5 Favourite Things About Dashville Skyline Shared By Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes

Lachlan Bryan and The Wildes are a difficult band to pin down.

A little bit country, a little bit folky and a tiny bit rock & roll, they've built a cult following of loyalists who'll argue that LB is a master songwriter and storyteller, and that the band's raggedy, eccentric performance is completely unique.

Yet ask the guys themselves and they'll tell you they're just a handful of wandering troubadours, worshipping at the altar of Dylan, Waits and Wilco.

Which makes them the perfect act to ask about Dashville Skyline, the Hunter Valley festival that pays tribute to the traditional art of songwriting by some of today's best songwriters.

It's a showcase of the roots of alternative country music, from its beginnings in the '60s and '70s to its widespread influence on today's performing artists.

"To say the band and I are looking forward to Dashville would be a huge understatement," Lachlan says. "Come and join us if you can – you'll quickly see why this is amongst our very favourite events."



Here, Lachlan shares his favourite things about attending Dashville Skyline – both as a musician as well as a music lover.

1: The introductions

I first saw and met Lindi Ortega at Dashville – she played an early afternoon set and I was hooked. We became good friends and even collaborators at one point.

I also saw Tami Nielson for the first time at Dashville – and Australian audiences caught on to Hannah Aldridge, The Roamin' Jasmine and Tim Easton there.

This year the focus is back on the locals, for obvious reasons, and I reckon that pretty much guarantees we'll all discover some new favourites.

2: The reunions

Jordie Lane was one of my favourite new artists when I first started playing songs in Melbourne. I've never understood why he's not more famous.

I haven't seen him play for a number of years as he's been based in the USA – Dashville is the perfect setting to see him again, as well as a whole lot of other friends and colleagues I've missed for the past two years at least.

 

 

 

 

 

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3: The possibilities

Last time I arrived at Dashville without my suitcase, which I'd left at an Airbnb in Sydney, so I ended up with a whole new vintage wardrobe – all purchased from the Dashville markets. I still wear most of that get-up around three years later.

4: The beginnings

Morning at Dashville is special. I like to get up early, buy a coffee and wander the grounds.

It's a beautiful setting – and the atmosphere in the early hours is both sleepy and industrious, and campers make their breakfasts and the bands start rolling in. The music usually starts pretty early too, which is a great bonus.

5: The endings

Having gotten off stage with the band (we've usually played early evening) there's no better feeling than standing at the back of the crowd, watching the headliners bring it home in the darkness, framed by the eucalypts while the throng of beaming punters sway along lovingly.

It's a magical place and I'm so glad to be returning this year. We need this.



Dashville Skyline takes in Lower Belford (Hunter Valley) 25-27 February.

Dashville Skyline 2022 Line-up

The Black Sorrows
The Murlocs
William Crighton
Liz Stringer
Jeff Lang
Slim Dusty’s Travellin’ Country Band
Frank Yamma
Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes
Icecream Hands
Jordie Lane
Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife
Harmony Byrne
Fenn Wilson
Dan Brodie
Melody Moko
CJ Stranger
Ben Mastwyk & His Millions
Cool Sounds
Family Jordan
Eagle & The Wolf
Georgia State Line
Ben Leece & Left of the Dial
Jeb Cardwell & The Dream Deal
Amends
Jesse Redwing
Michael Carpenter and The Banks Brothers
Huckleberry and The Devil’s Dandruff
Katie Bates
Andy Abra & The Big River Band
Kid Hank
Katie Brianna
Then Jolene
Marvellous Hearts
Lyle Dennis Band
Piper Butcher
T. Wilds
The Tall Stories