Listeners were put in the shoes of Australian soldiers and sheep shearers Thursday night, marking the beginning of another season of "Distinctive Styles" concerts in the HUB Fishbowl.

The performance by Martyn Wyndham-Read enveloped the audience in the fog of the outback with his Australian folk songs and stories. The concert brought students and folk music connoisseurs together to sparsely populate the auditorium.

David Grebos, assistant director for HUB programming, said he anticipates there will be at least five of the free HUB-sponsored "Distinctive Styles" performances this semester, but added that programming is difficult in the spring because of the weather and spring break.

Already slated for this semester are Big Bertha's Rhythm Kings, a jazz band from Baltimore, and Hypnotic Clam Bake, a Jewish klezmer band from Boston. Grebos said he also hopes to contract an American-Indian pan pipe group and an Asian dance and drum troupe for later this semester.

The 3-year-old series -- which has presented a variety of acts, including the a cappella band Regency and the Armenian outfit Night Ark -- provides the area with an alternative to the more mainstream shows that usually come to the University. Past acts have included blues, gospel, Caribbean, Cajun and jazz groups.

Acts are chosen by recommendation from group agents or by Grebos' own exposure to them, along with whether they fit into the series' diverse format.

Thursday's folk performance fit right from the start when Read started off with "The Springtime it Brings on the Shearing," describing his early beginnings on an Australian sheep station. All of Read's songs dealt with serious Australian life, from war to death -- except "The Day the Pub Burnt Down."

The show avoided depression as Read broke it up with stories about Englishmen sentenced to "life in Australia" and sheep farmers who hate cats. He also encouraged audience participation via the sing-along chorus.

Among the audience members, there were a number of veteran "Distinctive Styles" concert-goers.

Patricia Johnson (freshman-political science) said she enjoyed last year's performance of "An Irish Experience" best because the group discussed Irish and Celtic folklore and explained the instruments.

"You felt that, when you walked away, you took a knowledge of Irish or Celtic music with you," Johnson said.

Her friend and fellow audience member, Mary Dohne (freshman-liberal arts), said she liked a Scottish act last year because of the humor, but added that the Irish group was her favorite because of the "widespread range of music" played.

"We're looking forward to the jazz concert," Dohne said.

-- The next Distinctive Styles concert will be Big Bertha's Rhythm Kings, scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 24.