Biography

Dennis O'Keeffe

Although Dennis O’Keeffe graduated from Monash University in 1999 with a Graduate Diploma of Arts (Australian Folklife Studies) it is generally recognised his greatest education has been his twenty-five years involvement at the forefront of the Australian Folk Movement. His craft of story-telling has evolved through continuous performances of our wonderful Australian traditional songs and his uncanny ability to compose unique songs pertaining to the tradition.

“…all great art is anchored in a place. We think globally but we mostly live locally. We love Galveston, the streets of Chicago and the hills of Donegal but we also love the places Dennis sings of, the Dimantina River, Armstrong Street Ballarat, Kokoda and Tower Hill. He sings songs to encourage people. He reminds you of the declaration by the American folk legend Woody Guthrie, ‘I hate a song that makes you think you’re not any good, a song that makes you think you’re bound to loose, no good to nobody, good for nothin’, because you’re either too old, too young, too fat or too thin or too this or that… I am out to fight those kind of songs to my very last breath of air and my last drop of blood, I am out to sing the songs that will make you take pride in yourself.’ Dennis O’Keeffe does that: he writes and sings and teaches songs to make us take pride in ourselves.”  The Tain Oct 2005.

Since 1994, Dennis has performed numerous concerts and workshops relating the history and importance of Waltzing Matilda. By many he is considered the nation’s leading authority on the origins of the song.

1995. Federal Government Grant to compile a document titled ‘Eight Days in 1894’.

This document focused on events leading up to and surrounding the writing of Waltzing Matilda. During the 1894 shearer’s strike, parts of Western NSW and South/East Queensland resembled a battlefield, as striking union shearer’s resorted to violence to resist the lowering of shearing rates and conditions. ‘Eight Days in 1894’ focuses on four main events: the burning of the Paddle Steamer Rodney by union shearers on the Darling River and the shooting of union shearer Billy McLean. (August 26th) The burning down of the Dagworth Shearing Shed (Western Queensland) on Sept 2nd. by union shearers and the subsequent death the next morning of Samuel Hoffmeister. Hoffmeister; the leader of the union arsonists was found dead beside ‘the billabong’ the following morning, by the ‘squatter’ and three policemen. Amidst this violent background Banjo Paterson and Christina Macpherson wrote Waltzing Matilda.

Dennis performs many concerts with an uncanny blend of original compositions and traditional songs. It is an Australian concert...he does not sing any songs that were not written in Australia or have a strong connection with his native land. Some say the stories he relates about his songs are as interesting and enjoyable as the songs themselves.

Song-writing and Tutoring

Dennis O'Keeffe is one of Australia's most original and authentic song-writers, having written numerous songs about Australia and Australians, winning national awards along the way. The success of his song-writing classes and his student concerts have become one of the yearly highlights of the Lake School of Celtic Music. Over 200 songs have been written, with some students winning songwriting awards. He is ofen referred to as the 'song-writing mid-wife', having had a hand in the birth of hundreds of original songs and otherwise untold stories.
Continuing the Australian Tradition
Dennis is now a permanent fixture leading Australian Traditional Song Sessions at the Australian National Folk Music Festival in the nation's capital of Canberra every year. With a unique blend of our rich Australian Traditional songs, mixed with poignant original compositions, he is now in demand at many festivals throughout Australia.
Concerts

Dennis performs many concerts with an uncanny blend of original compositions and traditional songs. He   sings songs written in Australia or songs which have a strong connection with his native land. Some say the stories he relates about his songs are as interesting and enjoyable as the songs themselves. You be the judge.

Waltzing Matilda Show

This dynamic multi-media presentation about the creation of Waltzing Matilda leaves the audience not only informed but with a new and deserved ownership of their national folk song. So many people come to the show wondering what Waltzing Matilda actually means - but go home with a sense of justification knowing why they have been singing the song since they were little children.