Watty Thompson
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
The Old Schoolhouse, Kooroocheang
In a gloriously unabashed antipodean drawl, neo-bush balladeer Watty Thompson explores themes of inward and outward love, togetherness, and a desire to strive and live beyond the material. It’s affirming, joyous and inspiring, all played out against a background of rollicking country flavoured Australiana folk.
Watty plied his trade for over a decade, treadin’ sticky carpets with various bands before making for the rugged coastland and the mountains of the Otway Ranges to bunker down and craft material for his dream project. As he wrote and gathered a cohort of friends around him, Thompson found he was creating something that held a new space for the listener. That space was one of love and empathy, where hard won experience could be readily shared, a space big on community, a space big on honesty, a place big on love.
Voted Music Victoria’s Regional Artist of the Year in 2023, Watty has connected with a growing number of believers through stellar showings at various festivals and sold-out performances across the country.
The Old Schoolhouse, Kooroocheang
Under the shadow of one the largest extinct volcanoes in the region, the former Kooroocheang Primary School closed its doors in 1962 and had been leaning on its side ever since, gradually sinking into the surrounding paddocks. That is until early last year, when local chippy Brenton strapped it to his car winch and had the whole thing straightened before morning smoko.
Since then the Old Schoolhouse has been meticulously restored - blackboards and all - much to the delight of the local farming community. Just 20 minutes from Daylesford, there’s a stillness at Kooroocheang to which you can’t put a name, and we’re so excited that our old mate Watty Thompson has agreed relaunch the old girl in style.
Performance Details
Saturday, August 16 2025
The Old Schoolhouse - 1140 Werona-Kingston Road, Kooroocheang
Doors open 12:30pm
Cash bar + bbq available on site
