Dec 31 2016
Happy New Year!
 Ringing in the New Year with music and laughs – The SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES show at Matraville RSL Club in Sydney. L to R: Bob Howe, Graeme Fisher, Tony Hogan, Barbara Montgomery, Rick James, Michael Agosti. |
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2016 News
Dec 8 2016
Christmas 2016 and more…
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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.
Oct 31 2016
NEW CD for 2016
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…
Oct 28 2016
SINGING DOWN THE SOUTH COAST
‘LOVE THAT COUNTRY MUSIC’ show at St George’s Basin Country Club, October 2016.
Greg Hooper, Wayne Horsburgh and Bob Howe
Jun 12 2016
In the Lion’s Den
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
May 25 2016
40 Years in the Studio!
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Today marks the 40th anniversary of Bob’s first professional recording session. He played on three tracks at the Festival Records studio in Sydney, for what would become a Reg Lindsay LP entitled The Travellin’ Man. The session was produced by Martin Erdman and featured Heather McKean on backing vocals, Reg’s regular band member Pee Wee Clark on pedal steel guitar, along with session players Milton Saunders on piano (pictured right with Bob at a recent gig) and, from the jazz-rock fusion band Crossfire, Greg Lyon on bass and Doug Gallacher on drums. Bob went on to appear over 100 other albums and countless singles! |
 Milton and Bob in May 2016 |
May 8 2016
FRANK IFIELD REMEMBERS
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“It was my honour on the Mother’s Day weekend, to direct the band for my old mate FRANK IFIELD as he performed his autobiographical show at The Seymour Centre in Sydney and The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith. The show also featured yodeller WAYNE HORSBURGH, chanteuse NICKI GILLIS, and a BRODIE MILES as the Young Frank. “34 years after first working with Frank and 32 years on from becoming his Musical Director, it was a thrill to be sharing the stage again with a pop music icon and a dear friend.” – Bob
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 Wayne Horsburgh, Frank Ifield, Nicki Gillis, Bob Howe  At ‘The Joan’ – Brodie Miles (as Young Frank), Wayne, Frank, Nicki, the band |
The Orchestra:- Alan Freeman, Bob Howe, Frank Ifield, Leon Isackson, Robin Workman
Apr 5 2016
Gigging around…
 Celebrating St Patrick’s Day at Dooleys, March 17th – The Trojans band with Patrick Brady and his Irish Dancers |
 Celebrating Seniors Week at the Guilford Leagues Club 5th April Gala Day with Denise Drysdale |
Mar 6 2016
BOB sings BUCK!
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!”
Jan 26 2016
Happy Australia Day 2016!
Steel guitar maestro Michel Rose, Bob Howe, Grammy winner Redd Volkaert
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!
 Michel, Bob, Redd, Brad, Allan |
 Brad, Nicki, Bob |
Jan 22 2016
Tamworth Festival 2016
Lonnie Lee and the Leemen onstage at the Tamworth Services Club. (Photo by Michael Parsons)
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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.  Alan Freeman, Bob Howe, Lonnie Lee, Leon Isackson, backstage. (Wallsend photos by Suzanne) |
 Bob and Lonnie Lee, onstage at Wallsend Diggers. |
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.