Having already endeared themselves to many Australian audiences last year, The Whitetop Mountaineers, Martha Spencer and Jackson Cunningham from Virginia, USA, are set return to Australia by popular demand. This year they are taking in a host of Australian dates and festivals courtesy of their Australian agent, Across the Borders, based in Melbourne.
At the 2008/09 Woodford Folk Festival, unknown and unheralded, the duo stunned and delighted audiences with their performance of American mountain music and song and dance. The group also performed to audiences in Gippsland, taking in the region’s famous Yinnar Hotel a popular acoustic music venue.
Both musicians are skilled multi-instrumentalists, Jackson plays guitar, mandolin and clawhammer banjo, while Martha plays fiddle, guitar and banjo and dnaces. They are both strong vocal performers and their close harmonies are indicative of the old time and bluegrass traditions from which they draw their repertoire.
Martha and Jackson will be appearing at the following confirmed destinations in 2010:
- 5th – 8th March – Pt Fairy Folk Festival, Vic
- 12th – 14th March – Blue Mountain Festival, NSW
- 18th March – Brunswick Music Festival, Vic
- 19th – 20th March – Yakandanda Folk Festival, Vic
- 25th March – Bendigo Folk Club, Vic
- 26th – 28th March – Apollo Bay Folk Festival, Vic
- 31st March – Yinnar Hotel, Gippsland, Vic
- 1st – 4th April – National Folk Festival – ACT
Hi all,
I am acting as Martha & Jackson’s tour agent for 2010. If you are interested in having them play near you, and you are able to book them on a date that they’re free (see itinerary above), please contact me as soon as possible. bookbmf@vicnet.net.au
Cheers,
Ruth Hazleton
Thanks for the kind words john!
John Werner and his family were just some of the many wonderfull people that we have met while traveling through Australia. We love Australia for its hospitality and beautiful scenery. We look forward to visiting in 2010 and sharing our style of mountain music again. Thanks!
jackson cunningham
http://www.whitetopmountaineers.com
In April 2008, my wife and I travelled from Australia to the US for work commitments in North Carolina. We headed up into Virginia one weekend and attended a local Sunday afternoon dance at the Whitetop firehouse. Playing on the day were the region’s reverred Whitetop Mountain Band (Martha’s family band) who invited me up for few tunes. Chatting with them afterwards, M & J mentioned they’d just returned from Australia (as the Whitetop Mountaineers), and were looking at coming out again for the festival season the next year.
In Jan ’09 we hosted them at our place for several days, and arranged a local show in Yinnar (Vic), at which they treated the audience to old time mountain music direct from the source…. a magical evening.
We’re looking forward to their company again next year.
I would urge anyone who’s remotely interested, to make the effort and get along to one of the shows in their 2010 tour…this wonderful couple will astound you with their skills whilst taking you on a cultural journey. – John Werner
looking forward to seeing them again.. thanks for the post..