Goldrush
About Goldrush
Goldrush was a Sydney-based country/bluegrass/rock band featuring some of Australia’s finest musicians.
“A bit of boogie, some rockabilly, country and western, funk, west-coast with grit.
Comprising individuals who are masters of their instrument. Goldrush is often considered a country band, since many members have performed with country artists as backing members.”
from Who’s who of Australian Rock.
History
Formed in 1978. Disbanded in 1984
“In 1983 “Goldrush-Live at last” was released on an unsuspecting public. It was different from everything else that was out there at the time. It was predominantly Country rock/Bluegrass in it’s feel, but the band featured some of Australia’s most outstanding musical talent. Phil Emmanuel: Electric guitars Tommy Emmanuel: Drums Mark Collins: Banjo, Mandolin and guitars Dave Mare: Lead vocals/Accoustic and Electric guitars Chris Haigh: Bass guitar An original track penned by Dave Mare and Dennis James titled, “Keep in touch”, received some limited airplay. But it was live where Goldrush really made it’s mark, with the audience being totally spellbound by the guitar wizardry of Phil Emmanuel, the finger gymnastics of Mark collins, and the novelty of Tommy Emmanuel, now a world class guitarist, playing drums.” from the Goldrush MySpace page.
Members
- Doug Bligh – Drums
- Mark Collins – Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar and Vocals
- Guy Dickerson – Guitar and Vocals
- Tommy Emmanuel – Drums and Guitar
- Phil Emmanuel – Guitar
- Chris Haigh – Bass and Vocals
- David Mare – Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
- Tony Slavich – Keyboards
- John Spence – Drums
- Bruce Worrell – Bass
Videos
Recordings
- Single – I Hit The Jackpot – 1978
- Single – What Ya Gonna Do When The Money Runs Out- 1979
- Single – Keep In Touch – 1983
- Album – Live At Last – 1983
Known Gigs
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 29/04/80 | The Rocks, Sydney | Governor’s Pleasure |
| 01/05/80 | Cammeray | San Miguel Hotel |
| 02/05/80 | Narrabeen | Royal Antler Hotel |
| 03/05/80 | Paddington, NSW | Paddington Green Hotel |
| 24/05/80 | Paddington, New South Wales | Brownies Paddington Green |
| Address: 182 Oxford St. | ||
| 31/05/80 | Paddington, New South Wales | Brownies Paddington Green |
| Address: 182 Oxford St. | ||
| 10/11/80 | Bexley North | Bexley North Hotel |
| + Rupert B Funkified Filth | ||
| 29/01/83 | Somersby | Narara Music Festival 1983 |
| 21/06/83 | Rydalmere | Family Inn |
[…] duration of the band was relatively short before the boys moved on and formed Goldrush. The next stage in their […]
[…] Goldrush […]
hi, i’m wondering if there is any way to obtain a recording of goldrush-live at last, if not why not, and can anything be done (legally of course)to obtain one.
thank you. andrew
Well I got my signed copy at a gig when it first came out & you can’t have it. I suggest 2nd hand stores. I have seen it at Vinnies from time to time. You might get it for only 1 or 2 dollars t
here
You canget it from the Tommy Emmanuel Web site…
That’s where I got my copy from!
Goldrush also had some of Australia’s finest roadies – Bruce (the Professor), Derek(Dexter) and Gerry…..aka Big, Bold and Butch.
like Andrew, I have been after a cd of Goldrush – Live At Last for a long time, had it on cassette, but lost it when my car got stolen. I do know that Phil ownes the masters, and promised me yrs ago to get it digitally remasterd to cd. Not seen it anywhere. any intel would be greatly apprieciated
I have a copy of the vynil recording Live at Last. If any one is interested
When did the gold rush finish??
Like earle I had Live at Last on cassete & gave it to a friend to download onto cd for me & he vanished without giving me the cassete back. Saw the band many times at sydney pub gigs & would do anything to get any form of Live at Last, one of the best albulms ever!! If anyone can help I would be eternally grateful
I bought the Live at Last album on vinyl at a garage sale this weekend. I don’t know how I would copy it for you…any tips?
Ric,
Have you obtained a copy of Live at Last on CD yet. I have the original vinyl and have saved it into windows media. Can easily download to a CD and send to you if interested.
Regards
I would love a CD copy please if possible! I saw them in Melbourne years ago, bought the record & it went missing years ago. Played the tape in my car to death! Pleaselet me know.
Cheers
Very simple to do as it is saved in windows media. I can burn to a CD and send to you in padded post bag. Just send me an address to post it to.
Regards
Tony
Tony,
Just stubbled across your post. Like many others I have been trying to track digital format of this great album for ages. Would it be possible to jump on the band wagon and try and get a copy burn ??
Cheers
Stuart
No problem to burn you a copy. Just advise me of an address to send the completed disc to.
Regards
Tony
Yes please!!!
Hi Ric. I wrote most of the originals on that lp with Dave Mare. If you send me an email I’ll see what I can do for you. Cheers
Phil Emmanuel has the masters, he can get you a copy of the CD, he often sells them at his gigs!!
Dennis….do you know what became f Dave Mare. I did a quick search and can’t find anything about him. He had a great singing voice and was interested in hearing other stuff he has done.
