Flying Emus are an Australian

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whil ...

/ bluegrass band that formed in 1984 and released four studio albums, including, ''

This Town This Town may refer to: * "This Town" (Frank Sinatra song) * "This Town" (Niall Horan song) *"This Town", a song by Kygo, featuring Sasha Sloan * "This Town", a song by O.A.R. from the album All Sides * "This Town", a song by Roger Miller from ...

'', which won an

ARIA Award for Best Country Album The ARIA Music Award for Best Country Album, is an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards, which recognises "the many achievements of Aussie Aussie is Australian slang for ''Australian'', both the adjective and the noun, and less c ...

in 1988. They disbanded in 1990. At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 2013, John Kane (guitar,

mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

), announced they had reformed with other founders: his younger sister Genni Kane on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Kerin on

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

and mandolin and Ian Simpson on

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

, joined by new member Michael Vidale on bass guitar.

History

1984-1991

In 1984 the Flying Emus were formed in Sydney with Genni Kane and her older brother John Kane, Mike Kerin, and Ian Simpson, as a country, bluegrass group. In 1985 the band released their debut studio album, ''Look Out Below'', which won Instrumental of the Year at the 1986 CMAA Country Music Awards. At the same ceremony they won Vocal Group of the Year for their song "Diamond Creek". Note: source does not specify album or song. At the 1987 CMAA awards, the band took Instrumental of the Year again, for the track "Emu Strut". In October 1986 they supported

Steeleye Span Steeleye Span are a British folk rock band formed in 1969 in England by Fairport Convention bass player Ashley Hutchings and established London folk club duo Tim Hart and Maddy Prior. The band were part of the 1970s British folk revival, and we ...

in a show at the Canberra Theatre, where local correspondent Robert Hefner of ''

The Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times. History ''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...

'' praised the vocals of Genni Kane, violin work by Kerin and banjo by Simpson. In 1987 the band released ''

'' and in September of that year they supported

Suzanne Vega Suzanne Nadine Vega ( Peck; born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter best known for her folk-inspired music. Vega's music career spans almost 40 years. She came to prominence in the mid-1980s, releasing four singles that entered th ...

at the Sydney Town Hall. '' Tharunka''s Jim Dwyer felt the venue did not suit their intimate style. At the 1988 CMAA awards the group won Instrumental of the Year for the third consecutive year with the track "Jackaroo", and secured another Vocal Group of the Year for "Auctioneer". They won Best Country Album for ''This Town'' at the

ARIA Music Awards of 1988 The Second Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 29 February 1988 at the Sheraton Wentworth Hotel in Sydney. Cliff Richard was the host, with Bryan ...

. In 1989 the band released ''Postcards from Paradise'', which was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Country Album in 1990. Also in that year they released their final studio album, ''Thank You and Goodnight'', before breaking up. At the 1991 CMAA awards they won Instrumental of the Year for the fourth time with the track "Dixie Breakdown".

2013-present: Reformation and ''The Collection''

In January 2013 at the Country Music Awards of Australia, band member John Kane announced the group were reforming. In December 2013 the Flying Emus announced a reunion tour for January 2014 with the four original members (John and Genni Kane, Simpson and Kerin) joined by Michael Vidale on violin. A compilation album, ''Flying Emus: The Collection'', was released through Warner Music on 10 January 2014, with tracks from the band's four albums spanning from 1984 to 1990.

Members

* Genni Kane (Genevieve Wilby) – lead vocals, guitar * John Kane – guitar,

* Mike Kerin – violin, mandolin, guitar, vocals * Ian Simpson –

, guitar * Hanuman Dass – percussion * Graham Thompson – bass guitar * Michael Vidale – bass guitar * Malcolm Wakeford – drums, percussion * Wayne Goodwin – violin * Lucky Oceans – pedal steel guitar * Michael Rose – pedal steel guitar Credits:

Discography

Singles

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of

Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions o ...

. Flying Emus have won one awards from five nominations. , - , rowspan="2", 1988 , , rowspan="2", ''This Town'' , ,

, , , - , ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release , , , - , rowspan="2", 1989 , , "I Just Want to Dance With You" , , Best Country Album , , , - , "This Town" / "Darling Street" , , Best Indigenous Release , , , - , 1990 , , ''Postcards From Paradise'' , , Best Country Album , , , -

Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They have been held annually since 1973. Flying Emus have won six awards. , - , 1986 , , "Look Out Below" , , Instrumental of the Year , , , - , 1986 , , "Diamond Creek" , , Vocal Group of the Year , , , - , 1987 , , "Emu Strut" , , Instrumental of the Year , , , - , 1988 , , "Auctioneer" , , Vocal Group of the Year , , , - , 1988 , , "Jackaroo" , , Instrumental of the Year , , , - , 1991 , , "Dixie Breakdown" , , Instrumental of the Year , , * Note: Wins only

References

{{reflist ARIA Award winners Australian country music groups Australian bluegrass music groups 1984 establishments in Australia Musical groups disestablished in 1990 Musical groups established in 1984