REVIEWS & PHOTO’s
 
The Strelley Project - Review by Tim Holt ABC South East Radio Mike Martin is perhaps best known in the region as the driving force behind the Kameruka Bush Orchestra. His passion for traditional Australian bush music its' roots and history is well recognised .... So for many, the release of his debut album will come as a revelation... This is not Mike Martin the bush or folk music historian ... This is Mike Strelley Martin ... The musician, songwriter, thinker and philosopher . The Strelley Project is a finely crafted set of songs performed by a bunch of consummate local musicians ... While it is in many ways rooted in Mike's community of Candelo & the Bega Valley, the music will travel well .... There are songs here that will make you laugh ... and think .. and cry ....There are songs of protest ... of the environment .. of love of the bush and community ...Standouts are "Silent Tears" ... "Stolen" ... "Bureaucracy "..... and the gorgeous accapella "What's Gonna Happen" .... this is a combination of consummate musicians who obviously know each other well .. In many ways it is a family affair .... Individually they are superb .. collectively they take the songs to a new level .....The Strelley Project comes highly recommended .... Mike and Lindsay have been playing music together for many years. Their first foray was at the early Tamworth festivals playing with a variety of Bands and Bards. This new project is a fusion of the blarney of Mike Martin, a songwriter and musician in the Australian Folk Tradition, and the elegance of Lindsay Martin, virtuoso fiddle player and accompanist held in high esteem by his peers. The songs reflect a traveling minstrels take on society, influences and experiences, add to this the expressive and emotive strings of Lindsay and the tonal qualities of Mikeʼs voice and resonator guitar and the fusion is complete. A must see on a festival program or concert performance. Their knowledge gained from years of performance, either as individuals, band members or hired hands, has groomed this pair to thoroughly enjoy the reality of whatʼs to come ---- The next gig!!