halfway

Halfway is a Brisbane based band which was formed by John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin who originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland.

Based on a mutual love of Dylan, Springsteen, Big Star and The Replacements, they left Rockhampton and headed south to put together a band. It was here that they recruited the like minded Ben Johnson on bass and formed the early line-up of Halfway in 2000.

Halfway are proud to announce the release of their third studio album, AN OUTPOST OF PROMISE.

Halfway was formed by John Busby, Chris Dale and Elwin Hawtin who originally hail from Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Based on a mutual love of Dylan, Springsteen, Big Star and The Replacements, they left Rockhampton and headed south to put together a band with the finishing touches to the line up being added in Brisbane to round the Halfway line up off as an 8 piece.

Halfway’s last effort, the critically acclaimed album”Remember The River” was released in 2006, Recorded by Wayne Connolly (The Vines, Josh Pyke, You Am I) and produced by Rob Younger (Radio Birdman). The album was well received nationally and generated considerable interest in Europe and the UK where it received high rotation airplay on the BBC.

“Brisbane’s roots-rock scene is thriving with bands such as Halfway, who add pedal steel, harmonica, banjo and organ as contrast to their mix of country flavours and rock’n'roll swagger. And listen up, Dean and the Fitzroy and Cheri Ann – haunting tunes inspired by real-life tragedies – are two of the songs of the year.”
Noel Mengel – THE COURIER-MAIL (AU)

Their debut album “Farewell to the Fainthearted” was released in 2003 to critical acclaim. The band toured nationally and picked up high rotation airplay on Triple J with LP opener “Patience Back”. “Farewell to the Fainthearted” was included in The Courier-Mail’s Top 10 albums of 2003.

“Farewell to the Fainthearted is a completely heartfelt statement by a collection of outsiders from one of the most remote locations on the planet – Brisbane, Australia. Leave it to them to produce one of the finest country-inspired rock albums in the last 10 or 15 years.”
David Virden, DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY (USA)

International and national supports followed the release of both LP’s. Halfway have played with The Black Keys, Gomez, You Am I, J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Josh Pyke, Band of Horses, Gary Louris and Mark Olsen (The Jayhawks) amongst many others.

In 2008 Halfway song writing duo, John Busby and Chris Dale won Queensland’s most prestigious song writing award – The Grant McLennan Fellowship. The selection panel included members of the Go-Betweens, the McLennan family and Queensland Arts. The fellowship allowed John and Chris to travel to London in November 2008. Whilst in London, they rehearsed, played acoustic shows, wrote and began to put together the initial framework for this their third album “AN OUTPOST OF PROMISE”.

This award helped develop a working relationship with Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens) and in 2009 Robert was recruited to handle the production duties for the new album. After months of rehearsal under Robert’s instruction, the bands third album was completed in September 2009 with Wayne Connolly again at the controls.

Halfway’s third album “AN OUTPOST OF PROMISE” is due for release June 28 2010 across Australia and Europe through Plus One Records, Shock Records and in Europe via Sonic Rendezvous and will be followed by an Australian East Coast Tour.

First track to radio: Stevie (track 9) is a song written for an old friend of the band: Steve Sutherland. John Busby from Halfway started a band with him when they were 17 or 18 and living in Rockhampton QLD. John was out of work and helping Stevie fail year 12. It’s about the promises they made and the plans to get out. Some they stuck to and some others John thinks they probably broke.

Much of the album “AN OUTPOST OF PROMISE” explores similar themes to this: friendship, last drinks, 3AM promises, the hope for something better, a change of luck. It’s about the small decisions we make & the great effect they can have on the way things eventually turn out.

For better or worse.

“An Outpost of Promise is a band coming into its own. Ten classic songs, played straight up with tension and drama”
Robert Forster THE GO-BETWEENS (AU)