Married my sister. Photography & watercolours:
https://www.instagram.com/dgmare/?hl=en
Hi Ian, I worked with Dave in the 80’s. Literally just found him on Soundcloud – dgmare – he has some beautiful instrumental tunes on there – spread the word ! Cheers Andrew
yeah,,, i bought the goldrush live at last album when first released early 80’s, drove everyone in the house mad with dueling banjos ,,,,,, what a sound, still have the album but is a bit shabby now, wld just luv the music on a cd if any one has a spare copy????
Can anyone tell me what type of Banjo Mark Collins played in Goldrush? I have a photo of my friend Jenny Adams playing a 5 string Gibson at a friends place a while back that was allegedly once owned by him. It’s a beautiful instrument.
Fairly sure it was a 4string but Newport arms in the 70’s was a long time ago… they were great , every Thursday night ,locals only, in the garden
I went to see Tommy & Phil play at Jupiter’s Gold coast in Jan this year,for there 50th,they had “live at last” selling in the foyer.
I also have a CD that’s been converted from Vinyl, sounds great!
I remember going to see Goldrush at the Newport Arms Hotel on summer nights in the late 70’s. MArk Collins always a joy to watch and hear. As I recall, they played predominantly Neil Young stuff at the time and a bit of America. The natural progression was always going to be the Fargs tho lolol.
http://www.certifiedguitarplayer.com/goldrush-liveatlast.aspx
There you all go!
I have lost touch with Mark Collins and hoped you could pass this along- I just finished a tour of Australia in Dolly Parton’s band and spoke with David Briggs- He helped me remember Goldrush- Just watched Tommy E. on a PBS fund raising video- it was very good. Mark please write! Jimbob
Hi Jim, This post is quite old however, Did Mark get in touch with you ?
WE used have thyem as regulars at the Governors Plaesure at The Rocks
Heya papa Guy,
Love your work! Cant believe i can google your name in columbia and you come up straight away! As i said love your work…unforntunately no one has yet to experience falling asleep to your magical tunes as a young lass!!!OR i think not anyway. You never know these musos…they get around! haha…kidding.
Love you always and to me you are a genius in life xxxxxxxxxxxx
Does anyone remember seeing Goldrush at the Governers Pleasure at the Rocks in Sydney back in the 70’s?
Yep was a regulator visitor in dec jan while on hols from Darwin. Also saw them a few times at the padding on granny. Ward and Johnson were also regulars at ge inventors. Loved both bands
The Certified Guitar Player CD version is a very poor conversion.
Don’t waste your money.
I to have been trying to find Goldrush Live At Last for years and would love to get a copy burnt however in the interest of keeping things on the up and up might I suggest you contact Gil Mathews . Gill rereleases old Australian recordings on cd and if you could get the masters to him a general rerelease may be profitable to both he and the band. I think Gils company is called Madman Records. and they are in Collingwood Vic.Oh just in case you don’t know Gill is ex Billy Thorpe and The Aztecs drummer.
Cheers
Dale
Hi gang, I was wondering if anybody could email me an MP3 or similar of any song by Goldrush,,,I am a voluntary presenter on lake Macquarie FM 97.3 and do an Aussie Music Show Sunday Nights,,,I got hold of a list of the 3 days on Stage 1 at Narara 83 and am doing a specila tomorrow night, trying to play at least one song from each performer…cheers, Ossie
Phil Emmanuel owns the masters these days, if you try and contact him he should be able to get you a CD of Live At Last !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C46CBq_-94s
Mp3s are here.
http://rockonvinyl.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/goldrush-live-at-last-1983.html
Any Novocastrians out there who saw Goldrush at the Jolly Rodger ? Maybe supporting Mondo Rock? Circa 1981? And whatever happened to Dave Mare?
I was there too Kerrie. Wrote the originals with Dave, who is now living a happy family life in melbourne
No, though I saw Goldrush play at the 16 footers around 1981 (great concert that sticks in your head)…… Have the vinyl record (Live at Last), trying to get hold of the CD version or mp3’s. any suggestions appreciated ?
Phil Emanuel has the masters and has transferred the album Goldrush to CD, he prints a limited number and sells them at his shows…
Spoke to Phil personally last night after great gig in Townsville.Goldrush c.d. should be available on his Web-Site.
Remember seeing them at the Civic Hotel in Pitt St early 80’s – might have been one of their last gigs, but exceptional.
Still got the original vinyl, proud to say!
[…] Goldrush […]
Goldrush used to perform regularly on Sundays, in the beer-garden of the Newport Arms Hotel, 1970s.
i have perfect recording of Live At Last from vinyl to mp3 /orgg/ and wav. which sound unreal.
Have just been enjoying goldrush live at last again…not bad eh after 30 odd years?
David still living in Melbourne. Seeing him next weekend!
Megan (sister)
Hi Megan.
I’m interested to know what else Dave has done musically
Cheers
I was in a band many years that supported Goldrush in Albury. The bass player was Jeremy someobody. I remember because I named my son Jeremy after him. Does anyone remember who this was ?
anyone remember pre Goldrush, Mike and Guy. they used to play Macquarie Uni Bar, Newie arms also Perisher back bar in Winter, mainly CSNy covers but they had great harmonies and Guy played acoustic beautifully ? Would love to know what happened to them and if they ever regroup? tx
[…] duration of the band was relatively short before the boys moved on and formed Goldrush. The next stage in their […]