Roscoe James Irwin

Born to a classical singer mother and a folk loving father, and come of age through incredibly diverse musical surroundings, Roscoe James Irwin has cemented his place as a kind of musical mastermind. From his involvement with seminal Australian bands The Cat Empire and The Bamboos, to his highly ambitious compositions and arrangements that have been performed by countless big bands and orchestras.

Considering his iconic status as a bandleader and large-scale composer, Irwin’s debut solo record, The Hunting Road, might then come as something of a shock. Irwin, whose musical palette is colourful and wide ranging, has surprised us all with a record that is simple, thoughtful, and beautiful. Equal Parts Sundance Kid and Heartbreak Kid.

Having suffered a clean break of heart in 2009, Roscoe retreated to the Canadian mountains, rented a house on the lake and made friends with the creature and a cheap nylon string guitar. After three weeks of late autumn cold, another Yankees world series and many sing-alongs with the local folk and country misfits, Roscoe returned with a pocket full of songs, and soon after recorded The Hunting Road with producer John Castle (The Bamboos, Washington) at The Shed studio in Melbourne.