Laurel Wilson: vocals, Kazoobugle

Bob Wilson: vocals, guitar, harmonica - songwriter

The Goodwills (Bob & Laurel Wilson) are best known through air play of Bob's original songs on the Sunday morning national radio programme Australia all Over.

Bob is an award-winning songwriter who plays six and 12-string acoustic guitars and harmonicas and provides tenor harmonies to Laurel's strong lead vocals. As well as making good use of her five-octave vocal range, Laurel plays her invention - the Kazoobugle. Bob & Laurel arrange their own songs, utilising their characteristic close vocal harmonies and often switching who’s singing melody/harmony within a song. Their repertoire is extensive and covers many musical styles.One of their “party tricks” is to sing two different songs at the same time (it works). Look for comic poems, duelling kazoos and harmony whistling too!

The Goodwills have played at major festivals in Australia, New Zealand and the UK and have toured twice as guests of Ian McNamara (Macca). In September 2005, The Goodwills were invited guests at the inaugural Mungindi Music Festival, then went touring in Victoria and New South Wales. In 2006 the duo played gigs at Camp Creative in Bellingen (NSW), Armidale’s Australia Day festivities, the Caboolture Urban Country Music Festival, several events in Queensland and a whirlwind, four-venue tour of South Australia in September.

In August 2006, The Goodwills completed their third CD, “Loungeroom Legends”, which was recorded live‘house concert style’ in the lounge room of their Maleny home. It contains nine Bob Wilson originals, including the poignant “Impressions of New Zealand”, which chronicles the life and times of a Scottish family arriving in New Zealand in 1955.

In early 2007, they played at The Troubador wine bar at the Woodford Folk Festival, made a return visit to ‘Camp Creative’ in Bellingen and enjoyed a month-long tour of New Zealand. The next few months included appearances at the Troubador at the National Folk Festival, songwriters’ café at the Caboolture Urban Country Music Festival, Folk Redlands inaugural Festival, Neurum Creek Festival and Yungaburra, as well as all of their favourite venues in South-East Queensland- the Kookaburra Café, Mad Ass, Strummers (Toowoomba), Stanthorpe, Kilcoy and Samford.

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In 2008, they’ll be re-visiting the South-East Queensland venues and are planning to revive their house concert series- check the gig guide for details. There’s also a trip to Canada in the planning stages.

DISCOGRAPHY:

COURTING THE NET (2000)

BIG COUNTRY TOWN (2002)*

LOUNGEROOM LEGENDS (2006)*

* available through this website - see 'Order Form'