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Pete Denahy and Wide Island to MountainGrass

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News From MountainGrass for 2017.

Award-winning and always crowd-pleasing multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Pete Denahy has brought his friends Montz Matsumoto (banjo, 2017 Tamworth Banjo Champion) and Hiroki Maeta (mandolin) to Mountaingrass before, and they blew everyone’s socks off. This year they are joined by Tomoyuki Murata on guitar, with local Aron Maclean on bass to form a band they are calling “Wide Island.”

The band name comes from a literal translation of Hiroshima, home town of both Pete’s mum and Hiroki. Wide Island will be releasing their first album, Going Home, an album of original songs penned by the band members and recorded in their various living rooms, at MountainGrass. These fast-picking, sweet singing gentlemen are guaranteed to add a truly international flair to the MountainGrass main-stage.

Tickets for MountainGrass are on sale through iWannaticket. Make sure you get your ABOTMA membership discount code before you buy your tickets.

Wellington Bluegrass Jammers

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We have just learned of a new jam session commencing in Sale, Victoria – The Wellington Bluegrass Jammers.

The jam session will take place at Bond Street Event Centre, 10 Bond St, Sale, from Sunday 8 October 2017 and on the first Sunday of every even month thereafter. 1.00 to 4.30 pm . Audience members are welcome. There will be a $5.00 cover charge towards use of the venue.

Please book by calling or texting 0438 430 586. Booking ahead helps the venue determine whether extra staff are required.

Bond Street Event Centre is a licensed venue and players under 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Bluegrass Artists Wanted for Sandford Bush Festival

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Sandford FestivalExpressions of interest are invited from Bluegrass Bands or Musicians interested in being part of the inaugural Sandford Bush Festival.

The inaugural Sandford Bush Festival will be a participatory celebration of bush & country living, made possible by some incredible talent, generous sponsors and an army of dedicated energetic volunteers.

The festival organisers hope to feature a troupe of professionals and semi-professionals including some very talented younger performers, all of whom donate their time and talents playing Bush Ballads, Folk, Gospel and Bluegrass Music.

Artists to date include The Bushwackers, The Cherry Pickers, Stumpy Gully Band, The Delahoys, Andrew Clermont, Jude Iddison, Quentin Eyers and Margie Russell.

For the enthusiastic amateurs there will be Competitions, Workshops, Blackboard Concerts and Jam Sessions.

In addition to the music, Bush Poetry, Bush Crafts, Local Art and Vanishing Trades will be performed, exhibited and demonstrated by professionals, semi-professionals, amateurs and hopefuls.

A limited number of camp sites are available at the festival site – First in first served.

All details including ticket prices, accommodation, volunteering, performers etc. can be found on the festival website.

For specific information, prospective performers should contact: Gary Williams on 0402 434 827, or
gaz@partyanimal.com.au.

Victoria’s Sandford Bush Festival is presented by the Stumpy Gully Bush Band, a registered ‘Not for Profit’ organisation.
All profits are dispersed to local community groups, sporting clubs or charitable organizations.

Frank Solivan To Headline 2017 MountainGrass.

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ABOTMA and MountainGrass have announced that the 2016 IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year winners Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen are the headline act for MountainGrass 2017.

Frank Solivan left the cold climes of Alaska for the bluegrass hotbed of Washington, D.C., he’s built a reputation as a monster mandolinist — and become a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen.

Frank Solivan, with banjoist Mike Munford, 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, award winning guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Jeremy Middleton, simmer a bluegrass/newgrass stew from instrumental, vocal and songwriting skills so hot, they have been named IBMA’s Instrumental Group of the Year twice, in 2014 and 2016.

Prepare to be delighted and wowed by their sweet blend of traditional bluegrass and outstanding musicianship with a contemporary twist.

Tickets are now on sale through iWannaticket.

Make sure you get your ABOTMA membership discount code before you purchase your tickets.

Old-Time Music School for Dorrigo Festival

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Dorrigo Old Time Music School2017 Dorrigo Old-Time Music School – 25th – 27th October.

As Dorrigo Festival organisers close off applications for this year’s festival they have introduced a new initiative for this year’s event – The Old-Time Music School.

The following dedicated old-time musicians will begin what may well become an regular feature of future festivals.

The Old-Time Music School will aim provide opportunities for learning and playing along with award-winning old-time musicians. The line up includes:

    • Ashlee Watkins (Aust/US)
    • Shay Garriock (US)
    • Andrew Small (US)
    • Mac Traynham (US)
    • Jeremy Marcotte (US) and
    • Foghorn Stringband (US) with:
      • Stephen “Sammy” Lind
      • Caleb Klauder
      • Nadine Landry
      • Reeb Willms

The workshops will include traditional fiddle and banjo music, instrument workshops, old-time ensemble workshops, folk singing, concerts, jamming and a festival performance opportunity.

The Dorrigo Festival is held each year at the Dorrigo Showgrounds. There is on-site camping available as well as a wide variety of accommodation around the Dorrigo area including hotels, motels, B&B’s and a local caravan park.

Visit the website for more details on the 2017 Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival.

AustralianBluegrass.com Awarded Best Bluegrass Blogs

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Feedspot AwardThe Australian Bluegrass Blog has been listed among the top 15 from thousands of top Bluegrass Music blogs in Feedspot’s index using search and social metrics.

