2016 News

Canterbury Country wound up the year in fine form with a star-studded concert and lots of surprises. Guest artist DONNA FISK surprised the audience and ‘Birthday Boy’ Bob with a video montage of their TV appearances from the early 80s, followed by a cake presentation from Bob’s wife Karen. Surprise guest WAYNE HORSBURGH sang ‘Diamantina Yodel’ which Bob co-wrote with his brother-in-law JOHN DALTON who was in the audience and for the first time got to hear the song performed live. Bob was delighted to celebrate his upcoming birthday with so many friends and family, including (pictured above) his long-time dear friends FRANK IFIELD  and DONNA FISK.

Bob has released a new CD for 2016 – 

ACT NATURALLY

It contains 26 Country and Western Classics (21 songs and 5 instrumentals), and includes duets with Wayne Horsburgh and Nicki Gillis, a duel with pianist Greg Hooper, and a ‘trio’ with Gene Bradley Fisk and Donna Fisk.

The CD is available at Bob’s shows or by mail order.

Check it out here…

‘LOVE THAT COUNTRY MUSIC’ show at St George’s Basin Country Club, October 2016.
Greg Hooper, Wayne Horsburgh and Bob Howe

The Tomkins Guitars All-Star Honky-Tonk Band were at the Lions Den Hotel,
near Cooktown QLD on the 2016 Queen’s Birthday long weekend! L to R: Terry Phillpot, Anthony Taylor, Allan Tomkins, Bob Howe

BOB HOWE sings BUCK OWENS

Bob Howe has debuted his new “Tribute to BUCK OWENS” with a 40-minute performance at Club Central Hurstville in Sydney, Australia.

The audience ‘whooped & hollered’ and sang-along as Bob performed more than a dozen #1 hits by country music legend Buck Owens, including Act Naturally and Made In Japan.

As well as invoking Buck’s vocal style, Bob also recreated some of the twangin’ guitar of Buck and his right-hand man Don Rich, including the instrumental hit Buckaroo.

The show also featured anecdotes and stories from the life of Buck Owens, from his birth in Texas to success in the honky-tonks of Bakersfield, and on to worldwide acclaim with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Not forgetting the TV hit show “Hee Haw”, the crowd delighted in the cornball humour of the Pickin’ & Grinnin’ segment.

Buck Owens closed many concerts with his chart-topping version of a rockin’ song about the little country boy “who played the guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell”. Bob Howe also chose to end his tribute with Johnny B. Goode, which also featured the musical prowess of the backing band and left the audience calling for “More!”

26th January 2016:

What a great way to spend Australia Day, with a fabulous bunch of musicians:-

Michel Rose, Redd Volkaert, Brad Bergen, Allan Tomkins, Nicki Gillis and Terry Phillpot.

Thanks again to our hosts Dennis & Vivien!

January 2016: Bob was called in as a last minute temporary replacement guitarist for Lonnie Lee’s band, The Leemen. They played seven shows at the Tamworth Services Club (pictured above) followed by a rockin’ night at the Wallsend Diggers, to a sold-out crowd. (Wallsend photos by Suzanne)

Bob also opened the ‘TOMKINS GUITAR SHOWCASE’ at West Tamworth League Club on January 21st.
Pictured below is Anthony Taylor, Redd Volkaert, Bob Howe, Allan Tomkins and Brad Bergen. 
The band is playing ‘Diamondtina Yodel’, the tune Bob named after his ‘Diamondtina 2’ model Tomkins custom guitar.