Humble, hardworking alternative country singer-songwriter Fanny Lumsden has reignited the genre with her honest storytelling and strong melodies.
Story Kirsty McKenzie Photos Ken Brass
The red overalls are flapping in the breeze on the clothesline at the farmhouse country artist Fanny Lumsden shares with her husband Dan Stanley Freeman and their sons, Wally, 5, and Rupert, 2. Fanny may be one of Australian contemporary country music’s darlings with one song charting after the next, but her management style remains hands-on and she still launders the uniforms worn by her band, the Prawn Stars.
“You can see the overalls from miles away,” Fanny says. “I reckon everyone in the district thinks, ‘Oh Fanny’s back from tour,’ when they see the washing.’’ Fanny and her band maintain a hectic schedule of high-energy shows both at home and overseas and, while half the band actually is family, the extended group treats each other as though they are all related. At band lunch before one of their hugely popular country hall shows, everyone forms a loose corral around the kids, to keep an eye on them while others are called for sound checks or preshow commitments. Dan is the MC for the shows, with a running patter of dad jokes, and also plays a range of instruments and sings backup. Fanny’s brother, Tom Lumsden, who’s been with the band since 2017, sings harmony and leads the dance moves. In his ‘spare’ time, he dashes off stage to run the merch stand.
Fanny was born Edwina Lumsden, the first child of schoolteacher Jenny and farmer David from Tallimba near West Wyalong in the NSW Riverina. She has fond memories of growing up on the farm with her younger siblings, Anna, Lucinda and Tom. An avid fan of Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree series, she adopted the name Fanny from one of its characters and now the only evidence of her given name is in her song-writing credits.
This story excerpt is from Issue #156
Outback Magazine: August/September 2024
