Western score sounds Castlemaine bound

October 31, 2023 BY Tim Bottams

High plains singer: Ballarat vocalist Freya Josephine Hollick is one of The Counterfeit’s 10 members. Photo: FILE

ABOUT six months on from their debut Castlemaine performance, a musical act devoted to reinterpreting the grainy twangs of Spaghetti Western soundtracks is set to return to the region next month.

With their previous gig sold out, The Counterfeit will bring their spin on the genre’s 1960s and 1970s classics to the Theatre Royal to launch their second album, 14 Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West – Volume 2.

The band’s musical director, producer, and guitarist Harley Stewart said the venue is an ideal location to introduce their latest record.

“We really like playing there because of the cinema screen behind the stage, it’s a real big asset for a band like us with the accompanying footage to go with the music,” he said.

“The last show was great and felt really packed. A few people dressed up including one bloke who out of all the shows we’ve done dressed to the max.

“I’m looking forward to playing these new songs and making them click in a live context.”

Intermission pianist John McAll is also on the bill and The Tedesco Brothers will open the show.

Tracked to tape with minimal overdubbing over two sessions at The Aviary in Abbotsford, Stewart said the new album is a step up from the debut.

“It’s a bit more well thought out with transitions and the arrangements are just more concise,” he said.

“I feel like the first record was a test drive, a proof of concept, and it worked and now we’re building on it. The instrumentalists know their roles in the band after having clicked after a bunch of shows.

“We’re not out to recreate the original songs with an orchestra. Our goal is to perform this music with as little people as possible but still hold true to the sound and do the music justice.”

With two albums to soon be under the group’s bandoleer, a third album of wholly original material, as well as a spinoff EP showcasing McAll, is set to follow sometime next year.

The Counterfeit will perform at Castlemaine on Saturday 25 November and tickets are $51.55 and can be booked at bit.ly/3McL8Mz.