The Paverty Bush Band is Canberra's, and probably one of Australia's, longest running and premier bush dance bands

Bush dances entertain people of all ages. They are bring together community and  family groups in an activity that they can do together.

Bush dancing is Australia's version of country dance or contra-dance. It draws mostly on the anglo-celtic traditions but as it has developed it has become more eclectic and diverse and draws on influences from other sources including Cape Breton, Cajun, old-time string band, bluegrass, blues and even ragtime and jazz.  Modern dances, such as the Macarena and Nutbush City Limits can also be done to bush music songs.

People of all ages enjoy bush dancing ... and it works especially well for a group of people of varied ages and experience levels. It's a format that has evolved over centuries and serves the purpose of bringing together communities.

If you've not been to a bush dance, click here to see Youtube clips of people learning a dance then doing it. Look closely - they are smiling! 

A bush dance is a terrific event for sports clubs for either the opening or the end of the season, social clubs, corporate functions, charity fundraisers, cross-cultural experiences, significant birthdays, family reunions, street parties or for no reason than getting your friends and community together for a great time.

Comprehensive photo album of a typical bush dance event: ANU Mountaineering Club

For inquiries and bookings, click here. 

You can follow Paverty Bush Band on Facebook (don't forget to "like") and Twitter

The term "bush music" generally refers to the music of the Europeans who colonised Australia. It is mostly in the English language with the music being of the anglo-celtic tradition and sharing the same roots as other folk music forms such as old-time string band music and bluegrass.

Some of the most recognizable songs from the traditional bush music lexicon are:

• Click go the Shears
• Waltzing Matilda
• The Wild Colonial Boy
• The Black Velvet Band
• The Drover's Dream

Examples of more recently written songs, and where bush music crosses over into folk and folk rock include:

• And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
• Diamantina Drover
• I Was Only 19

Here are some links to video of Franklyn B Paverty singing bush songs and ballads mostly at National Folk Festivals in recent years ...

• Hurrah for the Diggings, The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Jim Jones - National Fold Festival 2012
• Augathella Station, Jindabyne and Travelling Down the Castlereagh at the Stockman's Camp, National Folk Festival 2013 ... part 2: The Rain tumbles down in July, Koala Cafe, Cold Canberra Morning, Dennis O'Reilly, Jack O'Hagan medley, Canberra Rose, The Catalpa, Clancy of the Overflow
• Crazy Cradle Mountain at the Stockman's Camp, National Folk Festival 2015
• Jindabyne (song written by Ulick O'Boyle)

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_folk_music
• http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/bush-songs…

Paverty started in 1970 as Franklyn B Paverty and the Platte Valley Crooners.

Ben Hope's article, Folk from the bush, from the Queanbeyan Age 2012 tells some of the story.

Over the years a large number of exceptional musicians have graced the stage as part of Paverty, with alumni referring to themselves as "Old Pavertonians".  This has been described as a "select bunch" and current band members are prohibited from membership!

From the early 2000s, the musicians in ''Franklyn B Paverty'' included Graham Chalker, Dave Chalker, Bryan Rae, Bob Buckley, Peter Hobson, Peter Logue, Simone Dawson, Mary Firkins, Donal Baylor, Dave O'Neill, Mal Bennett, and John Taylor. Others who have been associated with the band include Tom Breen, Ros Haskew, Fiona Mahoney, Frank and Bernie Nizynski and Chris Smith. 

The band, now known as Paverty Bush Band, Paverty or just the Pavs, is still going strong, comprising founder member Graham Chalker and sometime Bryan Rae with Bob Buckley, Sarah Davies, Simone Dawson and Rick Kenyon.  The band is versatile, equally at home with bush dances for dancers of all ages and experience levels, from school halls, to conference centres, church halls, woolsheds, beer garden gigs, house parties and folk clubs.

For bookings and inquiries click here. Follow Paverty on Facebook (don't forget to "like") and Twitter