Lovers of Australian Country Music assemble! Local heroes Small Town Romance are putting together an intimate musical tribute to Slim Dusty and Joy McKean on Thursday May 30th at the Merri Creek Tavern.

For over 50 years Slim and Joy travelled the highways and byways of Australia, gathering and writing songs from their experiences and performing their unique homegrown brand of country music. These songs tell the story of truckies, publicans, ringers and raconteurs, tales of resilience, humour and pathos that defined an era.

Slim and Joy’s grandson Jim Arneman along with his partner in life and music Flora Smith are Small Town Romance. Jim and Flora will take audiences on a journey through this vast catalogue of songs with a little help from family and friends. Aria and Golden Guitar winning legend of the stage Anne Kirkpatrick will join the show to celebrate her parents legacy with some iconic renditions of classics like Lights on The Hill and When The Rain Tumbles Down in July. Jim, Flora and Anne will also be joined by songstress Charlotte Le Lievre and Bush Balladeers The Iron bark Brothers, pickin and singing those Hillbilly sounds of yore.

Backed by Ben Franz on upright bass (The Waifs, Country and Western Ramblers) and bluegrass hot shot Pete Fidler on dobro and mandolin ( The Cartwheels, Bill Jackson) this promises to be a night of rare musicality and storytelling.

Tickets $20 + BF or $25 on the door (if available)