Family members of Floreena may remember the very first Country song she ever learnt to sing, it was an old time favorite,"You Are My Sunshine”.Going back to the days when Snowy Jenson another well known Bendigo Local Country performer took Floreena under his wing and encouraged her to sing and play guitar with her husband Wal. Memories keep flooding back of the exciting times had by the band as well as many of its followers.
This is a story of how it all began.
Tumbleweed band was formed in 1977 by Floreena & her husband Wal Forbes In Bendigo Central Victoria.
The nerves had set in and everyone was quite jittery as they set off.and believed it would be a small gathering of folk, but when they arrived at the hall the place was packed with well over 100 guests present.
What a fantastic night it was, the spark had been lit. They came home with all the confidence they needed, on went their thinking caps, and they decided to form their own country band, all that was needed was a name, and so, the journey of Floreena Forbes and Tumbleweed Country Band began.
Wal built their band trailer and painted it dark brown with orange & white sign writing. The trailer became a well known identity in the city of greater Bendigo Central Victoria
1979 The Bendigo Country Music Club formed with Olive Bice President, Vice President Snowy Jenson, Secretary Floreena Forbes, Assistant Secretary Bill Moore, Treasurer John Nadort, Assistant Publicity Officer Ray Dalton, Program manager Wal Forbes. Committee members: Nancy Sheehan,Peter Sheehan, Noel Jenson, Hank Moore, Lyn Golding, Leon Golding.
There were two Spectacular concerts held by the Bendigo Country Music Club the 1st called Local Country & Western Spectacular was held Friday21st November 1980
Second Friday November the 21st 1981. Both concerts were a huge success
1980 Floreena appeared in a Dolly Parton look a like floor show held at the Bendigo Club it was so successful the Tumbleweed band included the act at Birthdays and special occasions adding great humour to the evening and memories still talked about today.
To name an occasion Floreena remembers when she appeared in a Dolly Parton contest held at the Wandong Country Music Festival in 1982 again she hit the jackpot with a Police escort.
The Police escorted her through a large crowd with many photographs being taken. Some of these photographs appeared in the Weekly Times newspaper.
She appeared again at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1981
There were several changes in the Tumbleweed Band line up over the years.Each change brought about a different sound although still holding the thing that made the band so popular, keeping their music to dance time and singing many of the country classic's and popular songs the crowd could relate to encouraging everyone to dance and have a great time.
1981 and 1985 members of the Tumbleweed band were Bill Simons keyboard
Terry Simonds drums, Noelene White pedal steel Len Pickin drums, John Cockfield drums.
Allan Gillingham lead guitar
1985.Floreena continued on with her music after the loss of her husband Wal in 1984 and reformed the Tumbleweed Band fronting the band herself,Helen Kantz on Bass Guitar, Craig Bridges lead guitar, Chris Appleby rhythm and her stepson Wayne on drums.
Floreena organised many successful fundraisers for cancer research, Salvation Army, RSPA and the elderly and many other charitable organisations and still is today
June1985 the line up changed again with Floreena Vocals and guitar Allan Gillingham on lead and harmonies, Kevin Fitzpatrick Bass guitar, Johnny Doyle Drums .
1986 John Doyle resigned and Ken Jones drummer joined the Tumbleweed band.
Floreena ventured further and travelled and performed regularly in many of the clubs, hotels in NSW, Melb, Central Victoria and her home town in Bendigo sometimes working 3 to 4 shows a week with an added member to the group.
Sound Engineer Robert Ramadge.
1987Floreena cut her first CD in Wangaratta under the label of Ramic titled“Floreena” still available today. The album has 11 popular country tracks selected by her fans
1987 Kevin Fitzpatrick passed away. Kevin was a very devoted Bass player and lived for his music he played his bass guitar right up to a few hours before his death.
Floreena and her partner Robert wrote a song for Kevin titled. Goodbye to a Friend” with Robert working on the lyrics and Floreena the music. The song “Goodbye To a Friend" was recorded on Floreena’s second album titled “Floreena Country Favourites in 1989.
Bass Player Paul Holmes joined the band 1987 and resigned in 1989
1989 Jim Moran joined the Tumbleweed Band on Bass Guitar and Vocals and Harmony
1987 with requests by her fans Floreena went back into the studio and recorded her 2ndalbum Floreena Country Favourites’ with 14 Tracks of popular CountryClassic’s. her fans were waiting for her second album. Floreena’s albums are still available today by contacting Mobile 0409407458 floreena@floreena.com
1989 Line up change with Alex Thelma on keyboard and Kim Crow on Bass guitar, Ted Bullow on drums.
1991 Alex Thelma left to further is career in teaching. Greame Byrnes joined the band on lead guitar
1991The Bootscootin’ craze was in being held in every hotel, club you name a place and it was there. Floreena and her partner Robert took lessons and learnt Bootscootin’ Floreena and Robert began teaching and travelled each week to Many Country Venue’s such as the Murrey Downs Golf Club, Swan Hill Tooleybuc Club, Balranald Club, Barham Club,Bendigo Club and smaller venue’s in their home town of Bendigo Central Victoria.
