A Little History
After working together to run the Kelly Country Pick in 2008, Peter and Wendy started playing music together and decided to leave Melbourne and do some travelling. Deciding on a duo name was difficult – they used ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’ as an easy option considering that is their names; and Hotwired for when they put bluegrass bands together and needed something a bit more appropriate. A hilarious afternoon looking for names in cooking magazines led to the “Passionfruit Fools” and thus morphed into “Passionate Fools”…..
They travelled up and down the East Coast, performing with friends and extra musos they met along the way; continued to run the Kelly Country Pick; travelled to Canada and the States, hiring vans and double basses and mixing with local musicians everywhere as they attended festivals and music camps. They consider themselves to be very fortunate for the fabulous experiences they have shared with all the wonderful musicians they have met all over the place.
After a stint hanging in QLD, they graced the front page of the Brisbane Folk Rag and felt a bit famous – thanks to Michael Bourne and the lovely Alison Mackenzie. You can check it out here if you like….http://www.folkrag.org/ (You have to go to the Rogues Gallery…. more than appropriate)
Then 3 years based in Adelaide, they met and mixed with a whole range of great musicians, running sessions and gigging here and there, while still travelling to various interstate festivals to perform. Wendy took the opportunity to study during this time, completing a Diploma of Music.
The next 2 years for Wendy were spent teaching high school in regional Victoria – Cohuna on the Murray River above Bendigo. Not so much time to gig during this period.
2018 – saw the big move back to Wendy’s home state of NSW and settling down in Cobargo – home of the Cobargo Folk Festival and the Yuin Folk Club. A hub of musical folk abound in these parts and the Passionate Fools are looking forward to making lots more music in years to come.