The Slim Dusty music festival has attracted two of Australia’s best characters in Mark ‘Bushie’ Thompson and Peter ‘Smokie’ Dawson to Kempsey and they will be busking along Elbow street to honour the country music legend they admired.
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The two have came to town because they were always inspired by what Slim Dusty accomplished.
“He set the benchmark for country music, he was able to travel the world and be very successful doing what he did,” Dawson explained.
Thompson throws a swag on his back, sticks his thumb out on the road and travels to different country music festivals across the country telling tall tales and country poetry to the communities.
That has been his life for the past 40 years and his friends call him the true Aussie swag-man.
Dawson has spent the last nine years travelling Australia but he takes the more convenient route by travelling in his van.
During his travels he helps the towns and communities he goes to by using his voice to raise money for charities such as the World Greatest Shave whilst he was in Cessnock.
“In every town there is a community and if we don’t help those communities then we won’t have a town.”
Dawson went through a life changing accident nine years ago when he was injured in the workplace, he became depressed and felt lost.
He picked up his guitar and began singing on the streets and he could see the happiness he brought to others.
“It is a great feeling when people take the time to listen, show their appreciation and to be able to put a smile on someone else’s face has helped me a lot. I love talking and being able to meet a lot of great people around this beautiful country.”
He grew up in Tamworth and was at the very first country music festival, immediately falling in love with the music.
The two will attend the Slim Dusty country music festival and be found busking around Kempsey for the week, before they are on to their next adventure.
