A humorous remark from Vin once kept me laughing for a whole tour of Australia. At times on stage I had to use all my concentration not to burst out laughing during one of my quieter songs. The corollary of this is that Vin’s serious side can have an equally powerful effect. An evening with Mr Garbutt can give you enough thought provoking songs and perceptive hilarious observation to last you months if not years. The essential ingredients he brings to his craft are uncompromising commitment to his beliefs, tempered with humour, compassion and an awareness of our common humanity. Ralph McTell (English singer-songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s. Ralph McTell is best known for the song "Streets of London", which has been covered by over two hundred artists around the world) Vin Garbutt is a powerful, passionate and unique songwriter. His songs are aimed squarely at the listener’s heart and conscience and rarely fail to hit the target. A man of deep and sincerely held beliefs, he does not evade those beliefs in his songs, or betray them by taking a safer and more popular path as many songwriters do.But he’s no “Ivory Tower” type of songwriter, handing down nuggets of wisdom to the peasants milling below. He’s a warm, witty, perceptive and deeply compassionate individual and his songs reflect this. They could only be written by someone who’s involved with and who cares about what happens to this fragile planet and it’s equally fragile inhabitants. If there was any justice, Vin would be rich and famous, which he’s not. He is however, much loved and respected. I’d settle for that. Eric Bogle (Penned "And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda". He has won quite a few awards along the way including the Order of Australia medal for services to the entertainment industry, and a Peace medal from the U.N. for his efforts, through music, to promote peace and racial harmony).