Barry Trewin – A Lifetime in Music

For more than four decades, Barry Trewin has lived and breathed music.

Beginning his professional journey in 1984, Barry's career has taken him from the pub rock venues of regional Victoria to country music festivals, international performances in Thailand and Papua New Guinea, and collaborations with some of Australia's most respected musicians. His story is one of resilience, versatility and an unwavering passion for authentic music.

As a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and musical director, Barry has performed across rock, blues, country and classic rock genres, adapting to changing audiences and evolving industry landscapes while remaining true to the craft of live performance. His experience spans intimate solo performances, festival stages, tribute productions and backing some of Australia's finest emerging and established artists.

Barry has shared the stage with, supported, or performed alongside artists including Jimmy Little, Adam Harvey, Lyn Bowtell, Jed Hughes, Jack Pledge (USA), J.R. Williams, Renee Stewart and numerous respected musicians throughout Australia. He has also performed as a support act for iconic Australian acts including Redgum and Lee Kernaghan.

Beyond performance, Barry has been committed to creating opportunities for others. He was a founding member of the Musicians Club in Warragul, Victoria, established in 1990 to provide aspiring musicians with real-world stage experience and industry exposure. What began as a local initiative evolved into a thriving monthly event attracting performers from across Gippsland and metropolitan Melbourne, regularly drawing crowds of more than 300 people. For many young musicians, it represented their first opportunity to perform before a live audience.

Barry also owned and managed Upfront Studio's in Warragul, Victoria, combining a retail music business with band rehearsal facilities and music tuition. He served on the committee responsible for establishing the inaugural West Gippsland Eisteddfod, advocating for contemporary musicians and electric arts at a time when such opportunities were limited.

Internationally, Barry performed extensively throughout Thailand and Papua New Guinea, appearing at venues including the Royal Bangkok Sporting Club and working alongside local and expatriate musicians. His contributions extended beyond performance, promoting musician development initiatives and fostering music communities across cultural boundaries.

Today, Barry continues his musical journey through FizikalReck, a project built upon decades of experience, storytelling and artistic evolution. Rather than chasing trends, FizikalReck reflects a lifetime of observation, triumph, setbacks and genuine human experience.

The creation of The FizikalReck Sessions represents a natural extension of that journey.

It exists to support independent artists through honest reviews, thoughtful interviews and meaningful exposure from someone who understands the realities of being a working musician.

Because behind every song is a story.

Behind every artist is a dream.

And behind every great career is the courage to keep playing long after the spotlight fades.

Professional Music Experience

• Vocalist/Lead Guitarist/Midi File Computer Programmer/Professional Backing Track Service.
• Main Styles of Music include Rock, Blues, 50’s & 60’s Rock ‘N’ Roll and Country.
• Owned and Managed Retail Music Store “Upfront Studio’s” which included a Rehearsal Studio and Music Tuition School in Warragul, Victoria in the 1990's. 
• A Committee Member involved with the Inception and Formation of the First “West Gippsland Eisteddfod”, representing the Rock Musicians and Electric Arts.
• The Founding Member along with Peter Borg and James Mead of the “Musicians Club” in Warragul, Victoria in 1990.

EXPERIENCE

• APRA AMCOS member number: 912585
• APRA AMCOS IPI number: 01344592638
• Professional Member of the CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia)
• Performing in Australia since 1984
• Performed Internationally in Thailand and Papua New Guinea.

• Since 1984, I have performed as Lead Guitarist with various bands and provided backing or lead guitar for Artists and projects such as FizikalReck, Risky Business (Duo with Marc Nuske on Keyboards), Skin Deep, After Midnight, Black Mail (Angels Tribute Band), Major Look, Felicity, Hot Diggerty, Lyn Bowtell and Southern Steel, June Harrison, Craig Byrne, Mitchell Shadlow, Jimmy Little, The Stoney Creek Band, Rick Diamond, Jed Hughes, Jack Pledge (USA), Adam Harvey, Shayne Parle, J R Williams & Renee Stewart and many other artists at various festivals around Victoria and Interstate.

