting

Awards
• Declan Affley Memorial Songwriting Award (National Folk Festival)
• Lawson-Paterson Songwriting Award (Port Fairy Folk Festival)(Twice)
• Roddy Reed Memorial Songwriting Award (Maldon Folk Festival)
• Sydney Bush Music Club 50th Anniversary Songwriting Award
• Finalist in several other awards, including Ozmusic Awards (twice),
Australian Songwriters Association Awards (twice), and Darebin Music Feast.
Radio and TV
Bruce’s songs have received airplay on ABC Radio National, and he has been a guest
and performed live on ABC (local, Radio National), commercial and community radio
across Australia, and on national television.
National Library of Australia, and National Film & Sound Archive
Bruce has been interviewed on his music career for the Oral History & Folklore Collection of the
National Library of Australia, and Australia’s National Film & Sound Archive
Albums and songbook
• Year of Wonders (2022)
• Mosaic (2017)
• Balance (2010)
• A Moving Feast (2004)
• Are We There Yet? (Children’s songs)(2004)
• Out My Window (1999)
• Real World: Songs of Life, Love and Laughter (1994)
• Politics, Religion and Sex (1990)
• 101 Songs (songbook) (2006)

Compilation CDs
Songs recorded by Bruce Watson have appeared on more than 20 compilation albums.
For details see: www.brucewatsonmusic.com/bio.html
Songs covered by other artists
Songs written by Bruce, recorded by other artists, appear on the following albums:
• Eric Bogle, Voices in the Wilderness (1990)
• Boola Boola Band, Graffiti Café (1993)
• On the Mark (Virginia, USA) (1996)
• Danny O’Flaherty, From the Heart (New Orleans, USA) (1996)
• Blackwood, At Home (1999)
• Blackwood, Home Soon (2004)
• We Love Music (St Brigid’s School, Fitzroy) (2006)
• Joe Dolce, The Wind Cries Mary (2007)
• Margaret Bradford, Ten Years On (2007)
• CD included in the book Tasmanian Songman Ronnie, Ronnie Summers with Helen Gee,
Magabala Books (2009)
• Turlough, Canyon Moonrise (Ireland) (2011)
• Malcolm J Turnbull, In From the Storm (2017)

Songs published
Songs written by Bruce Watson have appeared in a large number of books on music,
poetry, history, the environment and in educational resources.

Web site:   https://www.brucewatsonmusic.com/media.html
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brucewatsonmusic
Showreel:  https://youtu.be/yRa-xpPQQ_Q
Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Watson_(songwriter)
Music:       https://brucewatsonmusic.bandcamp.com

Location

Get directions

Christchurch Folk Music Club
29 Domain Terrace, Spreydon, Christchurch 8024

VENUE: Irish Society Hall, 29 Domain Terrace, Spreydon The hall is situated up the long driveway, directly next to Domain Park, and there is plenty of well-lit off-street parking.

Doors open 7pm. Performance starts at 7.30pm - online bookings will close 2 hours prior to the event start time.  After this time only door sales will be available on the night and will be dependant on the number of seats available in line with the Hall capacity.

DOOR SALES CASH ONLY: Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake available during the break, also bar facilities for cold refreshments throughout the night, Eftpos available at the bar for purchases only, no cash-out facility.

Folk Club and Irish Society members please remember to bring your membership card for licensing purposes. Non-members sign in at the bar if making purchases. 

Contact Event Organiser