Gigs Book & CD Radio & TV Contact Bill Poetry Ambulance stories Ginja Roe
... Bill Says ...
Apart
from my own bits and pieces, I'm now representing Ginja Roe...
The list of contacts with Australia's finest players is expanding...
and Bill is to be spending some of 2006 on the road playing at pubs, clubs and
schools across Victoria...
'contact me if you'd like to join the tour... watch this space for info...
and if you've dropped in just to have a look at the page... send me an email to say hi....!!!'
The music
of Bill Dettmer has been described as containing the colours of Australia’s
John Williamson, Paul Kelly and Eric Bogle.
One reviewer rated his
“I got A Right to Sing the Blues” up there with Van Morrison’s raw
edged and earthy soul searching best.
Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer Bill Dettmer
The
world is full of guitarists, singers, poets and raconteurs… many who label themselves
‘entertainers’. But rarely do I come across an artist who can truly claim to
be just that… a real (in this case meaning honest) entertainer. In fact to just
listen to a CD or tape by Bill Dettmer means you only get part of the picture.
I had to sit in an audience at a Bill Dettmer concert to fully appreciate his
talent.
Drawing from a rich tapestry of experiences, Bill somehow manages pull them
together and present commentaries on life in a way in which I believe, everyone
can truly relate and empathize. Whether it is tragic or funny, an everyday occurrence
or something really special, Bill has the gift of recreating the moment and
sharing it with his audience. Everyone should experience a night with Bill Dettmer
Ron Leigh
Bill
at the Loch Hotel - 7/03 
I'm Your Man
South
Oakleigh-bred, Frankston-based Bill Dettmer has been playing live since he was
a seven-year-old member of the Victorian Banjo Club.
Writing poetry and music, performing and recording his own material, organizing
musical events, and running Muso's nights has been Bill's way of life for over
20 years. Just take a look at this lot -
Won the Best New Talent at the Snowey River Country Music Festival.
Won Channel 7's 'Have A Go' Show.
Won the Banjo Patterson Poetry Award.
Never
Kick Your Teddy
Was convener and host of the monthly Musician’s Forum at Cube 37 in Frankston.
Was founder and Artistic Director of the Frankston
International Guitar Festival
. Bill & Keith
on the beach stage Frankston Guitar Festival 2003
Was
President of the Peninsula
Folk Club
Has been nominated for a number of other awards.
Organised the Highfield of Stanley (Tas) mini music festival, The ‘Throw Us
a Lifeline concert, The NIDKIDS benefit, The Voices of Spring concert, The Firemen’s
benefit night, The Deni Droughtbreaker, Mornington Swing ‘N Blues Affaire+ more.
Helped set up the curriculum and teach ‘Music Industry Skills’ for year 11 VET
students at Frankston TAFE.
Had his own local radio programme on 3RPP
Was lead singer with popular cover bands 'The Tough Titties', 'The Fax', 'Scrumpy',
'Bakers Dozen', '3 Men and a Babe', 'Saiorshe', 'Twins', 'Banalaya'.
Was co-ordinator and host of Sunday Soul Train at Davey’s in Frankston
In Addition – Bill has performed live to air on ABC774, Hey Hey It’s Saturday,
Channel 31, MDR FM, Southern FM, RRR
and live on stage as support, in concert and performance with - Geoff Achison,
Doug Ashdown, Eric Bogle, Daryl Braithwaite, Greg Champion, Denise Drysdale,
Jimi Hocking, Jeff Lang, Phil Manning, Rory McLeod, The Mojos, Ross Ryan, Judy
Small, Spectrum, Wilber Wilde's Turbo Luv Nuns, Ross Wilson, and many many,
many more.
Bills songs are performed and recorded by several other artists - visit Mamas
Mountain Jug Band,
Recently performed at the Maldon Folk Festival - 28th - 31st Oct 2005
Maldon Folk Festival
Bill
on stage (with The Hopeless Romantics) at The Cornish Arms Hotel - 5/05
Is still
host of the Mornington Peninsula’s (possibly Victoria’s and maybe even Australia’s)
longest running musicians night.
(almost every Wednesday, almost without a break for almost 20 years)
Bill
at Beaches 
...now who's supposed to be on next ?
