Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club inc.

The Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club supports and encourages Folk Music, Dance, Folk Lore and Bush Poetry in the Newcastle / Hunter Valley region, with regular concerts and activities showcasing international, national and local artists.

Throughout the website you will find information on Club concerts and activities, local folk-related sessions, events and things of interest to our members and other folk-minded people.

If you have something of interest, be it pictures, information or history, that you think would benefit the Folk Music scene in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley please don't hestitate to let us know. We are here to promote Folk Music and related areas for all of us to enjoy.

Fiddle Tunes Band

7.30pm Saturday 26th May, 2012

A Scottish ceilidh is a fabulous night of easy social dancing to lively Scottish music. Never done it before? Don't panic! We'll show you how. The band walks you through the dances, demonstrating when needed, and calls the steps. No need to bring a partner. Between dance brackets, we perform rousing Scottish ballads. Sing along if you wish.

Fiddle Tunes Band is a group of musicians performing lively traditional dance music, beautiful slow airs, popular ballads and a few humorous songs. The music comes from Ireland, Scotland and Australia. An extensive repertoire includes lilting jigs, reels, polkas and hornpipes, swinging old-time tunes, graceful waltzes, mazurkas and haunting O'Carolan tunes. The band plays for dancing and for those who enjoy listening to traditional music and song. Our music is guaranteed to brighten your gathering - be it a festival, wedding, birthday party, special dinner or other private function.
If you fancy having a go at some Irish dancing, Scottish ceilidh dancing or bush dancing, band members can demonstrate easy dances, walk you through the steps and then call the dances for you.

Fiddle Tunes Band is:
Shayne Kerr - fiddle, 'Stroh' fiddle, viola, vocals, dance demonstrator,
Roz Kerr - mandolin, tenor banjo, recorder, dance caller and demonstrator,
Donnie McGregor - bodhran, tenor drum.

When a larger band is required, the band includes our musical friends:
Scott Thomson - vocals, guitar, acoustic bass, Jenny Thomson - vocals, flute, harmonica, electric piano,
or
Gabriele Calcagno - vocals, guitar,
Sharyn Nicholas - bodhran, dance demonstrator.

The band performs as a two to five piece group, depending on the type of function.

Fiddle Tunes Band website: http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~mbgsk

DATE: 7.30pm Saturday 26th May, 2012

Saturday, 2nd June 2012, 7.30pm

Meeting up at festivals as members of the ‘urban eXcentrics ‘and ‘Mothers of Intention’, and playing till the wee small hours, Ann, Paul and Rosie realized that a vibrant energy was created by the sum of the parts.

RAPT have since played for the Mosman, Willoughby and Manly Councils, The Zenith Theatre Centre, The National Folk Festival Canberra 2010, Illawarra folk festival, St Alban’s and Northern beaches music festivals in 2011.

They were invited artists at Carriageworks Winter Festival - Arthaus, The Australian Human Rights Awards at the Sheraton on the Park-Sydney in 2010. They were recently the featured band at the Glebe Music Festival as well as performing at the Gulgong folk festival and the Northern Beaches music festival in early 2012.They recently performed in a Cabaret/Burlesque show at the eclectic venue, Camelot ,in Marrickville, Sydney and will be playing as part of Tangocentric at the National Folk Festival Canberra this year.

RAPT combine the many musical loves of the band members. Classically trained but with a jazz/ improv bent, Paul Laszlo plays double bass and banjo and has a rich baritone voice. Paul's virtuosic playing adds great depth to RAPT.

Multi -talented songstress, Ann Palumbo on acoustic and classical guitar, mandolin and double bass is a jazz chanteuse with a penchant for Tango as well as classical music but with her roots in folk music and the improvised independent music scene. Ann is also judge on the Australian Songwriters Awards and a recent guest at the Geraldton Writer Festival WA.

MusicOz award winning songwriter Rosie McDonald (acoustic guitar, bouzouki, percussion) - has a strong

rhythmic drive with her instruments and a rich alto voice to lead us into the stories from the folk and blues traditions as well as providing harmonic interplay with Ann's vocals on the jazz influenced songs. RAPT roam through fields of folk, Celtic, bluegrass, blues, jazz and originals with diverse instrumentation and great harmonies.

Their music is uplifting, exciting, and appeals to a wide audience.

WHEN: Saturday, 2nd June 2012  7.30pm

An Australian Singer / Songwriter. His highly original music crosses the genres of country, folk and rock and roll and his musical career spans three decades.

Based at Leura in the Blue Mountains his style is a cross between song writing and journalism. His well-documented songs about real people and places are drawn from interviews gathered on his erratic tours across Australia and presents composite picture of our country and her people.

This is a ‘must’ – don’t miss it!

WHEN:  Saturday, 7th July 2012 7.30pm

WHERE: WESLEY Centre Hall, 150 Beaumont St. Hamilton – opp. The Exchange Hotel

ENTRY:  $15.oo Adults $12.oo Conscession. $10.oo Club Members Kids 16 /under free

Contacts: Carole – (02)4929 3912, Ron – (02)4926 1313, Folk Club – Mob: 0421 412 358