The Warratahs
In a career now past the quarter-century mark, The Warratahs have given homegrown country music real credibility, bringing their fresh sound to just about every nook and cranny in the country.
The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Sid Limbert, Barry Saunders, Mo Newport.
The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up, 1993. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Barry Saunders, Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown, Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie collection
Hands Of My Heart
Barry Saunders, 1995.
Photo credit:
Guy Robinson
The Only Game in Town (1987)
Barry Saunders with The Orange in Christchurch, 1969
Photo credit:
Kevin Hill
Rob Clarkson with The Warratahs in Hastings, 1990
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Rob Clarkson, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Clinton Brown, Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
Kerry Buchanan reviews The Warratahs' debut LP The Only Game In Town, Rip It Up, March 1988.
Radio With Pictures - My Kind of Town - 1981 documentary directed by Simon Morris, featuring interviews with Barry Saunders and Nick Theobald during their time as the Tigers, plus Sharon O’Neill, producer Peter Dawkins, Dragon’s Marc Hunter, Kevin Stanton of Mi-Sex, and Dave McArtney.
Wayne Mason with The Warratahs in 1990
The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up, 1993. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Nik Brown, Barry Saunders (seated), Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown.
Barry Saunders on Radio Wammo 2012
Too Hot To Sleep (1989)
Maureen
The Warratahs, 2013: Nick Theobald, Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, and Mo Newport
Nik Brown and Barry Saunders with The Warratahs at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990.
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
The Warratahs on the cover of Rip It Up, December 1990
Photo credit:
Polly Walker
The poster for the Wildcard release party (with Dribbling Darts Of Love) at The Gluepot, December 1990
Clinton Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings in 1990
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
The short-lived Warratahs line-up between The Only Game In Town and Too Hot To Sleep. Left to right: Nik Brown, John Donoghue, Barry Saunders (seated), Wayne Mason, Rob Clarkson.
Photo credit:
David Hamilton - Murray Cammick Collection
The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, Sid Limbert, Mo Newport.
Wild Card (1990)
Barry Saunders with The Warratahs at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Mike Knapp, Barry Saunders, Nik Brown, Alan Norman.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
One Of Two Things (1999)
The Big Sky-era Warratahs line-up. Left to right: Clinton Brown, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Mike Knapp, Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
Bruce Ward collection
The Warratahs on stage at Snobbz Nightclub, Hastings, 1990.
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Wayne Mason, Clinton Brown, Barry Saunders, Nik Brown, Rob Clarkson.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
Big Sky (1993)
The Warratahs, 2018. From left: Nick Theobold, Barry Saunders, Mike Knapp, and Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
James Gilberd
The most recognisable Warratahs line-up that recorded two albums and toured virtually nonstop from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Left to right: Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders, Clinton Brown, Rob Clarkson, Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
The Warratahs in the 2000s. Left to right: Nik Brown, Barry Saunders, Alan Norman, Mike Knapp.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
The short-lived Warratahs line-up between The Only Game In Town and Too Hot To Sleep. Clockwise from bottom left: John Donoghue, Nik Brown, Wayne Mason, Rob Clarkson, Barry Saunders.
Photo credit:
Photo By David Hamilton - Trevor Reekie Collection
Rip It Up February 1988
Photo credit:
Photo by David Hamilton
Nik Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings, 1990
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
Making Music - Wayne Mason
The original Warratahs line-up. Left to right: John Donoghue, Wayne Mason, Barry Saunders (seated), Marty Jorgensen, Nik Brown.
Photo credit:
Trevor Reekie Collection
Clinton Brown with The Warratahs in Hastings in 1990
Photo credit:
Glen Moffatt collection
Trivia:
The Warratahs were named by John Donoghue, after a character in Footrot Flats.
A highlight of Barry Saunders’ solo career was opening for Patti Smith and Bob Dylan in Christchurch in 1998. He recalls now that “my part went really well and got a great review. Patti Smith was fantastic, and Bob Dylan came and said a brief hello after.”
Members:
Barry Saunders - vocals, guitar
Nik Brown - violin, mandolin
Marty Jorgensen - drums
Rob Clarkson - drums
Nick Theobald - bass, vocals
Mo Newport - drums
Alan Norman - keyboards, accordion
Sid Limbert - bass
Mike Knapp - drums