CWQ

"Just like their shows, pleasing contradictions abound. Slick and smooth one song, rough and jagged the next. The tunes range from the jaunty and folksy to the melancholic, personal and political." Lily Bragge Melbourne Age

Original Australian music with roots in the deep south east of Melbourne, that leans on roots/folk and up against the blues. CWQ draw on a varied palette of instruments and influences to create a rollicking style that is very much their own twisted and dusted up soundscape. The entire instrumentation can sometimes change from song to song and that means the soundscape changes, it's not the kind of show where you hear the same thing for an hour. There's an organic flow to CWQ that bridges gaps between styles, people and parties; it's kinda like the changes are necessary to express what's going on in the all the different rooms of a big old house. First emerging as winners of the PBS Festival of Song, songwriter's competition 2004, CWQ pride themselves on their versatile show with an original sound and energy that draws deeply on roots and old world influences. A variety of high energy, memorable live performances across Melbourne is steadily garnering CWQ a reputation as 'the band that put on a bloody good show, and have a have a bloody good time while they're at it'.

And the winners are:
Chris Winterton - Vocals, Guitar, Harp, Piano Accordion, Brazilian Banjo
Matthew Borg - Slide Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Luke Winterton - Guitar, Banjo, Vocals
Michael Marinucci - Bass
Andy Reed - Drums

Plenty of surprises, constant instrument changes, and each member's unique skill creates an infectious sense of fun that comes together in an original, stompin', and very much theatrical stage presence perfect to get any crowd on their feet and having a good time. In 2005, CWQ spent five weeks in the studio recording the album - Old Trees & New Branches - a completely independent and self funded project resulting in an album that captures the spirit of the band's live show. The album was launched to a full house at Manchester Lane and has received much critical praise and featured on community radio stations nationally as well as airplay on Triple J's 'Roots'n all' Program and on Triple M's' the local' program. The band philosophy is simply to make every live show the best it can be (even if it means swapping instruments every song) and in this way build a solid foundation of support based on playing damn good shows and making sure every one's having a real musical experience both on and off the stage.

CWQ will released their new EP 'Get in Line' in June and will be playing a string of shows including the National Celtic Festival. The recording takes a rockin' bent on the roots with a raw powerful sound and also features two tracks recorded live at Manchester Lane.

CWQ spent NYE playing at Pyramid Rock Festival followed by a string of shows up the East Coast in early 2006 before heading back to Melbourne for a series of shows followed by an appearance at the Williamstown Music Festival. And, despite an aparrent lack of talent when it come to ball sports, their music received national exposure as the soundtrack to the Western Bulldogs 2006 Membership Campaign which aired across the country Feb - April 2006. C.W.Q can be seen playing gigs and doing residencies at the usual dark, smoky recesses of Melbourne's live venues and are currentley mixing and mastering a live album.
You can check them out out and have a listen at www.cwq.com.au
THINGS WE'VE BEEN UP TO...

PBS FM Song writers of the Year 2004.
Winners of the prestigious PBS FM Festival of song based on song writing and live performance.

Independent recording and release of full length Album.
Release in 2005 and garnering critical praise from publications such as The Melbourne Age and Music related press. Feature album on John Carver's Morning Show on PBS. National Airplay on Triple J' Roots'n'all program, Triple M, PBS, Triple R and nation wide community radio stations.

East Coast Tour 2006.
CWQ embarked on a successful tour through northern NSW and QLD with a focus on shows
in the Brisbane area.

National Television exposure
The track, 'That's all i know' gained exposure nation wide as the official sound track to the Western Bulldogs 2006 National Membership Campaign. Aired during primetime across channels Nine, Ten and Seven. 'Word Rustlin' video clip was aired nationally on ABC's Rage.

Festivals
National Celtic Festival 2007
Pyramid Rock Festival NYE 2005 and 2006 Sold out 12,000 capacity at Phillip Island, Melbourne.
Cwq performed both stage shows and roving street performances amongst the crowds.
Swampbuck Roots Festival 2005 Cornish Arms, Melbourne
Williamstown Music Festival 2006 Williamstown, Melbourne
Monbulk Jazz and Blues Festival 2005 Dandenong Ranges Melbourne
PBS Festival of Song 2004 Judged overall best performers/songwriters
Acoustica 2004 Palace, St Kilda

C.W.Q can be seen playing