Danny Walsh Banned launches Wimmera-inspired album

The titular 'Danny Walsh Banned' launched its latest album 'In the Wimmera' at the Art Is... Festival's Winter Warmer event on Saturday, July 3, a year after the album's release.

A Horsham release party was fitting, as the band's third album takes a reflective and nostalgic approach to the lead singer's experience growing up in the Wimmera.

Mr Walsh said the songs would be especially pertinent to anyone else who grew up in the region.

"It has a focus on stories from the region where I grew up," he said.

"Some personal stories, some fictitious stories but all true to the area and the landscapes you see when you drive up here. When you are down in the city and missing the country where you grew up.

"The beauty is in the landscapes, the wide-open spaces, the farming land. Also, the Grampians, having that as a backdrop as well.

"I think that those sorts of images might come up in the music, particularly for people who grew up in the area and moved away."

'In the Wimmera' was a project several years in the making, which had to be delayed due to the pandemic.

The album's songs were recorded during one day in the studio, with Melbourne producer Nao Anzai using a 1960s two-inch tape to record the songs entirely in analogue.

Mr Walsh said the band then spent several months fixing and overdubbing parts of the songs - resulting in a rich coupling between digital and analogue sounds.

"It has that mix of the raw, live, record and direct to analog tape sound while bringing in overdubs. I had recordings of birds recorded up on the farm, the gate creaking, the galahs," he said.

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"You get that mix of that live band feel with the benefit of studio time adding it on. It is nine tracks that bring to life how I feel about the area."

Originally from Donald, Mr Walsh's parents lived in Antwerp, and grandparents in Horsham.

He said his aunties played a significant role in his musical journey, teaching him the guitar in primary school.

"We recorded the songs, spent a day in the studio a couple of years ago. So the album has been out since this time last year but we haven't had a chance to launch it because of the pandemic," he said.

"That is why it was a long time coming and pretty exciting to be able to launch it at the Art Is... Festival.

"We had a chance to play the songs for family and new friends we have made - all the way from Cambodia and Colombia. Play it on the home turf where my grandparents lived.

"When you play in the region, people come and see you afterwards because they know your grandpa or your mum.

"We got a chance to put on the stage show and also have my aunties join in singing. They sang on the album as well which was pretty cool."

Mr Walsh said performing for regional audiences was always exciting and hoped to play another show in the Wimmera soon.

"In the bush, people are pretty excited to see some live music and to get involved as well. We had a COVID-safe spontaneous dance we claim to have invented called the Yabby. I think the crowds in the country are a bit more willing to get involved than the city, pre-pandemic," he said.

"You get an enthusiastic response from the crowd, especially when a busload of cricketers from Marnoo rock up halfway through the set and hit the dance floor.

"I think there is more of a chance for the unexpected to happen and a spontaneous response to your music. I think that is great when you get a real kick out of performing for people.

"Jump on stage, do the yabby, steal your tambourine."

To hear more of the Danny Walsh Banned, visit the band's Bandcamp.

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