She’s written a song called Hippy Cowgirl, but Wendy Ford says she’s not a cowgirl - but she’s definitely a hippie. 

“It’s because I stand up for the environment,” she said.

The Lismore songwriter has an album of new songs and she’s got her new band ready to release the title track Good Medicine at the Lismore Show on the Community Stage this Thursday at 5.30pm.

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But first, she’s playing at this year’s NCEIA Dolphin Music Awards tonight (Tuesday, October 15). 

The annual awards celebrate local songwriting talent and have helped many musicians to gain recognition for their original work. 

Wendy’s song Clean House from her new album has been named a finalist in the Soul category at the Dolphin Music Awards.

“It’s quite an honour to be selected as a finalist - Good Medicine was a pop finalist two years ago at the last Dolphin Awards and Hippy Cowgirl was a finalist in the Protest category,” she said.

“Clean House is a duet about a friend’s marriage break up which was agonising for him.”

Wendy recorded the new album in Kyogle and finished mastering it this year. Now, she has a Good Medicine video ready to go and intends to release the full album later in the year.

“The video for Good Medicine is talking about the rain – we all have engagement in this climate change business and we need to take care of the planet.

“My music gives me an opportunity to get the word out that everyday activities influence how our environment is protected or not,” she said.

“My song Hippy cowgirl just came to me – I’m not a real cowgirl but I go to the organic market and speak to farmers. 

“I want to be a voice for some of these people – the green thinking farmers - people who came to the Bentley coal seam gas blockade who are starting to understand how business and the way we live has an impact on the environment.”

Wendy said she’s always had the desire to make a change in society.

“I was born in the 1960s and it’s in my blood,” she said.

“I participated in the Aquarian Festival when I first came to the rainbow region.

“It got me out to Nimbin and into the Star Court Theatre and I met Luke Vasella who’s a local icon – at the time, I didn’t know he’d been rockin’ it for years.

Wendy said as a songwriter, her heart comes through in songs.

“I love songwriting and getting ideas for songs,” she said. “I love to sing - you can’t shut me up.

“When I came to this region I became immersed in activism.

“I’m a human with concern and I think that compassion is just as necessary as rain.

“We need to be looking out for each other - that’s how Lismore people roll with floods and bushfires.

“I love the way this community pulls together and it inspires me as a songwriter.

“My music gives me an opportunity to get the word out that everyday activities influence how our environment is protected or not.

Wendy started singing and playing music in high school before playing her original songs in pubs – around pubs.

She’s sang with James Blundell at Tamworth 2018 and in front of 19,000 footy fans at the Wests Tigers Anzac Day win in 2017.

Wendy said her new band pays tribute to the song arrangements she created on the album, but it’s not the band line up that recorded the album.

“I recorded the album first and then thought I’d better get a band together and now I’ve got a great team,” she said.

Her songs address climate and social justice themes with harmony-rich vocals and guitar, keyboard and sax.

The band has a revolving line-up based on a core consisting of Ford on lead vocal and rhythm guitar; Electric Bulls keyboardist Gary Pinkerton, Bourbon and Ink drummer Bang Deepaharda, and Hoochers bassist Tony Baron.

However at the Show the band will be joined by local musicians Chris Fisher and Marcelle Townsend-Cross from Monkey and the Fish and Lismore App’s Liina Flynn on backing vocals, and The Tides’ Linda Banbury on sax. 

Fans can stay in the loop on the album release or request links to music by liking @wendyfordband on Facebook. 

The track Good Medicine is currently streaming on Reverbnation / wendyford and Number One Music / Wendy Ford.

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