Cath Ovenden’s connection with collected Australian folk music began in 1982 inspired by the remarkable fiddle playing of Charlie Batchelor. Cath cut her bow playing with Charlie in the “Horton River Band”. Through the nineties, following the example of John Meredith, Cath and colleagues traveled country areas recording old players for the National Library. Cath played with and learnt tunes from some of Australia’s great old time players; Joe Yates, Stan Tracey, Rita Troutman, Ivy Fernando, Jim French, Jim Lowe, Harry & Vera Cotter and a host of others.

Lately, Cath has been playing with Wendy Hodgins (piano) and Steve Cook (fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and bouzouki) dusting off this very old material - dance tunes and songs, popular from 1880 to the 1930s. Cath was awarded the National Library/ National Folk Festival Fellowship in 2013 to research & produce a CD of Joe Yates’ music. The CD “The Fiddle Music of Joe Yates” was released at the 2013 National Folk Festival and was awarded Best CD by Band in the Golden Fiddle Awards in January 2014. Cath, Steve and Wendy also performed at 2013/2014 Woodford Folk Festival.

This heritage music was brought to Australia in the hearts and hands of immigrants and has been aged under the Australian sun. While the music has distinct Celtic roots it’s aging in rural Australia has giving the music a unique sound and feel. Cath is passionate about this music being represented within the Australian music scene as she feels it is an important part of our cultural history.