Both families were miners. Together they created musical gold

SEASON 1, EPISODE 7

Last edition we met Sis McRae, the all-night fiddler from the early part of the 20th Century. Sis had just one child, Margaret McRae, who married Jim Coad.

Both families had mining backgrounds. With Margaret and Jim this continued, with their barytes mine at Martins Well in the Flinders Ranges.

But it’s what they achieved above ground, out there in the back country of South Australia, that is truly remarkable. 

Seven children, seven highly talented multi-instrumentalists. Including Peter, Virginia and Lynette. As Peter Coad and the Coad Sisters, these siblings – with the addition of fellow South Australian musician Jim Hermel, are almost constantly on the road, mixing and matching to form four bands, writing and performing Australian bush ballads, Bluegrass and Rock.

But what is most dear to their hearts is the Australian sound, drawn from Australian outback stories, many reflecting their own isolated bush upbringing.

As you will hear in this episode of Red Dust Tapes, Granny Sis McRae’s violin, dating from the 18th Century, plays on, in the talented hands of this intriguing family.