The blogs are ranked based on following criteria:

  • Google reputation and Google search ranking
  • Influence and popularity on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites
  • Quality and consistency of posts.
  • Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review

Congratulations to every blogger that has made this Top Bluegrass Music Blogs list, This is the most comprehensive list of best Bluegrass Music blogs on the internet and I’m honoured to have you as part of this. I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world – Feedspot.com.

2017 Gold Coast Acoustics Festival Call For Volunteers

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The 2017 Coast Acoustics Music Festival is set for Saturday September 16th 2017. The Festival organisers are seeking volunteers to help with the event.

This year’s event will run over one day rather than two as in previous years. This year’s format allows for an exciting full day of entertainment and activity including workshops and open mic’s from 11:30am until 10:00pm.

The day before the festival will see a Festival ‘Fringe event’ in the form of music and CD launch on Friday evening.

The big day is Saturday and that is when most volunteers will be needed to ensure the festival runs smoothly. Then on Sunday 17th, festival organisers will celebrate with their volunteers with a ‘thank you volunteers’ BBQ brekkie. There will be food, great music and camaraderie as we pack up the site and round off a great weekend.

The Coast Acoustics committee invite you to send a short email stating:

  • Your Name
  •  Availability Day/s: Friday 15th / Saturday 16th /  Sunday 17th September
  • Duration: 2 hours / 4 hours / all day etc (shifts will generally be about 2 hours)

You may use the form below:

Rachel Eddy to Play 2017 Kelly Country Pick

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Rachel Eddy
Rachel Eddy

Folks at The Kelly Country Pick have announced that Rachel Eddy from the USA will be one of the guest artists at this year’s festival.

Rachel Eddy born and raised in rural WV just south of Morgantown, where her musical family inspired her to play and sing as a little girl. She grew up listening to local fiddlers, her father among them, going to old-time festivals, and attending square dances. The old-time bug bit her early in life and Rachel now performs and teaches full-time on fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass.

Over the years, she has shared stages, workshops and recording sessions with the likes of Tim O’Brien, Erynn Marshall, Dirk Powell, Adam Hurt, Rayna Gellert, Russ Barenberg, Bruce Molsky, Mark Schatz, and a month-long tour in Germany with Uncle Earl.

Others on the program include Appalachian Heaven, Slim Dime, The New Holland Honey
Eaters, The Burning Bridges and Kissing Cousins and many more.

The Kelly Country Pick is scheduled for Friday 18th to Sunday 20th August in Beechworth Victoria.

2018 Brunswick Music Festival Applications Now Open

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Brunswick Music FestivalBrunswick Music Festival is seeking a range of musicians, bands, performers and venues to participate in the Brunswick Music Festival, Sydney Road Street Party and Music for the People in 2018.

Brunswick Music Festival is a leading multi-genre music festival, fostering and celebrating connection between artists, audience and place. A curated festival, Brunswick Music Festival combines locally produced shows, touring performers and community events to create a huge celebration every March.

Brunswick Music Festival Applications:

Given the richness of the everyday music scene in Brunswick, organisers are looking for programming ideas that are informed by their vision for the Festival and are a bit different. Think collaborations between artists, across genres, events in unusual venues, album launches or premieres or anything else you can come up with.

Apply here – Applications close on Friday 1 September 2017.

Sydney Road Street Party and Music for the People Applications:

For the opening and closing events, Sydney Road Street Party and Music for the People, organisers are seeking the very best of professional and community performance from Moreland and beyond, to entertain the diverse audiences that attend these free family friendly events.

Apply here – Applications close on Monday 14 August 2017.

Coburg Night Market:

Applications for the 2017 Coburg Night Market are also now open. Taking place over four Fridays in November and December, Coburg Night Market, is a real celebration of Summer, featuring the best music, food and shopping Melbourne has to offer.

Apply here – Applications close on Monday 14 August 2017.

Mile Twelve to Play Dorrigo

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The folks at Dorrigo have been working towards the 2017 Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival and so far have amassed an extraordinary line up of folk, bluegrass and old-time artists from around Australia and overseas.

One of the many acts set to appear at this years’ festival is Mile Twelve.  Here is a fresh, hard-driving young band cutting a well crafted line between original and traditional bluegrass. This band is fast gaining recognition for their outstanding performances in bluegrass and folk circles. Evan Murphy, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Nate Sabat, BB Bowness and David Benedict write captivating songs and daring instrumental pieces from diverse influences. Banjo luminary Tony Trischka says, “Mile Twelve is carrying the bluegrass tradition forward with creativity and integrity.”

Since their formation in the fall of 2014, Mile Twelve has quickly been on the rise. They released their debut 6-track self titled EP, and performed extensively throughout the U.S., Ireland and Canada, including several major festivals; Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, FreshGrass Festival, Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival and Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. A track from their debut EP was featured on Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction’s “Hand Picked with Del McCoury”, while another track was featured on Spotify’s “Fresh Bluegrass” 2015 playlist. That same year, they were selected as formal showcase artists at the North East Folk Alliance.

The summer of 2016 has held more milestones for this young group: opening for Tim O’Brien at the Station Inn in Nashville, winning the Podunk Bluegrass Festival Band Contest and being nominated for a Momentum Award by the International Bluegrass Music Association and adding a fifth band member: mandolin player David Benedict. This winter they will be heading into the studio in Nashville to record their debut full-length album with producer Stephen Mougin at the helm.

Check the Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival Website for a full rundown in this year’s artist line up.