Roger Knox is an Australian country singer known as the Black Elvis and the Koori King of Country. He is a Gamilaroi man (a group of Indigenous Australians), was born in Moree and grew up in the Toomelah Aboriginal Mission near Boggabilla near the border between New South Wales and Queensland.
The talent, music and voice of Roger Knox is known, loved and respected around the world. His most recent album Stranger In My Land was released by Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, home to some of the finest alternative country releases over the last two decades from many artists including Justin Townes Earle and early Ryan Adams.
Bloodshot artist Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers) met Knox on a visit to Australia several years ago. When he heard of Roger and the potentially-soon-to-be-lost subculture of this utterly unique cultural collision, Langford knew he had to be involved. The result is the album Stranger In My Land.
Stranger In My Land is a collection of songs originally written by Aboriginal artists who were Knox’s peers and predecessors; some tunes previously recorded but difficult to find as well as several unrecorded, handed-down folk songs (which without this recording, could have been lost forever). It is powerful and moving material, heartbreaking and hilarious, downtrodden and uplifting, suffused with longing, alienation, resilience and hope; universal themes arising out of largely unexplored context.
Stranger In My Land features guest vocals and instrumental performances from Bonnie Prince Billy, Kelly Hogan, Dave Alvin (X, Blasters), Sally Timms and Jon Langford (Mekons), the Sadies, Andre Williams, and perhaps the last known recording from Charlie Louvin of the Louvin Brothers. All this star power is backed by The Pine Valley Cosmonauts, a loosey-goosey musical collective plus Australian’s Neville Anderson, Buddy Knox (Roger’s son), Jason Walker and Steve Newton.
Special guest is Toby Martin from Youth Group playing a solo set as well as touring member in Roger Knox’s band for this tour.
ONLINE LINKS FOR MELBOURNE GIGS:
JULY 16 – Northcote Social Club – facebook.com/events/437608816346152/
JULY 19 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh – facebook.com/events/134743620065854/
JULY 21 – Yarra Hotel, Abbottsford – facebook.com/events/190445681117481/
