Rufous Whistler
Jun 6
Presented by: Katikati Folk Club
Rufous Whistler is the Alt-Country act turning Australian heads.
Hailing from Northeast Victoria (Wiradjuri country), their music pairs raw, heartfelt storytelling with modern arrangements, warm, commanding vocals and virtuosic musicianship.
Their first three singles have garnered regular national airplay, topped charts, and quickly amassed over 30,000 streams.
Live, Rufous Whistler is a powerhouse: guitars, twin fiddles, bouzouki, mandolin, double bass and harmony-rich vocals combine for dynamic, electrifying shows laced with sharp wit and toe-tapping energy.
2025 is set to be their biggest year yet. Supporting their debut album National Panic (out in March), they’ll play over thirty dates across every state in Australia, perform at New Zealand’s Tussock Country Music Festival (and ten other venues) and launch their first UK and European tour.
Rufous Whistler is the brainchild of Vinny Russell, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Northeast Victoria (Wiradjuri country).
Joining Vinny is a dynamic ensemble of exceptional talent: Steven Hornby (double bass), Lucy McKenzie-McHarg (fiddle, mandolin), Dylan Knur (mandolin, fiddle, banjo) and Isaac Barter (drums, engineering, mixing/mastering). Together, they deliver live performances bursting with energy, humour and lush, harmony-driven soundscapes that seamlessly blend country and folk traditions with modern innovation.
This is Alt-Country music that hits home and leaves you wanting more.
