BOB
SHARP
All about the Music
Facial Expressions
Ken was from Scotland North Of the Border and I was from Newcastle South of the boarders so when we first got together we were called Hadrian's Wail. It was the intense facial expressions when we were playing that eventually gave us our name. We both met in Alice Springs after the 1980 National folk festival and found that we had so much in common musically that our many happy and fruitful years of playing and creating music together was inevertable.
Facials went on to tour nationaly with the then Folk Touring Circut, a Territory Tour , an East Coast Tour and a tour of NewZealand playing at just about every major festival sharing the stage with some of our great influences such as Steeleye Span, Dougie Mc'Clean Vin Garbutt ,Eric Bogal and Redgum. Sadly Ken is now deceased but to me he was one of the finest singers and creative musicians of his time and some of our music reflects this.
Gurning
Gurning was Facials first album and recorded on to cassette in Kens front room a beginning of Alice Springs First Recording Studio Centre Trax. It was certainly based on our UK influences with some interesting variations of traditionl and contempory songs and was an introduction to some of our original music.
Tracks-:
Arthur McBride, The Forester,Bold Poachers,Jeannie C, Tunes-Seven Yellow Gypsies and Cunla, Land of three Rivers,It's Dark in Here, Prince William, Bonny Gateshead Lass,Shamrock Shore, Bolds Nelson's Favourite-Princess Royal-Trunkles,I shall be Released, Lord of all I behold-Hadrians March.
Ear To Ear
Our Second album and with songs from writers as diverse as Richard Thompson, George Harrison, Alan Man and Chris Buch. Ursula Balfour sadly now deceased joined us on John O Dreams and Lazio Faher. This to me was one of our most exciting Albums.
Tracks-:
Waltzing Matilda, Rouges of Lynn, Genesis Hall,Rambling Royal,Jig a Jig, John O' Dreams, Meet me on the Corner, Here Comes the Sun, Lazio Faher,Brides favourite-Kesh Jig,Winter Wind, The Timber Cutters, Doodle let me Go,Johnny Stewart Drover.
Windmill Run
I believe this was the first commercial album to be recrded and produced in the Northern Territoy at Centre Trax recording Studio in Alice Springs and contained a lot more original material. Boss Lady and Farewell to Australia original tracks have been recorded by other artists.
Tracks-:
Boss Lady,The Rabbiter, The Windmill Run, Donney Brook Fair, Leaboy's Lassie, Rattling Roaring Willy,Pendragon's Bastard Son,Turning of the Tide, Farewell to Australia
Bob Sharp
To establish myself as a solo artist when the Faciall expressions decided to go in different directions I decided to record a solo album " Times Ive'Tasted drawing on the vast Alice Springs talent to add a little touch of magic. I also wanted to start doing a lot more original material as I had a lot of music I had written that as Facial expressions we had never recorded or performed and felt it would take me in a slightly different musical direction.
Times I've Tasted
Other than a Henry Lawson Poem that I put to Music this album is all original material and a lot of fun putting togther. Talent from Alice springs joined me on many tracks so for me it is a diary of the times. I was also fortunate to secure some great fiddling by Aly Bain who was touring at the time with "Boys Of The Loch " on a Pint Of Shanty and some great Didge by Charle Hook McMahon.The Gaffer and Ash Wednesday were put on You Tube by UrbanPharo
Tracks-:
Never Never Land, Ash Wednesday,Fourteen Levels Down, Beneath the Hunters Hand, Kings in Grass castles,Henly on Todd Hornpipe,Pint of Shanty, A Shady Spot,The Gaffer, Anais Anais, Possum, Hanging in Between.
