The Cockies are a four-piece band from the Huon Valley in Tasmania. The band specialises in traditional music from around the world, with a particular interest in Cajun and Celtic music. Steven and Jane Ray take the leading melody roles. Jane specialises on fiddle, while Steven plays mandolin, bouzouki and accordion, amongst others. Lindsay Campbell plays guitars, and Mike Raine completes the line-up on bass and keyboards. The photo shows, from left to right, Lindsay, Mike, Steve and Jane. Other pix can be found on the photo page.

The Cockies are well known for their lively and creative interpretations of traditional music, and frequently perform at conventions and concerts around Tasmania. The band has played for a variety of radio and television programs, and has been a regular performer at the Huon Valley and Tamar Valley Folk Festivals, as well as the National Folk Festivals in Canberra.

With a keen interest in dance, The Cockies are in extricably linked with the Children's Dance Event and have released several dance kits for schools, as well as a number of other recordings, including "A Sackful of Ferrets", a CD whose name reflects the diversity of its creators and its content as much as the chaos in recording it.

Steve and Jane are also members, together with Stan and Rebecca Gottschalk, of the New Holland Honey Eaters (also sometimes known as the The Backwater Creek Floating Opera, specialising in traditional music (mostly pre-1945) from the south-eastern United States.

Lindsay is well known in musical circles in Tasmania. He is an accomplished songwriter, and has his own band, The Craggs, who have released their eponymous CD.

Mike also does a bit of songwriting. You might be interested in details of his CDs, the ranelagh collection, the quintessential shallow man and accidentally yours.

The Cockies have another incarnation in Good Dog. With the addition of drummer Kevin Reegan, Good Dog specialises in Zydeco and Cajun music.

last updated by mikko; 06 May, 2002