Things of Stone and Wood return for epic encore

NINETIES Melbourne folk-rock group Things of Stone and Wood are on a roll.

After selling out Northcote’s Merri Creek Tavern four times over last weekend, they’ll continue the momentum tomorrow night at The Old Church on the Hill as part of their Rae St album launch tour.

The band is best known for its 1992 single Happy Birthday Helen, written in tribute to co-founder, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greg Arnold’s then girlfriend, now wife, humanitarian lawyer Dr Helen Durham AO.

It reached number 9 on the ARIA Charts and number 91 on the Triple J Hottest 100 in 1993.

Arnold said it’s exciting to be coming back to Bendigo.

“Bendigo was really the first town that things started happening for the band, outside of Melbourne, sort of simultaneously,” he said.

“People just started rocking up to our shows, it was fantastic, playing these packed out gigs at the Golden Vine.

“It’d be a real kind of real folk rock show – it really was a blast.”

The APRA songwriter of the year award winner said this weekend’s gig marks the end of the group’s current (original duo) tour.

“There’s been so much singing along and so much warmth towards the whole catalogue as well, it’s been incredible,” he said.

“You couldn’t get a better venue as well, it’s just fantastic.”

Catch Things of Stone and Wood tomorrow night, 2 May, at The Old Church on the Hill (corner of Harkness and Russell Streets).

Tickets can be purchased at Humanitix.