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Events

Fat Chance and the Bluegrass Playboys

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FCBPBYinnar Hotel – Victoria

The past few months, The Strzelecki Stringbusters have been introducing a range of guest artists at their local haunt, the Yinnar Hotel in South Eastern Victoria. The busters generally play their style of bluegrass there to a packed house on the last Wednesday of every month.

This month they have announced the appearance of a relatively new band on the bluegrass scene, Fat Chance and the Bluegrass Playboys.

The Playboys comprise, Monty Oliver (Dave Aumann) on mandolin and vocals. Snuffles Beddoe (Andrew Barcham) on 5 string banjo, Jet Laurell (Blair Webb) on guitar and Rolf Rosshire (Don Gula) on double bass and vocals. If your in the area, you can catch them at the Yinnart Hotel Wed 24th June 2009.

Uncle Bill’s – New Lineup.

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Once a regular feature on the Melbourne music scene, the band Uncle Bill have many accolades upon which they can rest, not the least of which is their inspiring CD’s recorded with acclaimed songwriter and performer Paul Kelly.

Gerry Hale has dusted off the Uncle Bill label and put together a new line up for Uncle Bill band. In addition to Gerry Hale on guitar, band members include Kim Wheeler on bass, John Gray on banjo and John Kendall on fiddle and mandolin.

Gerry tells us that John Gray, a  fine musician, has been away from the music scene for a while, and John Kendall, the bands youngest member, is a full-time professional musician. Kim Wheeler has been playing and singing now for nearly a decade now and she has played in various acoustic lineups in town. Unlike the original Uncle Bill line up, all of the band members sing harmony and now we have a female vocal too.

Our new material will include a couple of interesting Steely Dan numbers, but possibly more new Australian songs..I have been waiting quite a few years to find the right combination and patience has paid dividends. I would never consider re-forming and old band. not into that at all, it has to be fresh, has to be interesting to be worth the work – Gerry Hale.

The band’s re-debut will be this Sunday afternoon -  14th June – at Mordiallic Sports Club which used to be a bit of an Uncle Bill strong hold.

Southern Style – All Australian Bluegrass

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australiaJan Dale has advised us that next Tuesday, 16th June 1-3 pm, PBS 106.7FM will present an All Australian show on Southern Style. Every track played will be by Australian musicians and will include the usual Bluegrass, Old Time, Cajun, Blues and Western Swing music.

All shows on PBS 106.7FM are streamed live and archived on the website. Look for Listen Live for current broadcast and then Radio on Demand for the archives.

PBS 106.7FM – Website.

Guildford Banjo Jamboree 2009

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guildfprd

Organisers have announced some of the program for the 2009 Guildford Banjo Jamboree.

Hardrive Bluegrass Band: Victoria’s prize winning traditional bluegrass band, back again by popular request this year.

Ricketty Ridge: A cross over band, spanning the genre’s of Klezma , Gypsy celtic and old time and all done with a banjo for the bass.

Segue : Slightly Eclectic Guildford Ukulele Ensemble. Strumming and picking a myriad of ukes, while whistling singing and soaring.

The Turnarounds: A trio specialising in bluegrass gospel music with a special mystery guest banjo artiste.

The Mule: Two banjos and a fiddle from Texas (perhaps a cello) mandolin, guitar and bass proving – the future of the string band genre is here today.

A number of workshops and facilitators have also been announced.

  • Banjo Mandolin – Neil Barre
  • Banjo Ukulele – Guildford Ukulele Ensemble
  • Bluegrass (Scruggs Style) – Peter Scholtz  and Jim Golding
  • Elementary Banjo – Peter Somerville assisted by Bruce Sedawie
  • Frailing, Old Timey – Richard MacEwan
  • Blues Banjo – Dr Brent Davie
  • Tuning and set-up – Chris Ryan

Stringbusters vs Strange Country – Yinnar Hotel

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The 14 piece bluegrass ensemble the Strzeckeli Stringbusters play a regular gig at the Yinnar Hotel on the last Wednesday of the month. This month they have invited Steve Messer’s Strange Country to join them.

The 27th May will see a the Stringbusters from 8:15pm and Strange Country from 9:15pm. What transforms from there is anybody’s guess.

Kelly Country Pick 2009

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Beechworth Festival Victoria.kcp

Festival producers Wendy Jackson and Peter Hisco have announced some of the details for 2009’s Kelly Country Pick later this year in Beechworth, Victoria.