• Performed as support act for Red Gum, Lee Kernaghan and 5150 (Van Halen Tribute Band).

• I broke barriers in the music industry in Warragul and Gippsland, by promoting a monthly event at the “Club Hotel” in Warragul. The Musicians Club was responsible for giving opportunities to musicians to showcase their talents and get exposure to the Live Audience Scene through the monthly performances in Warragul. Student bands were able to get their first experience of performing in a “Live Venue” using the latest professional PA Systems and Lighting Shows provided by “Phil’s PA Systems” and “Russell Proud’s Audio Services”. Three categories were set up including, Student, Garage Band and Semi-Professional. With 3 performances each night the crowds had the opportunity to view up and coming acts and show support for semi-professional acts which found it hard to obtain work. The musicians had the chance to experience the live performance and to network with other musicians. After a matter of months musicians from all over Gippsland and outer suburbs of Melbourne began to request a spot and perform at the monthly event. The monthly event had an average crowd of 300 people.

• As “Lead Guitarist for Hire”, I replaced gifted Front man, Lead Guitarist and Vocalist “Danny Burton” in his 3-piece rock ‘n’ blues band “Skin Deep” for a period of 6 months before the band emerged as the highly successful “After Midnight”. Danny Burton was the 2006 runner up in the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society “Blues player of the year competition”, he released his first album “Take a Step Back” at the end of 2005.

• Blackmail, the “Angels Tribute Band”, performed at famous venues such as the Astra Dome Traralgon, the venue held over 1,000 patrons. Playing many of the older and standard Angels classic’s from many of their early albums through to “The Dogs are Talking”. Blackmail was highly successful mixing classic hits from ZZ Top and Status Quo. Blackmail also featured talented drummer “Peter Borg” who performed on recording’s in Sydney with “Tommy Emmanuel” the renowned Australian Guitarist.

• Blackmail, then transformed into “Major Look”, which added the extremely talented vocalist “Chris Atkinson”, the raunchy vocals furthered the expansion and variety of the sound and ability of the band to cross into many styles and genres of music. “Major Look” played many venues and performed in Melbourne receiving outstanding revues in the Melbourne University Magazines, consistently described as the “Classic Covers Band”.

