Brand New Release:

Ballads and Barsongs:

In this his second US release, Iain Campbell Smith turns his attention away from the South Pacific to his new home here in the United States. There are touching duets interspersed with comic snapshots of modern America from the viewpoint of a bemused interloper.

This collection of songs from one of Australia’s subtlest songwriters was recorded on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Rhythm beds from Australian upright bassist Liz Frencham and Jon Jones (Eric Bogle Band) are laid over with backing vocals from Katie Graybeal, Brian Gundersdorf and a host of North American musicians.

lyrics (word doc)

Iain Campbell Smith's first North American release:

Bagarap Empires... is one of a kind.  An album of vast narrative scope, touching on a deeply personal level.

“Bagarap Empires is an intelligent, compassionate and sardonic Australian’s response to his experiences as a Peace Keeper in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands”
              Doug Spencer, Presenter, ABC Radio National

Sent to the islands by the Australian Foreign Ministry, Iain learned pidgin dialect and began writing songs, in both English and pidgin, from the stories of the people he worked with as they struggled to build trust and peace after a bitter war.

He became a celebrity on Bougainville Island collaborating with local musicians to release 20,000 copies of a ““Songs of Peace” cassette, and hosting a weekly program on the island’s only radio station.