User:Richardlawsonaustralia

'''Richard Lawson [Musician, Composer]  Early Years1961-1981''' born in Sydney Australia 5 August 1961. Educated at St Pius X College Chatswood and graduated in 1979 gaining the Art Prize. He played in a variety of school bands as drummer. Studied Arts at Sydney University and became involved in burgeoning band scene in Sydney following the Punk Rock Explosion of the late 70's. He played in the Things with his brother Edmund Lawson [Guitar] [1978-1980 and the Most [1980-1983] and started management with seminal grunge band from Perth; The_Scientiststhe Scientists [1982-1984]. He also booked and managed the Introverts [1984] the Grooveyard [1984] and initiated and ran the hugely successful 'Swamp Stomps' in Sydney [1982-1984]

The Lime Spiders [1983-1993] Following the Most's close 2nd to the Lime Spiders in the Southern Cross Hotel Battle of the Bands in 1983 he joined the reformed Lime Spiders line up of Mick Blood [Vocals], Richard Jakymyzyn [Guitar] with fellow Most member Tony Bambach [Bass]. This line up went on to record the hugely successful single Slave Girl in October 1984; the highest selling independent single up to that time in Australia and still a cult classic. This line up was expanded with the addition of another Most member and childhood friend of Richard; Gerard Corben on Rhythm Guitar. The band went on tour internationally, enjoy worldwide cult success and record 4 albums on the Virgin Label before disbanding in 1993.

The middle years 1993-2006 Richard Lawson went on to form Kcrunch with Brian Mann and Mark Wilkinson, both of whom were latter day Lime Spiders guitarists. Kcrunch recorded 2 singles [Its not over EP 1993] and Jarrah Cattle Dog 1994 with Richard sharing lead vocal and songwriting with Brian Mann.Its not over recieved high rotation on JJJ Radio Australia and the clip featured heavily on 'Rage' About this time Richard had expanded to Keyboards and guitar and composition but had taken a path away from Hard Rock to more Ambient and Electronic territory citing Deep Forest, Enigma, Brian Eno and Penguin Cafe Orchestra as key influences. The result was the first Figtree Renaissance cd released on his own Figtree Label in May 1994 through Mushroom Distribution in Australia. The cd was produced by former Moffs frontman and engineer Tom Kazas who brought an ethnicity and multi layered approach. It also featured Brian Mann on guitar and Carina Grace recently arrived in Australia from Sweden on Backing vocals. Figtree Renaissance received high critical praise “This album is actually as beautiful as its cover” Rolling Stone 1995 Live at the Esplanade“Exciting assortment of influences and atmospheres” OTS 1994 "The inner city has had a love child as exotic as it is beautiful...it is filled with the voices of the East and Bulgaria" OTS 1994 Around this time he moved to the country near Mudgee to start a small organic Olive farm/ guesthouse business, Figtree Retreat, where he lived for 10 years from 1996 through to 2006. He toured with the Lime Spiders again in 1998 and again in 2004 as well as branching out into Folk Music [Home Rule Band 2001-2007] and forming Blue Valentine [2004-2009] and Teaching Percussion/Vocals/Guitar

The middle years Part 2 2007- From folk to electronica and all points in between Richard Lawson has been very busy over the last 3 years. From touring nationally and releasing a live album by the Lime Spiders at the Esplanadeon his own label, Figtree Words and Music, in 2007; to playing a slew of Festivals, radio programs and countless gigs with folk rockers Blue Valentine, who also released their acclaimed CD to recent releases by his electronic project FTR....he has covered all musical bases. Now having moved to the beautiful South Coast of NSW Richard is doing countless acoustic and electric shows of all his material plus some of his favourite covers. He continues to teach music and be active on the music festival scene and hosts his own his own “Electronica ” radio program on Shoalhaven FM. He has been asked to return to the acclaimed and popular Gulgong, Cobargo and Kangaroo Valley Music Festivals and is also engaged with various soundtrack projects with Tropfest filmmakers Mat De Koning and Huskisson's Sandfly Film Festival Winner Byron Quandary.

Richard Lawson is releasing 2 new CD’s ; one instrumental work Figtree Renaissance II and one vocal “folktronica” CD "Bread and Water” in late 2010. Again they are an exciting and absorbing mix of electronic, alternative, classical and ambient influences.

Some preview instrumental pieces are already in demand for soundtrack synchronisation with Tropfest filmmakers and for performance by two regional chamber quartets especially the pieces “Epitaph” and “After the fall”. Some of the electronic music or “folktronica” is already getting airplay in Europe on selected FM programs and has been picked up by leading Sydney independent FM Station FBI Radio.