A decision was made by the band members, not to tow the trailer with the car anymore as the equipment had increased. With her car needing repairs hired a bus to take the band to and from their destination towing the band trailer behind the bus taking the Tumbleweed fans with them. These trips have great stories to tell and are still talked about today by the band and all their fans that made the journey a happy one.
1991 TheTumbleweed band formed their own Line dance team called Thumbleweed Bootscooters and Tumbleweed Country Line Dancers with teams from Tooleybuc, Swan Hill, Kerang and Bendigo.
Many great nights were held with Floreena making sure all her fans were kept happy by adjusting the line dancing to many of the old time dances, in other words a dance for everybody from the Fox Trot,Pride of Eron, Evening 3 step Rock and Roll and more.
The Bootscooters always being courteous to the other dancers by keeping to the outside part of the dance floor, on many occasions some of the venue’s had 2 dance floors making it so much easier with the Bootscooters on one floor and old time dances on the other.
Floreena would name the dance. This arrangement worked extremely well with everyone kicking up their heals and having a great time. The Tooleybuc Club had at around 1200 people on a social night organised by the Tooleybuc Bootscootin’ Club with the atmosphere being electrice verybody talking about the dance they would do or by following the program? The Murray Downs club would clear away the chairs from around the dance floor to make more room to be able to accommodate all the dancers. The Tumbleweed Line Dancers would perform in front of the band all dressed in uniform, always happy demonstrating the dances.
With the band working more regularly Tumbleweed included Paul Deborteli. As their roady and bus driver then Wayne Maisey, Nick Nchrama and finallyRobert Ramadge.Many happy stories are being talked about today by the band and all their fans that made the journey a happy one.
Many great friends were made during those years and still today even tho the Tumbleweed Band has retired The Bootscooters are still following the socials and meeting up with their friends and remember the Tumbleweed Band were it all began.
TheTumbleweed Band became very popular between the 1980’s up to 2000 working on a regular basis and touring over much of Victoria and NSW and many parts of Melbourne.
1995Graeme Byrnes Lead guitarist left Tumbleweed, Floreena then teamed with the bass player Jim Moran and Floreena and Jim continued on as The Tumbleweed Country Duo still working in the same venues using Mini Discs as their backing music with Floreena still playing rhythm guitar and Jim on Bass guitar. The duo worked extremely well together still maintaining their popularity, the line dancers still Bootscootin’ to their favourite songs
1996.Floreena joined Triple C Fm as a Country Music DJ were she gained more popularity by giving live and phone interviews and producing live musicin the studio of 3ccc Fm Mc Crae Street Bendigo.The radio station has since changed the name to Fresh 895 Fm and moved to Garsard Street Bendigo .Floreena Resigned from Fresh 895 Fm in March 2006
2000 Floreena had a break from her music due to health and the Tumbleweed Duo disbanded
In 2002 returned, working solo and using midi files(Recorded Backing )and performing as a guest artist with other bands.
2007 As the years roll by with Country Music still a big part of Floreena's life, she enjoys producing shows, promoting other artists and still performing and attending the Country Music Clubs and Festivals.
2006 Floreena formed a Bluegrass Band "BBB " Bendigo Bluegrass Band" Members were Floreena Forbes,(Lead Vocals, Rythum Guitar.) Geoff Morris ( Vocals & Harmony. ) Sue Webb (Mandolin, Harmonica,Harmony) Roy Webb. (Guitar Harmony) Chris Ryan( Banjo Harmony) Tony Ryan. (Dobro) Finn Mathews. (Slap Bass) Penelope Somerville(Fiddlle & Harmony) Furthur Down the track the group renamed the Band Tumbleweed.
2007 Floreena,Olive Bice and Anne Conway formed The 3 Country Divas show featuring Country Classics including Floreena as (Dolly Parton)Olive and Anne as (Patsy Cline )The 3 Divas have been asked several times to repeat the show all a great success which proves there is still a great demand for the Country Classic's today.
April 3. 4th & 5th. 2007 Floreena appeared at the Horsham Country Music Festival, Kerrie Archibald and Roz Web together with the backing Band, Shady Deal added harmonies.
Floreena also appeared as Dolly creating quite a stir with many fans.
This was the first festival for Horsham, a brilliant country town in Victoria.
The festival organizers were pleased with their first festival.
OtherArtists that appeared at the festival were –
Anne Conway, Slim Conners, Stephen Cheney, Dave Prior, Laura Downing, Rodney Vincent, Cameron, Mason, Allan Carrol, Brianna Lee.
2006 joined 89.5 Phoenix Fm Bendigo Victoria.Where she became one of the founding committee members.
New committee members have since taken office in 2008 Floreena now enjoys being a volunteer at the station and being a DJ for Phoenix Fm
This web site was designed to be plain, simple and easy to follow and welcomes any artist to send in their photo's information to be included on both websites
Floreena Forbes & Tumbleweed
Family members of Floreena may remember the very first Country song she ever learnt to sing, it was an old time favorite,"You Are My Sunshine”.Going back to the days when Snowy Jenson another well known Bendigo Local Country performer took Floreena under his wing and encouraged her to sing and play guitar with her husband Wal. Memories keep flooding back of the exciting times had by the band as well as many of its followers.