In addition to an expanded artist schedule they have added another two venues to the Beechworth festival. This will see two concerts in every time slot on Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening, as well as Sunday.

The festival is developing into a significant community event that attracts a tourist audience while, due to venue sizes, retains its intimacy.

The talent confirmed for 2009 includes:

  • Gerry Hale’s Uncle Bill
  • Blue Mountain Rain
  • Bridgland Bros. (aka Southland)
  • High and Lonesome
  • Appalachian Heaven
  • Craig Woodward’s Friday Night Old Time Band
  • Mama’s Mountain Jug Band
  • The Luau Cowboys
  • Bluegrass Souls

The Kelly Country Pick is scheduled for 21st to 23rd August 2009.

Karuah River of Music Festival

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karuahrom22nd to 24th May 2009

The festival scene is Australia continues to flourish with the recent announcement of another festival just north of Newcastle in New South Wales – the Karuah River of Music Festival.

This festival is hosted by Karuah Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Progress Association of Karuah’s Working Together Committee, the Karuah RSL Club, the Karuah Public School and the Port Stephens Council.

The Karuah River of Music Festival will be held from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th May. You are invited to come and join the Karuah townsfolk in a weekend of musical fun featuring a host of Australian talent including The Hardrive Bluegrass Band, The Lawnmowers, Gleny Rae and the Tamworth Playboys.

my-t-finestringbandThe festival will also feature an old time dance band, musical workshops along with the traditional Gospel singing at the meeting place by the river.

Costs for a weekend pass is just $20.00 with kids inder 15 free. Passes will be available at the Karuah RSL Club, Karuah Hotel and the Karuah Centre. Kids under 15 are free.

For further information contact – Tony: 02 49 975272 – Sharon: 02 49 975306 – Geoff 02 49 975336.

Download a Karuah ROM Program

Bluestone Junction – CD Launch

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bgrassjunctionTurn Your Radio On

Hot on the heels of their very successful appearances at the 2009 National Folk Festival, Bluestone Junction have announced the launch of their new CD, Turn Your Radio On. Bluestone Junction are one of Australia’s best traditional Bluegrass bands, presenting a heady mix of standard and original songs and tunes around a single-valve microphone to capture the authentic sound of acoustic instruments and high-lonesome vocals.

The new CD features the talents of fiddle champion Donal Baylor – on loan from WA’s Bluegrass Parkway – plus regulars Chris Jacobs on vocals and guitar; Mick Harrison on banjo; Pete Fidler on Dobro and mandolin and Mike St. Clair-Miller on bass.

Track Listing:
  1. As The Nights Grow Long
  2. Staring At The Phone
  3. Meet Me By The Moonlight
  4. I Ain’t Broke But I’m Badly Bent
  5. Deep Dish Rag
  6. I Never Knew
  7. Rich Man
  8. This Heartache
  9. Turn Your Radio On
  10. Day By Day
  11. Woodstock Hornpipe
  12. This Time

Date: Sunday 24th May 7:00pm – Venue: Don’t Tell Tom – 420 Sydney Rd Brunswick Ph: 03 9380 8667 – Cost: $10 entry or free entry with purchase of CD.

Palmwoods Jam – Qld

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After declaring the inaugural Palmwoods jam last month a success, Terry Cook has advised us that he is already preparing for it to occur regularly on the 3rd Sunday of every month.

The next Bluegrass Jam Session at Palmwoods’ Bowls Club is scheduled for the 17th May from 1.30pm till 5pm.

Bring your own instrument, or just come along to enjoy the music there is no charge. While it is fundamentally an acoustic jam some amplification will be provided for instruments that may require it. All players at any level are welcome.

To get there exit to Palmwoods just past the Big Pineapple and then left again at Nicklin Rd before the railway at Palmwoods its then 200m on the left you cant miss it.The club is fully licensed.

For any further details you can contact Terry Cook on 54921727 or email bluegrassjam@hotmail.com

Jim Golding’s Banjo Workshop

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9th May Pickin’ at the Piggery

Jim Golding the banjo meister from that irreverent bluegrass ensemble Coolgrass has offered to deliver a banjo workshop at the start of the May Pickin’ at the Piggery.

The workshop will commence at 7:00pm at the Footscray Community Arts Centre on the 9th May 2009.