Highland FM’s 100% Home-grown Artist Of The Month for January is the band The Water Runners.
From Kiama and Gerringong NSW, The Water Runners’ original bluegrass-infused Australian folk/roots music with its four-part harmony story-telling has engaged and moved audiences at festivals, venues and events around the country since 2016.
The band is a mix of experienced musicians John Littrich (guitar/vocals) and Neil McCann (banjo/mandolin/vocals, formerly of folk legends, Wongawilli) and younger musicians James Turk (double-bass), Danita Harris (violin) and Dom Littrich (percussion). Dom also plays in rock band, Pacific Avenue, and funk band, Big Twisty and the Funk Nasty, when not having fun making videos with his housemates, The Inspired Unemployed.
The Water Runners have built a solid reputation as songwriters and performers which has been recognised through final honours over the last few years in the Tamworth Song Writers Association song competition and in achieving both ‘Best Band’ in the 2020 Australian National Busking Championships and second in the Open category. The band were selected to represent Australia in the 2021 Sounds Australia Folk Unlocked live stream and were finalists in the “People’s Choice’ category of the 2021 Australian Folk Music Awards.
The Water Runners worked have released three albums: Heading South (2016); Point of No Return (2019) and, in 2021, worked with multi award-winning producer, Matt Fell (ABC’s ‘The Recording Studio’), to record and release Further Down the Road.
Guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, double bass, percussion and harmonies combine with tight harmonies as The Water Runners take you on a musical journey musical journey down South Coast back roads and through human stories past and present. Come along for the ride!
Key Highlights
- The Water Runners were voted Best Band at the 2020 Australian National Busking Championships
- Finalist in the Australian Folk Music Alliance’s People’s Choice Award
“The true beauty of The Water Runners’ music is that it connects people”
Highland FM 107.1
The Water Runners album Further Down The Road is available via Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes and can be purchased through the The Water Runners’ website.
Recorded Live in the Highland FM Studios
Highland FM Live is a platform dedicated to giving a voice to the rich diversity of contemporary Australian musicians and songwriters that tell our stories, contribute to our culture and give voice to our communities.
The Water Runners – Kate Kelly’s Dream – Live in the Highland FM Studios