Vinny Russell first started singing (as loud as he possibly could) on long family drives to annoy his siblings. Today, he heads up Rufous Whistler, a folk / alt-country band whose debut album, National Panic, debuted at #2 on the ARIA Country charts in March 2025. With international airplay, a gripping live show, and a strong grassroots fan base from their love of being on the road, the band’s blend of folk and alt-country is resonating deeply with audiences. After one listen, you’ll immediately see why. The best bit? You can hear them live at this year’s Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival. Here, we chat with Vinny to discover where it all began… and where he’s going next.
Let’s start at the beginning – where did you grow up, and what did you treasure most about your upbringing?
I grew up in country Victoria on Wiradjuri Country, surrounded by wide paddocks, loud birds, and a lovely little community. There was always a sense of space and stillness, and plenty of opportunity for me and my three older siblings to make our own fun. I was lucky to grow up going to the Yackandandah Folk Festival every year too, which I suppose played a part in my love for acoustic music.
Were you always interested in music? How old were you when you started learning?
Yeah, it was one of those things that was just always around. My family weren’t musicians per se, but definitely avid listeners of all sorts of music. My older brother played a little, so there was always a guitar somewhere in the house and someone willing to give it a go. I started properly playing and writing songs in my teens because my friends needed someone else to join their band.
Was there someone or something in your life that inspired your interest in music?
A mix of things! Long drives with the radio on, singing as loud as I could to annoy my siblings, and later on, some really great teachers and mentors who I looked up to in my teens. They were first-rate musicians and even better people, and they really sparked my curiosity about playing and understanding music, and fostered a really beautiful relationship with what music could offer yourself and others. One in particular was a brilliant musician, Pete Denahy, who loaned me my first mandolin and said, “I thought you might like this”,handing me some Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek CDs. That was a real turning point and opened my eyes to a world of music I hadn’t explored before, and made me realise folk music could feel both ancient and new at once. That balance has always stuck with me.
Talk to me about your career to date – did you study music post-school? And can you tell me a bit about your time in the industry so far?
I’m not a studied musician, but I’ve been so lucky to be surrounded by stellar musicians in different ensembles I’ve played in, and feel I’ve learned a lot through that. Since leaving school I’ve always played in bands, rock bands, folk bands, bluegrass bands, and in various configurations I’ve recorded and released music with other artists. Rufous Whistler came together after years of playing other people’s music and feeling a growing desire to explore my own songwriting voice. I wanted to experience the thrill of hearing my own songs come alive, and I’ve been so lucky that my dear friends and long time collaborators in Lucy McKenzie McHarg, Dylan Knur, Steve Hornby, Isaac Barter and many others have added their musicianship and voices to it, too. Since then we’ve toured extensively across Australia and New Zealand, picked up some lovely radio play overseas, and released our debut album in 2025, an exciting culmination of a lot of movement and growth.
What’s been your biggest challenge of your music career so far?
It’s a good question, I feel like it’s an ever constant challenge of learning how to balance it all! The art, the admin, the travel, and still keeping space for other parts of life in between. It’s a grind sometimes to stay curious and creative through it all.
And what about your biggest highlight?
This might sound like sucking up, but honestly, it’s been such a thrill to be invited to play at some of my favourite festivals with this relatively new project. There’s an incredible depth of talent and inspiration in the folk / acoustic music scene in this country, so to be selected to play alongside artists I admire is just amazing. Looking at every single act on the line-up at this year’s Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, they’re all world-class with such a rich and diverse range of styles and stories to share.
What do you love most about the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival?
Aside from always having the most amazing line-up of artists, it’s one of those rare festivals that actually feels like a community, not just an event. Everyone’s there for the art and the sharing, there’s this intense focus on the music itself, and a warmth you can’t fake. You end up in jams with people you’ve admired for years or meeting folks who become lifelong friends. I first played Dorrigo in 2018 (I think), and I met punters and musicians there from around Australia and the world who I still count among my closest friends.
You meet someone who’s never been to the Festival before — what’s the one thing you tell them?
Lean into the magic and fun of it all!
Where to from here? Big goals for the future?
The big goal is simple, it’s just to keep creating, sharing, and connecting with people who might enjoy what we’re doing. We’ve got a fun summer of festivals ahead, mixed with a long-overdue run of shows in Tassie, and another jaunt to New Zealand, then we’re absolutely itching to get back in the studio for album number two.
See Vinny and The Rufous Whistler Band live at this year’s Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival.
Find out more about this year’s Festival here, and follow Vinny and the band along on Instagram here and at their website here.
