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Submitted by Steve Jackson – Victoria.

Some 450 musos and revelers descended upon Camp Eureka for a fine time of pickin’, singin’ and fiddlin’ amid delightful surroundings and surprisingly good weather.

Friday night was a great time to catch up with friends and settle in to enjoy the warmth of the open fires and intoxicating music.

Lots of jamming could be had during the day when not attending one of the 18 workshops available. I particularly enjoyed the flatpicking guitar with Kevin Purcell, who took us through the basics of how to make a solo to Hot Corn, Cold Corn, and through to the basics of crosspicking. John Ross covered a surprising amount of chord theory on the ukulele and the vivacious Sarah Buttillis versed us in gypsy violin.

Saturday night we were entertained by Hard Drive and there were many large jams in the cosy huts and around fireplaces.

The festivities peaked on Sunday afternoon with some superlative performances on the open stage. Many thanks to Ken McMaster for organising this enjoyable event.

Dates for next year:

• 18-21 Feb 2011 Blackwood Fiddlers’ Convention
• 8-11 April 2011 Yarra Junction Fiddlers’ Convention

Submitted by Peter Bruton – Victoria

This years Blackwood Fiddlers Convention has been staged, and what a wonderful weekend it was. The festival site has relocated from the Nature reserve Caravan park to the Blackwood Cricket ground. The Cricket ground proved to be an ideal campground with its surrounds of large shade trees. Pleasant weather prevailed for the whole weekend.

Workshops were many and varied, with all the Old timey and Bluegrass instruments represented. All were excellent and well presented.

As per usual the open mike spots and concerts were great with musicians coming from far and wide. Jamming opportunities were endless, carrying on into the wee hours each night.

Saturday night saw the staging of the old-time dance and a frolicking good time was had by all, young and old alike.  This was followed by the Bad-Taste concert, which sure did live up to its name, bringing howls of laughter from the attentive crowd.

The festival finished Sunday night with a very well attended jam session at Lerdies Restaurant in Blackwood’s main street.

In summary the 2nd Blackwood Fiddlers Convention was a very pleasant and enjoyable festival, thanks to the people put in the hard work to stage the event, especially Ken McMaster who is to be congratulated on his tireless effort.
Peter Bruton

2nd Blackwood Fiddlers Convention, 19th to 21 Feb 2010.

In 2009, the 26th Yarra Junction Fiddlers’ Convention 2009 was moved to Blackwood due to the growing risk of fires posed by the Black Saturday Victorian Bushfires which had such a devastating outcome for the communities of Victoria.

The Blackwood Fiddler’s Convention was so popular that organisers are now attempting to run two conventions in Victoria, four months apart. One in Yarra Junction and one in Blackwood.

Thus the next Blackwood Fiddler’s Convention is now scheduled for 19th to 21st February 2010 and to be held at the at the Blackwood Cricket Ground.

For information on the Blackwood Fidler’s Convention call Ken McMaster on (03) 9481 7662 or mobile 0419 580 642 or you may email kennithmcmaster@hotmail.com