Fred Smith at the Troubadour

The Troubadour Folk Club will have "Fred Smith" perform on Friday, March 14, at 8pm

Fred Smith claims to be one of the more enigmatic figures on the Australian music scene.

He released his first "Soapbox" in 1998 and since has received airplay on Triple J and ABC Radio.

After playing the Woodford Festival that year, Fred left for Bougainville and the Solomon Islands on peace monitoring missions.

While in Bougainville, he worked with local musicians to release 20,000 copies of an album of Peace Songs in Melanesian Pidgin.

Through the release and a series of gigs in villages and towns in Bougainville, Fred became something of a celebrity in the war-torn province.

On his return, he completed his second Album "Bagarap Empires".

The album has been played extensively on Radio National particularly Lucky Ocean's "The Planet" and "The Music Show".

Though influenced by some of the great American songwriters of the 1960s, he says his music has echoes of Australian performers as diverse as Redgum and Paul Kelly.

Tickets are $8 at the door, which includes supper.

Floorspots are also available.

The Troubadour Folk Club is held at the CWA Hall, opposite Fisherman's Wharf, at Woy Woy.

With enquiries, phone Frank on 4341 4060 or 0417 456 929 or email frussell@fastlink.com.au

Frank Russell, March 3