Shiny Bum Singers

Australian folk-parody group based in Canberra, ACT, formed in 1999. The Shiny Bum Singers perform the work songs of the Public Service in traditional working dress, sometimes straying into political satire and other life experiences. They sing parodies from their repertoire of over 300 songs written by the group's members and encourage audience participation. They mostly sing a cappella (usually 7-12 people unaccompanied) – but for some songs have included guitar, accordion, keyboard, bouzouki, ukulele, shakers, bongos (and even guitar cases). The Bums were initially created to perform parodies of work songs, about the work of Australian public servants, at the National Folk Festival in Canberra in 1999. Later years have also included writing and performing musicals: “Rodgering Hammerstein”, “Rampant Bureaucracy”, “A Four King Close Thing” and “Seize the Day”. Songbooks of their repertoire and musicals have been published: available from http://www.borisbooks.com.au/index.htm Many people have moved through the ranks of the Bums, some for a short while, some occasional, and others who have been fixtures since the beginning. Members in 2011 included: Annette Selwood, Chris Clarke, Donna O'Brien, Frankie Seymour, Jim Street, Kerry Kennedy, Maria Greene, Rocco Weglarz, Shukri Sahhar. Emeritus and ‘resting’ members (circa 2011): Julie Barnes, Jillian Carson-Jackson, Susan Cronk, Tony Crivelli, Karen Downey, Donna Dufty, Mark Gaukroger, Janet Gibson, Susie Gill, Jenna Gray, David Harman, Peter Holmick, Tim Keeble, Wendy Low, Carmel McDonell, Jon Millard, Carol Moon, Greg Moores, Julianne Patterson, Shane Redfern, Arminel Ryan, Pat Ryan, Therese Smith, Claire Stoneman, Jane Virgo, David Walker. Unfortunately (by 2011) two Shiny Bum Singers had passed on, founding member David Meyers and early member Ray “Dog” Loft – Sing in Peace.