CCMA Capital Country Music Association 2021 Lyricist of the Year - Downsizing
Semi finalist, 2020 International Songwriting Competition - Downsizing
Finalist, Tamworth Songwriters Association 2021 New Songwriter of the Year - Downsizing
Winner, Tamworth Songwriters' Association Comedy Novelty Songwriter of the Year 2020 - Wouldn't be Dead for Quids
Queensland songwriter Eric Read’s comedy song Downsizing, which came to life during the COVID lockdown of March/April 2020, has caught the attention of judges in several songwriting competitions.
Downsizing has won the CCMA Capital Country Music Association’s 2021 National Lyricist of the Year award. The song is also a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition 2020 comedy novelty category, the Australian Songwriters' Association 2021 awards and was a finalist in the Tamworth Songwriters Association 2021 New Songwriter of the Year award.
While the idea for the song came from stories from a few mates who had downsized their homes, it was written in an airport departure lounge in February 2020 and recorded during the COVID lockdown of March/April 2020.
Eric won the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association Comedy Novelty Song of the Year for 2020 with Wouldn’t Be Dead for Quids, from his second album The Original Eric Read released in 2019.
The album is the culmination of many decades of songwriting for this Sunshine Coast-based entertainer— with comedy songs and ballads featuring on this latest album.
The album is aptly named as nine of the 14 songs on the album are originals that Eric has written and performed over the years.
“There's ballads about family and friends and real life and as a lifetime lover of humour and the ability to see the funny side of most situations, many of my new songs are just that.
A long-time rhythm section musician and entertainer with a background in several semi pro bands over the years, Eric has more recently embraced a new focus as a solo performer with the added art of his love of ventriloquism.
“Encouragement has given me confidence and it goes to show that we can achieve great things at any stage in our lives.”
Eric Read’s Variety Shows, incorporating classics, comedy and ventriloquism, are attracting a growing clientele across south-east Queensland, northern New South Wales and north to Bundaberg.
Variety shows with Ekka and Sparky
Music, ventriloquism, comedy
Singalong to classic favourites in Eric Read's fun-filled shows which also include ventriloquism.
AS SEEN ON CHANNEL NINE'S HOTSEAT MILLIONAIRE!
Show content changes each month and shaped for the audience, whether they be the young or the young at heart.
Fun shows designed to uplift audiences. Servicing south-east Queensland.
Police checks, Blue Cards, insurance, vaccination certificates all provided.
Proud to be an Anzac
(The Ballad of Billy Torrance)
Semi finalist: Tamworth Songwriters Association 2021 awards
Semi-finalist: Australian Songwriters' Association 2020 awards
Lyrics: Jacinta Read.
Vocals: Eric Read.
Production: Leo Dalton
A tribute to Private William Torrance (17/201 Otago Regiment, NZEF) who served in Egypt 1915-16 and on the Western Front 1916-17, at times serving alongside his brother John Westland Torrance.
Written and recorded on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, and at Leo Dalton's Ol' Pickin Parlour Recording Studio at Upwey, Victoria, Australia, while we were all in home isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April, 2020.
We made the most of our time, technology, our creativity and a will to eternally remember Eric Read's lost great uncle Private William "Billy" Torrance.
Tragically, scarred by war physically and mentally, Private William Torrance took his own life in his hometown Cromwell on New Zealand's South Island not long after returning home from war in January 1920, 100 years ago. Private William "Billy Torrance was 29 years old.
Lest We Forget.
Winner - Tamworth Songwriters' Association 2020 Comedy Novelty Song of the Year
Announced winner of the Tamworth Songwriters' Association Geoff Mack Commemorative Award 2020 for Comedy Novelty Song of the Year with Wouldn't Be Dead for Quids, from The Original Eric Read album.
Plus semi finalist in Country Blues category with Cliches and Comedy Novelty category with It's a Dirty Job.
Eric Read is a long-time all rounder - drummer, singer, guitar and bass player, storyteller and comic who just loves entertaining and making people laugh.
From their home on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, ventriloquist/musician Eric and his wife Jacinta operate their growing entertainment business Read Entertainment.
Eric Read’s Variety Shows feature Eric on guitar and vocals, with his own self-recorded backing tracks, playing a vast repertoire of music including classics from the 50s right through the decades, a bit of traditional and modern country, trop rock, comedy and Aussie classics.
Eric enjoys performing the classic favourites to suit his unique style, with a little humour and good old fashioned one-liners thrown in too. In addition, Eric is a ventriloquist with a regular larrikin sidekick called Sparky - Ecka and Sparky were contestants on Channel Nine's Hotseat Millionaire in November 2020. Sparky correctly answered most questions, but unfortunately Ecka bombed out!
Eric’s shows are well embraced at clubs, cafes, retirement communities, private events, aged care, markets and family venues. He is a versatile entertainer who loves communicating with his audiences.
Our shows feature ever changing content and variety to ensure fresh appeal.
About Us
Read Entertainment is a venture created by Eric and Jacinta Read.
Eric Read is a long-time all rounder - drummer, singer, songwriter, ventriloquist, guitar and bass player, storyteller and comic who just loves entertaining and making people laugh.
Eric is now relishing a new phase of life as a songwriter and ventriloquist on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, where he and his wife Jacinta operate their entertainment venture.
Eric Read’s Variety Shows feature Eric on guitar and vocals, playing a vast repertoire of music including classics from the 50s right through the decades, a bit of traditional and modern country, trop rock, comedy and Aussie classics, plus a growing repertoire of his own songs. His ventriloquist sidekick Sparky is a feature of his variety shows.
