RANTAN BUSH BAND: 1977–2026

by Alan Craig            Download the PDF for this page (8.2 MB)

Introduction

Since 1974, I have been researching our family history, and this website is the result of that work. While I have written about my children’s ancestors (i.e. both mine, and those of Robyn, my wife), I have said little about our own lives. I will eventually add some biographical details about Robyn and myself on another page.

However, for nearly 50 years, apart from our children and grandchildren, one particular aspect of our lives has dominated all others: our involvement with Rantan Bush Band. The following tells the story of that band and our involvement in it.

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Summary

Rantan Bush Band, 1977–current, is an Australian folk and country music group, commonly defined as a ‘bush band’, who were founded in 1977. Over the years, Rantan has performed in various formats with three-, four-, and 5-piece line-ups. The band has toured extensively, and performed as far afield as Sydney and Gove (Northern Territory). The band has had a significant profile in the Brisbane region, appearing on the programme of many major events since 1980 (e.g. the 1982 Commonwealth Games, the 1985 opening of the Performing Arts Centre, and Brisbane’s World Expo 88).

Throughout the ’80s, Rantan was well known for its regular performances at the huge FREEPS concerts run by the Brisbane City Council, and was recognised by its appearances in the television ads for the celebrated ‘Shine On Brisbane’ campaign. Early on, the band had some television appearances on the Lee Conway Show, which helped raise its profile in Brisbane. Rantan has recorded two albums of Australian bush music and, through its subsidiary company Bluegum Music, has published a number of music books, with recorded dance music, for Australian schools.

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HISTORY

In 1977, the Rantan Bush Band was formed to serve as the ‘resident band’ for the Barley Mow Folk Club, at that time operating at the Anglican Church Hall in Vulture Street, East Brisbane. The original line-up included: Alan Craig, Dale Riddle, Julie Sorrenson; Phil Wilson and Mike Moore. A little later, Jamie Witney was added to the line-up. At that time, the band’s repertoire consisted mainly of Australian traditional folk songs and music.

The Barley Mow Folk Club soon moved to the Caledonian Club in Kangaroo Point, and while at that venue, Rantan Bush Band started the first monthly bush dances in Brisbane, with Robyn Craig joining the band as its ‘dance caller’. This monthly dance would later be moved to the Hub Club next to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, and Rantan continued to play there, even after the band had turned professional.

Around this time, the band personnel began to change, with Julie Sorrenson, Jamie Witney, Phil Wilson, and Mike Moore moving on at various intervals, but being joined by Dave Dryland (banjo), Peter Robinson (guitar), and Keith Barrett (melodeon). The band expanded a little more when Bob Lee (acoustic bass) joined the line up around 1979. On occasions, the band had the services of fill-in guest players, like Don Nichols, Russell McKay, Mary Brettell, John Dvorjak, and Steve Cook, all active members of the Brisbane ‘folk scene’ at the time.

By 1981, the band had evolved from an amateur outfit to become a professional band with a largely new line up: Alan Craig (fiddle); Robyn Craig (dance caller/lagerphone); Tony Miles (lead singer/guitar); Jan Davis (accordion); and Bob Hall (lead guitar). It was this year the band recorded its first album, “Rantan: the Australian Bush Band” (13 tracks), and was now playing regular performances at the Brisbane City Council’s F.R.E.E.P.S. Concerts (Free Entertainment for Everyone in the Parks). It was also the year that this line up began touring for the Queensland Arts Council, with tour manager Geoff Street. These tours took the band to dozens of venues around Queensland.

When Jan Davis left the band to pursue other interests, she was replaced by Doug Balmanno (electric bass), and soon after Ross Hay was added on drums. Not long after that, Bob Hall left the band, and was not to return to the fold for another five years.

By 1982, Tony Miles, Doug Balmanno and Ross Hay had moved on with the hopes of forming a pop-band. Tony would return to Rantan later; but, in the meantime the band tried a new-look lineup with Steve Skinner (guitar) and Denis Surman (electric bass), while Alan & Robyn Craig continued. By this time, the band was playing regularly and many Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast resorts, mainly as a four-piece line up. The repertoire was expanded to include contemporary Australian country songs to complement the traditional bush music and songs. The band was still performing as one of the main attractions at the FREEPS concerts, along with the usual weddings, parties and anything thrown in.