• Regular weekly night solo performances at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club and the Working Man’s Club Mildura.
• Lead Guitarist for the Olive Bice Showcase Band, Mildura Country Music Festival
• Performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 1996, Lead Guitarist and provided backing tracks for vocalist Shayne Parle, Performing Garth Brooks Songs.
• Performed Solo as one of the support acts at the Mallee Concert Sea Lake and also provided Backing Track Services, including computer midi backing tracks for the other Artists, featuring Shayne Parle and June Harrison. Lee Kernaghan was the main act.
• Lead Guitarist and Music Director for the Elaine & Katherine Pitt, Shane Warren Album launch of “Daddy’s Sweat”, at the Coomella Club 1996, I was called "Bossy Barry" for my work ethic to get the songs to be performed as they were recorded on the Album.
• Lead Guitarist performing in the J R Williams Backing Band for the Mildura Country Music Festival
• Lead Guitarist performing with the John Mathewson Band at the Mildura Country Music Festival
• Lead Guitarist performing with Male Vocalist Shane Biggs at the Broadford Country Music Festival
• Performed as Lead Guitarist with the “Victorian Country Entertainer of the Year 1996”, J R Williams and up and coming Female Vocalist Renee Stewart in the “The Livin’ Lovin’ Legends Band”. Matt Reade on Drums and Richard Bice on Bass.
• Lead Guitarist in the Moama Bowling Club “Surprising Faces” Backing Band.
• Lead Guitarist at the Victorian Country Music Awards Kyneton (Stoney Creek Backing Band). The Performance was telecast live over Country Radio.
• Lead Guitarist at the Red Hill Festival Melbourne (J R Williams, Renee Stewart & “The Livin’ Lovin’ Legends Band”.
• Lead Guitarist at the Bunyip Country Music Festival (J R Williams, Renee Stewart & “The Livin’ Lovin’ Legends Band”.
• Acoustic Guitarist for Renee Stewart (Melbourne), “Mama he’s Crazy” Video Clip on “Our Country” Prime TV
• Regular Solo Performances on the M V Kookaburra River Boat – Swan Hill Hotels and Venues, Swan Hill RSL, Murray Downs and Mildura Working Man’s Club.
• Lead Guitarist at the Mildura Country Music Festival (John Mathewson Band).
• Lead Guitarist at the Broken Hill Country Music Festival (Shane Warren & Katherine Pitt).
• Lead Guitarist for John R Williams and Female Vocalist Renee Stewart New Year’s Eve 2000 on the Riverbank outdoor Concert in Echuca, Victoria. Renee was a finalist at the 2000 Tamworth Country Music Festival in the “Golden Guitar New Talent Award”. Renee has also been signed with Sony Music and has released some singles with a Top 8 listing in the Australian Country Music Charts in 1999, notably with the single “Kiss and Tell”.
• Performed in Thailand at Imagine Night Club in Bangkok, Winchester Club Pattaya, Xylem Night Spot Chon Buri and also performed with the Famous “Soi Dog Blues Band” in the Warbler Hotel Bangkok. 
• Lead Guitarist in the backing band for Col Thompson (NSW) and various Artists at the Beaufort Country Music Club, Christmas Function.
• Fill in Lead Guitarist with the “Taboo Band”, a private wedding function in Essendon Melbourne. Taboo is a band formed by Ritchie Laird a leading innovative sound engineer in Melbourne Australia. Ritchie has been innovative in recording artists live through link ups on the World Wide Web. Ritchie’s wife Sylvana is a Leading Artist Management Consultant managing numerous artists and promoting Music Tours to Italy and Europe.
• Performed in Thailand at the Prestigious Royal Bangkok Sporting Club with their backing band and then with the Thai-Jin Covers Band and various other bands in Bangkok. Completed an Audition and offered a position as Host for a new TV Program covering western music for Thai Television.
• Performed at the “Lamana Gold Club” and “Roundhouse Club” in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea on various nights with Local Backing Bands.
• After a long break from Professional shows, in 2014 I have started rehearsing new solo act for Community Policing in Papua New Guinea; I am listed on the BandTrax Australia Midifile site as an “Elite User” of the Midifiles in regards to Professional Performances, also under the entertainment stage name of “Typan”.
• Performed for the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary – “NCD Divisional Command Police Independence Celebrations” at Ela Beach, Port Moresby.
• Developing the PNG Musicians Development and Promotions, promoting ideas and music both locally and internationally, setting up the social media Facebook page. 
• Relaunched FizikalReck to provide music for the new “Thoroughbreds of the Sky” online platform for the Australian Pigeon Centre. Songs which had been written over many years are now being released, pulling from the vast experience and styles of music over the last 4 decades. I write the lyrics and the produce the music in house.

Inspirational Cover Bands

Some of the finest live cover bands performing throughout Melbourne during the 1990s set a standard that inspired countless musicians, myself included.

The Stealers were renowned for their exceptional musicianship and vocal arrangements. Their live rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody was remarkable and demonstrated a level of performance rarely attempted by cover bands. 

Captain Spalding built a reputation as one of Melbourne's most entertaining live acts, consistently delivering energetic performances and connecting effortlessly with audiences.

Scat were widely regarded as one of the premier Cold Chisel tribute bands of the era. Front man John Brown captured the vocal power and character of Jimmy Barnes with uncanny accuracy, while the band faithfully recreated the sound and energy of Australia's iconic rock legends.

Jimi "The Human" Hocking fronted a powerhouse rock band that brought intensity, passion and world class musicianship to every performance. His talent as both a guitarist and songwriter was often underrated, yet his shows never failed to ignite a crowd.

Watching musicians and bands of this calibre reinforced an important lesson: great performances are built on preparation, dedication and an uncompromising commitment to entertaining an audience. The professionalism and work ethic displayed by these artists inspired me to continually raise my own standards as a musician and performer.