Larrikin Lad: Warren Fahey (ATOM Study Guide)

'This music's about having a sense of fun and a sense of culture.' – Warren Fahey

Larrikin Lad is a one-hour documentary film about Warren Fahey, who has been collecting, documenting, distributing, promoting and performing Australian music all his life.

When people meet Warren Fahey they often recognise him as 'that music'. Warren is the 'larrikin' who brought world music to Australia and Australian music to the world. As one of our foremost cultural historians, specialising in folklore, Warren Fahey sees himself as a 'recycling unit' and interpreter who makes relevant what has gone before.

From humble beginnings in the 1960s when he scoured the Australian countryside for interesting stories, tape recorder in hand, to the lofty highs of running multiple records labels, Warren Fahey is a powerhouse – folklore collector, cultural historian, author, writer, broadcaster, record producer, songwriter, raconteur and performer. Through song, verse and stories he reminds us of our unique and multi-faceted Australian cultural heritage.

Warren has been honoured with a swag of awards including the Order of Australia, Prime Minister's Centennial Medal, Golden Gumleaf Heritage Award, Australian Music Person of the Year and, in 2010, Australia's highest award for music: The Don Banks Music Award.

This study guide is particularly relevant to the study area of Social and Cultural History, part of the NSW Year 9 History course.