Following some lengthy discussion with the Falling Leaf Festival Committee, Ausgrass 2009 has received the green light to proceed with a minor reduction in some aspects, money being tighter than last year, so some of the wish list has been trimmed. Unfortunately negotiations to alter the date failed and the event date remains Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May 2009 – the first weekend in May.
Funding for the Feature Bands had been reduced to two bands but this has been surprisingly helped out with the unsheduled inclusion of Bluegrass Parkway, who will be in Tumut only on Saturday night for the Ausgrass Concert and will be presenting their  1950’s Radio Show to a live audience and video cameras for a future DVD release. The rest of the of Bluegrass World will get to see this great event.
Heather Mandich and Southern Alliance will be the mainstay of the Friday dance event, with the “Bushfire Band” out of Queensland heating up proceedings during Saturday, with all bands appearing briefly at Grass in the Park on the Main Stage.
The Original Snakeskins were on my wish list and as at this date I am still wrestling some funds out of the piggy bank to have this great group at Ausgrass 2009 as well. Saturday morning activities include children’s session, Discover Bluegrass,  banjo workshop and beginners jam session, leading up to the afternoon Blackboard concerts, a definite chance this year to get up and have a go with heaps of appreciative audience.
The evening concert will be in two parts, with the first hour for some hot Bluegrass music and then a 15 minute interval to cool off, followed by the Bluegrass Parkway 1950’s Radio Show. This is the first appearance at Ausgrass for all these great bands and with the show in the exquisite Montreal Theatre, this is shaping up to be a night to set a very high standard for Australian Bluegrass events. We are hoping to maintain and perhaps extend the high standard of the 2008 concert.
The one modest $15.00 fee covers the two Saturday evening sessions. This admission fee assists with the restoration costs of this remarkable theatre. All other Ausgrass events on the weekend are free.
Sunday this year begins around 10.00 am with a Gospel session and afterwards, another chance for a Blackboard concert or just jamming in the park with friends.
The updated web page goes up today, so check out all the details on the Ausgrass Website
Submitted by Howard Miller – Ausgrass Events
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