Get unsuitably dressed at the Barham Balladeers

Independent recording artist Evan Platschinda has been immersed in the balladeer tradition for decades.

“I have been in music for a long time, first beginning at about 16 years of age,” he said.

“But back then, in those days, like a lot of other country music artists and Balladeers, we did the rock and roll thing, and then I had bands where we did a lot of cabaret work, that was a bit different again.

“Then for a little while music took a back seat, while I was running my businesses and raising a family.

“We still played, but not as often.

“We always played country music.”

The Australian Bush Balladeers Association plays a crucial role in promoting the genre.

“In Australia, we have got what we call our Bush Balladeers Association, called the Australian Bush Balladeers Association and they promote and foster the Australian bush ballad style,” Evan said.

“In other words, more of Slim Dusty's style of music and everybody knows Slim Dusty’s music.

“There are always songs about, usually about factual things in a lot of cases, maybe with a little poetic licence.

“I'm talking about farmers doing it tough with droughts, rains and floods.

“Sometimes, I'd sing about folklore-type heroes like Ned Kelly.

“A ballad is like a poem; it is a story done in song.”

Evan distinguishes Australian country music from its American counterpart.

“In Australia, we don't have any such thing as country and western, that is an American thing,” he said.

“In Australia, we only have country music.

“We call them Australian bush ballads.”

The festival features two venues with different atmospheres.

“At the Balladeers at Barham, there are two venues, the auditorium with its big stage and big dance floor, as well as a stage out front in the main lounge,” Evan said.

“A lot of people will go there specifically for the four-day event, where we start at 10 in the morning and finish at 10 at night.

“There are beautiful ballroom dances, they will do the waltzes, quick steps, and the Pride of Erin.

“A lot of people who come to the event come for the dancing.

“It is an older group of people, and a lot of people are retirees and they follow these festivals.”

One of Evan's most requested songs comes with a story.

“The one I get requested most for is a song that, surprisingly enough, wasn't written by me, but I wish it was,” he said.

“Slim Jones, who's passed away some six, seven years ago now, Slim gave me this song to put on my last Balladeers album, and it's called ‘Unsuitably dressed’.”

To book a ticket to Barham Balladeers Festival May 4 to 7, 2026 at cluBarham go to clubarham.com.au/whats-on-at-clubarham