COALDUST Feb Mar 2014
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A FESTIVAL JOURNEY JOTTINGS
The following article by Carole Garland is a precis of the full article on her blog site: Novafolka
In January I travelled to the Cygnet and Tamar Valley festivals in Tasmania and wanted to share the experience with my folk friends. Tassie is already a beautiful destination but to all that, add a world class Folk Festival in a coastal setting in a bird sanctuary, and a wonderful welcoming community.
Now in its 31st year, CYGNET boasts of having launched many a budding talent, and this one was no exception. With some 8 venues, it’s not possible to see every artist but I did my best. And I must say I was tickled pink to see our home grown Gleny Rae and the boys making us proud in the opening night concert.
I was impressed with Battlers’ Ballad (Jason Chloe and Bill), the Perch Family, Andy Salvanos and his Chapmanstick. Frank Yamma, The Company , Stiff Gins, and Rory Macleod, as well as Mark Cryle from Brisbane and Richard Gilewitz, from USA. I loved the world-class performance of Horse and Wood – Horse was Bukhu, the Mongolian fiddler and throat singer, who entertained us at the club last year. Wood, was John Robinson and his Arabic Oud. With John providing the underlying structure, Bukhu is free to be really lyrical and dramatic. The pair were given the honour of being chosen for the Director’s Choice concert at the close of the Festival.
I also took part in a Cornish tunes workshop given by Sarah Calderwood of SUNAS which was fun.
…..In the budding talent department..…. I am predicting a great future for a young singer-guitarist called Matthew Dames, ex UK but now resident in Launceston. Indeed the locals were very well represented from Ballpoint Penguins, New England Honeyeaters, Elfa and Emily and there were more local choirs, instrumental groups, than you could poke a stick at. It must be the healthiest scene around.
I was determined to see the two hot lads in the innovation department, Linsey Pollack and Mal Webb. You couldn’t get near Linsey Pollack’s concerts – he is very popular. He makes extraordinary instruments from household instruments like rubber gloves, then makes beautiful music on them. Mal Webb seems to me like Leunig’s Mr. Curley, but on steroids. I was almost scared to laugh in case I missed something. ‘Unique’ is the word applies to this strange and marvelous man.
- THE TAMAR VALLEY FESTIVAL, Georgetown.
On the Eastside of the Tamar River, in a once bustling Port the whole area is surrounded by natural beauty. I spent one serene afternoon at Bonnie Point, below the mining town of Beaconsfield, watching happy folks fish. It’s on the following week from Cygnet, and of course, makes full use of having such wonderful performers on their shores. Many of them have a double booking which is why I will be briefer about this festival. One delightful surprise was the number of Territorians who were down; sort of Top Half meets Bottom Half. Folk from Alice, Darwin and Nuriootpa had got together a tribute concert to Woody Guthrie, and very good it was too.
there were some wonderful concerts, notably Ange Takats, Backseat Driver, with Nick Charles (looking so like Julian Assange I had to look twice)Kerrie Maguire with the West Coast singers, and Danny Spooner commanded a good appreciative crowd in the yacht club – I’m hoping we might get him here to Newcastle in the coming year,
It is a long way to go but worth the effort. Combine it with some touring, a visit to MONA in Hobart (Museum of old and new art) and some interesting shopping, and it makes for a jolly good holiday.
Irish Session’s Coming of Age
On Sunday 19th August 2012, the famous Bennett Session celebrates its 21st birthday.
Started by Shayne and Roz Kerr in August 1991, the monthly session held at the Bennett Hotel in Hamilton shares Traditional Irish and folk music with musicians and non-musicians who love to listen. Here is a history of the session submitted by Roz:
We held our first session on Sunday 25th August 1991at the General Roberts Hotel, New Lambton. Other local sessions had faded away after some usicians moved from Newcastle. So we decided to start our own. Roz rode her bike around New Lambton and Lambton one Sunday afternoon to check out possible venues for a music session and found the General Roberts was willing to give us a go. Shayne produced a poster and distributed it to likely participants. Many musicians turned up and we enjoyed a great musical and social afternoon. So we had another one the following month and just kept on going.
We moved to the Duke of Wellington Hotel in New Lambton on Sunday 9th July 1995 because the General Roberts decided to establish an Italian restaurant in our session space. They must have thought there was more money in Italian food than Irish music punters. On 16th July 2000we had to move the session again as the Duke was closing for major renovations. Chris Cady suggested the Bennett Hotel in Hamilton. Fortunately we are still playing at the Bennett in 2012, a friendly pub for acoustic music, thanks to the great support of the proprietors John and Betty McCoy. We have survived about three renovations here.
THE MUSICIANS AND THE MUSIC
There is a pool of about 30 musicians who attend our regular monthly session. At any one time we have 10 or more turning up. Most live in the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie area. Occasionally Irish musicians from the Central Coast come and join us. Musicians range in age from pre-teens to over 70 years old. Instruments played include fiddle, mandolin, tenor banjo, whistle, melodeon, accordion, concertina, bodhran, spoons, guitar and bouzouki.
Although we concentrate on playing traditional Irish music, we also play Scottish, English, old time American and Aussie bush tunes. Between sets of tunes, singers have an opportunity to perform a song or two, whom we normally accompany. Many people come to listen to the session, socialise and have a few drinks. They come from the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie area and even from Maitland and Singleton. At the Bennett we used to have a suitable floor space for dancing and members of the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers came to dance some sets to our music.
We play unamplified and do not receive any remuneration, which is how we like it.
Roz Kerr / 13 August, 2012
Vale Marie Inzitari
It is with great sadness that we report the passing away of long time Folk Club member Marie Inzitari (Phillips).
She was a great cultural icon with her active participation in the folk scene from her teenage years. Marie joined the Newcastle Folk Club in her own right in 1986 but was present under her mother’s (Mary’s) membership for quite some time before that.
Marie held the Folk Club Committee positions of President, Vice President, Coaldust Editor, Publicity Co-ordinator, Bookings Officer, and Membership Officer at one time or another. Marie was a very active member of the Club until the last few years when work commitments made it difficult for her to attend regularly.
Marie was also regularly seen performing at sessions and parties as well as on the stage, including as a founding member of The Collectables group. She was also an entrant in the various Chorus Cup teams representing the Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club at St Albans Folk Festivals over the years.
Marie was also a member of Newcastle People’s Chorus with 24 years of involvement and she held the position of deputy musical conductor for much of that time. It was Marie that admirably led the Chorus on its epic tour of the UK and Ireland. She performed with the Chorus at various festivals including the National Folk Festival. She participated for decades in nearly all the various labour movement milestones such as May Day rallies, demonstrations and union picket lines.
In keeping with her values and commitment to the community, Marie was one of the earliest members of the (Newcastle) Progressive Labour Party and joined not long after it formed.
It is a terrible loss to the community at just 42 years old and our hearts go out to husband Frank, mother Mary and sister Anna. She will be remembered.