The Salt Flat were a traditional-style (drummerless) rockabilly trio formed in the "wild west" of Australia, by Jay McIvor and Felix Potier in 2000. They soon found singer Tyson Feifar, and cut their teeth busking and gigging around Perth over the next year. In 2002 they recorded a self-released CD, and the great response locally prompted them to take their music further afield. In 2003 they drove 7000 miles, crossing the country to play at the Wintersun Festival (QLD) and record at the legendary Preston Studios in Melbourne. The resulting album ("Flat Out West") was launched at Greazefest in 2004 and has sold well in Europe. Due to ever-expanding commitments with other groups, Felix left the band soon after the album was released. Newly arrived in Perth from London, Andy "Jumpin' Jack" Jarvis stepped in and the trio continued to tear it up, with a busy schedule of local and out-of-town shows, including the international Harboursound festival in 2005. The following year saw the trio's first shows in Sydney and the Tamworth Country Music festival - and despite being one of the few groups to busk at Tamworth without amplification, they were voted into the Top 10 buskers of the event. Returning to Perth they played the inaugural Summer Sun festival and in March 2006 recorded what was to be their final album (a 20 track compilation of their most requested live tunes, called "High School Favourites"). And then, tragedy stuck.
On May 13th 2006, the rockin' scene lost one of its brightest stars. Tyson was killed on his way to a gig, when another car lost control and collided with him, head-on. A passionate musician, Tyson's real love was 50's rockin' music, and he'd played in several Perth bands since his teens, before joining the group with which he become synonymous - the Salt Flat Trio. Tyson's final performance was the night before his death, singing with the "expanded trio" - a five-piece swingin' rockabilly band called the Bop Kings. He was, as always, in fine voice.
Listen to the tunes on this page, recorded just before his tragic death, to hear a guy who was taken from us in his prime. Thank you to fans of the band from around the world, for your wonderful messages of condolence. Our thoughts remain with the family he has left behind - especially his parents Pat and Hans, sister Michelle, his wife Lisa, little boy Ashton and daughter Amy.
Tyson will always be remembered as a great singer and a wonderful guy - and we know he'll be rockin it up, right now, with Elvis and all the other stars. Rest in peace brother, we won't forget you.
