News from the folk in Melbourne is that this year’s Australian International Music Show is scheduled for 2nd and 3rd October.
Three Halls of Music Gear
At AIMS 2010, you can see, touch, hear and play hundreds if not thousands of different instruments. With three halls of music gear, if you can’t find it here, they probably don’t make it.
Free Advice From the Experts
Many of the big brands are sending their product experts, so you can ask all your questions and get free advice from the people who use the gear day-in, day-out.
Performances
Expect to see world-class international and Australian artists on some of the stands and performances by some of the best musicians on the planet.
Workshops and Masterclasses
Get up close and personal with intimate masterclasses.
Thinking of Getting Started?
Always wanted to play, but haven’t known where to start? This is the place and the time! Coaching is by industry professionals who get you started and share some tips to help you keep going. It’s all about playing for fun. You won’t have to learn to read the dots before they’ll let you touch the instrument. No experience necessary.
This year’s event also features performances and workshops from Redd Volkaert whose resumé is impressive to say the least. His current gig includes lead guitar duties for Merle Haggard, Lucky Tomblin, Heybale and Brad Paisley. He won a Grammy in 2009 for best country instrumental performance and was a Grammy nominee in 2003.
Check out the Australian International Music Show website for all the details.
Here’s some news from Country Family Reunion Record Label.
Some of the greatest artists in Bluegrass History gather for an incredible reunion. The Grassroots to Bluegrass Collection from Country’s Family Reunion.
Featuring 27 legends of bluegrass in some 50 performances from artists such as J.D Crowe, Jimmy Shumate, Melvin Goins, John Hartford, Jeanette Carter, Charlie Louvin, The Osbourne Brothers, and many more telling stories and singing songs about the history of Bluegrass music on 8 DVD’s or VHS tapes.
Ordering information is available from CFR Videos.
This post just in from Lynn Butler in the UK. Lynn is looking for material to play on her new UK based radio show called Bluegrass Around the World.
I’m just starting up a new show here on www.ukcountryradio.com called ‘Bluegrass Around the World’. I already have a monthly show called Butler’s Boudoir Bluegrass which concentrates solely on UK and European Bluegrass artists but really want to show the world all the other fine artists around. I have some wonderful Japanese and Chinese bluegrass music to share and I want the best of Australian Bluegrass too. Just to show that it’s not just the US that produce it. I would be most grateful if you could put something about it in your blog or monthly updates so that all your Aussie bluegrass bands are aware of it. I have contacted many myself personally but it would be lovely they all knew that I would welcome their music for playing.
Many thanks and kind regards from the UK - Lynn Butler
Gary ‘Rainbow‘ Roberts of Strzelecki Stringbusters fame, has given us the heads up on yet another free Internet offer. This one is from the great Americana Rhythm Magazine, and is offering a free download of their current publication.
This is a no strings attached offer. I have a copy downloaded and it’s a winner.
Launched in August of 2005, Americana Rhythm’s mission is one of gathering, into one place, *Americana music, musicians, and music culture, of the Shanandoah Valley of Virginia, Central Virginia, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, The Virginia Highlands, South West Virginia, the West Virginia Panhandle, and points in, around, and in between, and this is it!
Thanks Gary
Visit the website and grab a copy now.
American Made Banjo Co. has announced the release of their own vintage style banjo hardware, manufactured to authentic prewar specifications and made in the USA.
The hardware is available in Nickel or Gold over Copper plating and can be purchased as a complete kit or individual parts.
Over the past few years we have spent numerous hours analyzing, building and trashing prototypes in an attempt to get closer than anybody making 100% authentic 30′s style banjo hardware Made in the USA. From the accurate PW thread design of our hooks and nuts to the exact plating process & color of a new instrument part from the 1930′s, we feel we covered everything – Thomas Mirasola, American Made Banjo Co.
Acoustic Guitar Magazine has brought our attention to a new book called Guy’s Grids, the ultimate chord book—for beginner through advanced.
The fretboard is a maze of possibilities. Mastering a full repertoire of chords can be overwhelming. Guy’s Grids is a 228-page compendium of chords laid out in the most useful way for memorization.
- Easily expand your chord vocabulary by visualizing chord relationships
- Use the Grids to enhance memory retention while reinforcing understanding of chord theory
- Play the practice progressions with the accompanying CD to refine your playing skills
Visit the GuysGrids.com links above for more details.
Cathy Moore plans to visit Australia from mid-November through to mid-December 2009 on a business speaking tour. Cathy has advised us that her itinerary will allow her to attend a few jam sessions or host a few clawhammer workshops while in Australia. The dates she’s looking at are:
- Nov. 15th or 16th in either Adelaide or Tasmania
- Nov. 22th in Perth or Darwin
- Nov. 28th to 29th in either Brisbane or Sydney
- Dec. 6th in Melbourne
Workshop topics proposed by Cathy include: syncopation/beyond bum-ditty, learning by ear, making a tune your own, or similar ideas. Or she could just jam whatever works for you.
Cathy is also planning to take in a bush dance or two while she’s here and otherwise check out the Australian music & dance scene and is open to invitations.
Cathy Moore on Myspace
Contact Cathy via her email address Email
You could earn $50 by referring a student.
Our mandolin mate in Adelaide, Paul Thompson, has devised a way to provide incentive to his guitar and mandolin students and grow his teaching business.
Paul has recently posted his tuition details on to our Classifieds site and is now offering students free lessons or cash for new student referrals. Mandolin tuition covers music fundamentals, bluegrass lead & rhythm, classic Bill Monroe bluegrass style, Jesse McReynolds cross-picking, modern Newgrass style chords, fret-board pathways, and mandolin duet and harmony techniques. Bluegrass guitar lessons include flat-picking and rhythm essentials, quintessential Rodney Dillard walking bass back-up style, Dan Crary and Doc Watson flat-picking lead style, shortcut pathways to the bluegrass high-lead breaks and special considerations for backing banjo, fiddle, another guitar or vocals.
Referral Reward: Refer a new student who takes ten lessons and you will receive a free guitar or mandolin lesson or fifty dollars cash
If you hadn’t yet noticed, Paul is also the magnificent photographer whose work we brought you details of last year in our post titled Paul Thompson Photography.
Contact Paul Thompson:
Recent Comments