australianbluegrass.com

Sydney banjo players are being offered an opportunity to learn to play Bluegrass Banjo with renowned US banjo teacher Ross Nickerson.

The one day only workshop in Sydney is set for  Sat 28th Nov 2009 10:00am-5:00pm and will be held at the Gladesville Community Centre, at 44 Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill, NSW.

Proceeds of this project will go towards support for the community radio station 2RRR 88.5FM.

Ross Nickerson is scheduled to arrive in Australia with his band Hungry Hill who will be performing at this year’s Harrtietville Festival.

Enquiries:

• phone 2RRR office – (02) 9816 2988
• mobile – 0434 880 913
• email – Chicken Hot Rod

Ross Nickerson – Let’s Kick Some Ass

Ross Nickerson is touring to Australia next month to take part in the Harrietville Bluegrass and Ol Time Music Convention and the Australian Banjo Conference. Ross has also announced the  release of his new CD called Let’s Kick Some Ass. Ross’ hard-driving, bluegrass banjo which is supported by members of the critically acclaimed bluegrass band, Blue Highway, Rob Ickes on dobro, Tim Stafford, guitar and vocal, Shawn Lane mandolin and fiddle and Wayne Taylor, bass and vocals.

This album full of well-known material, highlighted with unique originals that any fan of bluegrass music will enjoy. Keeping true to his forte, Ross has assembled a fantastic set of straight-ahead bluegrass classics featuring his creative, hard driving banjo playing alongside four members of one of the best ensembles in bluegrass music today. The CD was recorded and engineered in Nashville by banjo great Scott Vestal and features fast tempos, explosive solos and some great new bluegrass music.

Ross is known world-wide for his banjo playing. He’s toured extensively throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Australia carrying America’s true music to the far reaches! Ross has an extensive line of banjo instructional materials including video, audio, print and online instruction download at his website, www.BanjoTeacher.com.

I recorded the CD in a session in March, 2009 with members one of the best bluegrass bands in the world and certainly one of my favorites, Blue Highway. I went to Nashville and finished recording and mixing in May. I was very happy to be able to complete the project so quickly. Sometimes the recording is the easy part, My last CD, the artwork for the insert and other loose ends took longer than recording. Art work for the CD insert can be very time consuming (and not any where near as much fun as recording) so I’m relieved that we completed it and its ready to listen to within a few months of laying down the tracks. I hope you like it, there are sound clips below. In keeping with my comittment to helping others learn to play banjo I’ll be releasing a tablature booklet of the songs on the CD next year - Ross Nickerson.

Here are some sample tracks from the new album

Rough and Rocky –

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Jerusalem Ridge –

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2nd Australian Banjo Conference – 3rd to 6th Dec 2009.

Conference Convenor Peter Nahuysen, has advised us that there are now only six spaces left in this year’s Banjo Conference scheduled for 3rd to 6th December.

Last year’s event was extremely popular and featured a range of local instructors along with BanjoTeacher.com’s Ross Nickerson from the USA. This year Ross returns with his band Hungry Hill who will also be attending the conference providing some entertainment and added support.

Local instructors include two-time National Banjo Champion and full time music teacher Mr Gary Vann, current National Banjo Champion Martin Louis and experienced player, teacher and banjo author Peter Nahuysen, founder and maker of Bellbird Banjos.

This is an idea opportunity for banjo players of all levels to gain some high quality tuition and to rapidly improve their playing, while bieng be truly inspired while meeting a host of other players. If you haven’t done so already, we urge you to download a form and sign up. today.

Bellbird Banjos has launched their new website at bellbirdbanjos.com

Some major developments for us have included the much awaited release in the United States in 2009 of the Ross Nickerson Signature Model Series of elite 5 string banjos. There are five banjos currently in this line and they have really begun turning heads in the US on the festival circuit.
Secondly, a most exciting project has been the release of the Bellbird Ulysses model electric banjo. I had the privilege of spending some time with Béla Fleck when he was in Australia and apart from him playing a number of Bellbird banjos, Béla also got to see and play our very first, newly completed Bellbird electric banjo. It was both a thrill and a great honor for me to hear this legend of the banjo play my instruments, but even more so when Béla asked me to make him his own Ulysses model banjo.
This past year I also have added another 2 models to our Bellbird range. Firstly The Cracka our African mahogany model, and secondly The Raintree our full timber all-in-one rim and tone ring. It is a magnificent model with the sweetest, most powerful tone.
Please take the time to view our range of superb 5 string banjos and remember, I can also custom make a banjo to suit fully your needs as a serious player – Peter Nahuysen, Bellbird Banjos.