Fred Smith

Since 1998, Smith has released eight albums. Interestingly, they are all good. In 2008, Sydney Morning Herald critic Bruce Elder wrote: “It is about time Australia caught up with Fred Smith. This remarkable singer-songwriter - who at various times reveals influences that range from Paul Kelly via Lou Reed to Loudon Wainwright III to Leonard Cohen - keeps releasing amazingly accomplished albums...He is also very funny.” But it was not until his 2011 release Dust of Uruzgan that Australia did finally catch up with Fred Smith. Written while working for 18 months in southern Afghanistan, the album earned him critical acclaim and comparisons with the great Australian songwriters Eric Bogle, Don Walker and John Schumann. His 2014 release, HOME was recorded in the studio of Shane O'Mara in Yarraville Melbourne. The renowned guitarist and side man of choice to artists from Paul Kelly to Tim Rogers, O’Mara has brought to the fore the delicate fingerpicking guitar chops that has long been the backbone of Fred's writing, while adding some sublime licks of his own. The album has some beautifully crafted songs, with lyrics full of whim, wit and story. The album has received kind reviews: “Singer songwriter par excellence… The most accomplished recording in Mr Smith’s bulging back catalogue” Tony Hillier, Rhythms, November/December 2014 “An acclaimed purveyor of finely crafted contemporary folk songs…One of Australia's most outstanding songwriters” Daniel Sanderson, Panorama, Canberra Times, 20 September, 2014 “Smith’s writing, like all good drama and fiction, is predicated on an ability to see the world through another’s eyes” John Shand, SMH, ****Review, 10 January 2015 “Home is where the heart is, and there is a lot of heart in this CD… It will move you to tears.” Warwick McFadyen, The Age, November 2014 Yet another wonderful set of songs. The man is an outstanding writer. Love this record:) David Francey, Facebook, 11 January 2015 Now he's about to hit the road again with a new double album, called GREAT.

Canberra, ACT