You can join Billy every Wednesday night at;
Beaches of Mornington
– 55 Barkly St. 59750966
And is currently working solo, sometimes with a couple of mad mates or with the whole 7-piece band -
‘Little
Willy and The Hopeless Romantics’
Here's a few samples from Bills last concert:
Jenny's Holiday
Kijanbo Michael
& Michael Missing
You
Sad Women, Big Losers
Too Much Girl
Water
Bill Dettmer's poetry has been used in schools, reprinted in posters and magazines
and won awards...
extremely limited stocks of the new book 'Sensible
Shoes' with CD insert are available...
take a read of a few samples from the book
Other
Albums also available are ...
Changes - cassette only.
1989 B&S Promotions - Bears Choice Music 9 Original tracks
Plus The Circle game (J. Mitchell) It's Late (D. Burnette)
I'm
Your Man - Bill Dettmer And Friends
(initially cassette only, later remastered for small CD run)
1993 B&S Promotions - Bears Choice Music 12 Original Songs
Hermoso
Es. - Bill Dettmer
Live At Beaches Of Mornington
1998 BS42CD B&S Promotions - Bears Choice Music 15 original
songs
l'affair
d'amour (EP)
2000 B&S Promotions - Bears Choice Music 8 original songs
email
for info....
RADIO - Bill’s radio show ‘The Roar
of the Crowd’ 97.1FM is now
over
Bill
at Mountain District Radio 
interviwing Mike Rudd
TV
– and watch ‘Russ
Kellett’s Melbourne’ C31
Wed. 11.30pm
for this weeks feature and CD review
Bill
with the last word at one of his famous BBQ's
Bear’s Choice Music and Entertainment
Ph. 03 97899642 -
Fax 03 97899652 - Mob 0425792691
PO Box 1481 Frankston Vic 3199 Australia
Concert Poster by Creative Sweat
More reviews and other bits of intrest...
hermoso es! Live at Beaches of Mornington. South Oakleigh-bred, Frankston-based Bill Dettmer has been playing live since he was a seven-year-old member of the Victorian Banjo Club. This, his third recording and his first CD, is proof of the polish that comes from three decades of performance. Apart from the good-humoured introduction by Harvey Hedgehog, nothing here is raw or rough. Accomplished playing, especially from Dettmer, lead guitarist Felix Lonel and Garry Sanders on sax, gives the strong, all-original material every chance to stand in most company. The jaunty Long Way to Go opens with an affirmative spirit that never leaves an album that can be, in turns, lost, lonely, angry, wry, grateful and wistful. The mix of styles moves easily among folk, blues, country and occasional tastes of jazz. Wherever they might end up, the songs begin as a tribute to family and the fraternity of musicians. Never Kick Your Teddy is a hilarious ditty to Dettmer's son, which would make it on a Play School compilation. The beautiful It's Come To This, At Last is an unforgettable tune while Sad Women, Big Losers, The Heartbreaks, You And Me sets a buddy song to a country refrain. The ambitious Water is the album's most original tune; a complex piece set to a superb lyric. The assertive I Got A Right To Sing The Blues would sit easily on Van Morrison's ‘Too Long In Exile’ with its seven minutes of punchy grunts and growls. This album gives you fine songs and exceptional playing with a feel so live that you can almost smell the smoke and touch the tables made tacky by beer. You beauty! say the Mexicans, it's a beautiful thing! Hermoso es!
Paul Isbel - City Search Music Reviews.
The following are excerpts from reviews and press articles ranging back over the years -
Bill's extensive musical ability, combined with his sensitively written lyrics, and poetry, will be sure to inspire, entertain and delight. Bill is winner of seven Australian Songwriters' Association Awards for his material, including the Rudy Brandsma Perpetual Trophy for contribution to live music; the Snowy River Country Music Festival Award; the Banjo Patterson Poetry Award.
Independent News
Clever Frankston guitarist, singer, songwriter and poet who has helped launch careers and organise dozens of concerts for others.
Frankston Standard.
The former ambulance officer turned poet, singer/songwriter, band manager and sometime teacher whose brief these days extends to visiting schools as a specialist teacher to talk to students about life issues such as violence and drugs.
Standard News
His poetry and songs deal with subjects ranging from social issues, war and child abuse, to observations of the environment, beauty, love, people and places, everyday life, and events he has had to deal with as an ambulance officer. In between the ballads, bush songs, blues and today's pop, his comments are humorous, but right to the point.
Education Victoria
Ambulance officer by day and tireless folk music activist by night, Mr Dettmer has just found wider recognition by winning seven Australian Songwriters' Association awards. About 750 people entered the annual Australia-wide competition, in which Mr Dettmer received six trophies and the Rudy Brandsma Award for his effort.
Standard News.
