Willie and the Correspondents is a country-folk band based in Hall in the ACT. In 2018 they played twice at the Tathra pub, at the Tathra Bushfire Relief Concert, the Kiama Folk Festival and to a sell-out crowd at the Hay Runners Ball to raise money for local farmers in drought. They have previously played at the National Folk Festival and Majors Creek Festival. They have released two albums: Writing on the Wall and Take Your Chances.
Their original songs draw on the Bega roots of members Hugh Watson and Matthew Herbert with great guitar licks and sweet harmonies. Their songs are best summed up by Canberra Times reviewer Chris Johnson: "Take Your Chances" is the second album from the roots-country-folk band. And the guitar playing throughout is very tasty in all its forms - acoustic, electric and slide. Throw in some exquisite mandolin, classy piano, ukulele, piano accordion, harmonica, drums and banjo and you have a polished album that is sprinkled with musical surprises. The songs cover diverse topics from reflections on the plight of country people, ageing, war and overcoming adversity to simple meanderings about love and romance. Take Your Chances is a good album that ventures close to great the more you play it.”
At Smiths there will be a night of original songs with a sprinkling of covers.