Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

A capacity crowd turned out at Rockcliffe Winery last weekend for a memorial concert for respected local musician Colin Reeves.

Colin passed away from natural causes in January 2023 at his home in Kendenup.

He was born in southern England in 1968 and emigrated to Australia with his parents and two brothers, Philip and Michael, when he was a teenager.

“Us three boys all played guitar but obviously none of us played the guitar like Colin did,” Michael said.

“Colin and I played music together for around 40 years and he had a real passion for classical guitar.”

Colin trained professionally as a classical guitarist at the WA Conservatorium of Music (now WAAPA) and all his working life revolved around music, either as a teacher or as a performing musician.

He taught guitar at most of the major schools in Albany as well as at Woodbury Boston Primary School for many years. He also had a steady stream of private students from all across the Great Southern and is known to have inspired many young musicians.

Colin moved to Denmark in the early 90s and Michael said his brother had been drawn to the location because of its natural beauty, small size and similar climate to their birthplace.

A handful of years later Michael also relocated to the Great Southern and the two brothers regularly appeared in band line ups together.

“If you were to list off all the good musos in Denmark, Colin played with them all,” Michael said.

Colin also played extensively with Tracy Morrison who joined the Rockcliffe event with her band Cyclone Tracee.

Michael’s son, Sam Reeves, is following in his uncle’s footsteps and is lead guitarist for Night Train who played at the tribute concert.

“When Sam reached the age where I’d taught him all I could, I sent him off to Colin for lessons,” Michael said.

“Colin would be so proud as Sam has just graduated from WAAPA with a degree in contemporary music.”

Also playing with Night Train was one of Colin’s longest-running students, Mardae Selepac, along with Robert Bush, Todd Moore, Michael Reeves and Jenny Street, with a guest appearance by Bob Lipinski.

“In recent years Colin had moved to Kendenup and became a carer through Anglicare,” Michael said.

“He’d also set up a little recording studio at home and was only just starting to get back into recording again when he died.”

Proceeds from the memorial concert will go toward establishing the Colin Reeves Guitar Scholarship to support an up and coming Denmark musician.

Colin is survived by his two adult daughters, Asha and Sophie.

See all the photos in the issue.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 11 January 2024.