In 1984, Rantan entered the publishing world with its first “Bush Dance!” kit. This was originally written and recorded by the band as a “Life Be In It” publication, an off-shoot of its work with the FREEPS program. When the government shelved the “Life Be In It” project the following year, Rantan took over as the publisher, and started a new venture with the creation of its subsidiary publishing company, Bluegum Music. In 1984, the band was the support act in Brisbane for the Irish folk duo, Foster and Allen, and the following year, were the support Act for Peter Paul & Mary – both concerts were at Brisbane’s Festival Hall.

Steve Skinner eventually left to pursue a solo career, while Denis Surman took a job with the ABC in Adelaide. Bob Hall had returned to the band in 1986 for another tour of duty, and was joined by long-time member Adrian Willemse on bass. Rantan also gained the services of Ian Main, a very fine guitarist from Scotland (via Canada). Ian eventually moved back to Canada, but was a great addition to the line-up while with the band.

When Ian Main left, the band was joined by Jack de Valence, an extraordinary piano and keyboard player who, with Adrian Willemse, performed with Rantan for the next 12 years. At that time, the band also had the services of local legend Henry McHenry (lead guitar), who was with the band until 1988. Henry had previously been with the McHenry-McKenzie Band, famous for their shows at the now-gone National Hotel in Queen Street. At this time the band further expanded its repertoire to include famous ‘dance hits’ (like “Nutbush”, and “Bus Stop”), and selected popular ‘golden oldies’ (e.g. some old-time Rock ’n’ Roll, and American country); however, Rantan never departed from making Australian bush music and song its specialty theme.

These were the band’s “Golden Years” as Rantan constantly played the circuit at the north and south coast resorts. Bob Hall was regularly playing with the band at this time in a fill-in role. Bob and Alan at that time also worked as a duo under the name of Cobb & Cº for roving performances. In 1988, Rantan had major performances at Brisbane’s World Expo 88, and later received special recognition from Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall for its services to entertainment in the Mall from 1982–1992.

During this time, the band continued expanding its publishing interests, and its subsidiary company, Bluegum Music partnered with Mike Jackson OA, a highly-successful children’s entertainer. New titles were gradually added to the company’s portfolio, with Rantan Bush Band and Mike Jackson recording all the companion dance-music tracks: “Bush Dance!” (1984); “Rig-a-Jig-Jig!” (1985); “Campfire Songbook!” (1991); “Social Dance!” (1994); “Session Tunebooks 1–4” (2011); “Best-Ever Kids’ Songs” (2012).

When Jack de Valence retired in 1997, Tony Miles rejoined the band along with singer/songwriter Chris Buch. Rantan had recorded Chris Buch’s hit song “Johnny Stewart, Drover” 17 years earlier. Adrian Willemse played on with Rantan for another two years. At this time, Robyn Craig took a break as the band’s regular dance caller for the next few years while she concentrated on her professional career as a pharmacist. It was with this new 3-piece line-up that the band placed a greater emphasis on doing ‘themed’ performances, in particular its “Roving Swaggy Show” (with its own ‘dunny’ on wheels!), and even an “Old Time Rock ’n’ Roll Show”.

 

In 2000, after Chris Buch had left to concentrate on jazz, Rantan recorded its second song album, entitled “On Our Selection” (RAN001). There were 15 tracks, all recorded by Tony Miles (guitar & vocals), Alan Craig (fiddle & vocals), and Bob Hall (lead guitar, banjo & vocals). Tony Miles, the band’s long-time lead singer, sadly died in 2002, and left Rantan Bush Band in its present form as a 3-piece band. As of 2026, Robyn Craig (dance caller, lagerphone), Alan Craig (fiddle, whistle, guitar, and alto sax), with Bob Hall (lead guitar), continue to play at bush dances, weddings, conferences, and parties.

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In Remembrance

The following are previous Rantan Bush Band members who have since passed. I have learned so much from each of you — thank you for your music, the laughs, the camaraderie, and your friendship. Collectively, you helped make the band what it is today. AlPal

Mike Moore; Henry McHenry; Tony Miles; Chris Buch; Steve Skinner; Jack de Valence; John Dvorjak; Phil Wilson; Dale Riddle.

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• • “Bush Dance!”, 1984 (8 editions); ISBN 978 1 875437 45 0
  • “Rig-a-Jig-Jig!”, 1985 (6 editions); ISBN 978 1875437 38 2
  • “Campfire Songbook!”, 1991 (4 editions); ISBN 978 1 875437 39 9
  • “Social Dance!”, 1994 (7 editions); ISBN 978 1875437 38 2
  • “Session Tunebooks 1–4”, 2011; ISBN 979 0 720102 05 4
  • “Best-Ever Kids’ Songs”, 2012; ISBN 978 1 875435 40 5