Applications for 2016:
Applications for performances and workshops have closed for this year. Thanks to all who have applied.
Read on to see who’s on the bill this year. There will be workshops to suit all ability levels – more details will be in the Programme link and in the printed programme.
Workshop Presenters:
Saturday 17th September:
9.45 am: Neil Barr and Friends, Chris Ryan, Gus MacMillan
11.00 am: Ian Alexander, Chris Ryan, Brent Davey
Sunday 18th September:
10.00 am: Richard MacEwan, Jim Golding
11.15 am: Tony O’Rourke, Mark Wardle, Craig Woodward
Last year local Castlemaine musicians Angela Mitten and Doc Henry shared a bill at a folk concert in Chewton and immediately decided to try their luck as a duo playing a folk inflected style of traditional country music. The response was immediate and encouraging. Their strong “high and lonesome” harmonies coupled with Doc’s intricate guitar fingerpicking and Angie’s solid acoustic bass playing have resulted in a steady stream of engagements in Central Victoria and earned them a growing reputation.
The Guildford Banjo Jamboree sees them augmenting their lineup with the addition of local Castlemaine clawhammer banjo player (and luthier) Trevor Phillips. They call the music they play folkgrass – a cross genre amalgamation of bluegrass, oldtimey and contemporary folk.
charms@aussiebb.com.au
The Appalachian Heaven Stringband is well known for it’s tight, driving arrangements of tunes and songs from the southern Appalachian USA mountains. The Stringband is the precursor of Bluegrass, featuring fiddle, banjo and vocal harmonies transposed from the Celtic fiddle traditions, infused with African-American cultures, and rural sensibilities.
Founding member, Ian Alexander (clawhammer banjo) is joined by Sally Anne Taylor (fiddle), Kimberley Wheeler (upright bass) and Graeme Fletcher (guitar and autoharp). Their most recent CD “Three Forks”, was released at the National Folk Festival in 2015.
Performing all over, including National Folk Festival (ACT), Brunswick Music Festival and Maldon Folk Festival (VIC), Illawarra Folk Festival and Lost Highway Bluegrass Festival (NSW), Fleurieu Folk Festival and Wirrina Acoustic & Bluegrass Festival (SA), and Cygnet Folk Festival (TAS).
www.appalachianheaven.com.au
www.facebook.com/appalachianheaven
Cat & Clint play Old Time, featuring sweet vocal harmonies, clawhammer banjo and driving fiddle tunes. Predominantly traditional Old Time music from the Southern States of America, they mix it up with a few original songs, a touch of blues and some vintage country.
moser.cat@gmail.com
www.catandclint.com
Cathy has written some songs for solo banjo and voice. She plays a gentle clawhammer style. She is in the process of making some recordings to share. Hear a sample at: https://youtu.be/PINZi82iQBA
catherine.a.english@gmail.com
Bruce Sedawie, Ricki Smit and Pauline Swain specialise in bluegrass gospel music and heavenly harmonies. Join with them, along with Tony O’Rourke, Andrew Barcham and perhaps other guest musicians in the Gospel Singalong. You can obtain a Gospel Songbook on site. Come along to the Public Hall at 9.30 am on the Sunday and raise the roof – the acoustics are great!
pauline.swain@ivanhoe.com.au
The band is known for taking all of their favourite (and not so favourite songs) and playing them in the manner they were meant to be heard…. FAT CHANCE style!! Murder, suicide love and retribution and even good old singalongs about murder, suicide, love and retribution are on the menu. Who knows, it might even be fun!!!
Members: Andrew Barcham, Don Gula and Steve Doyle.
Contact: 0417 107 004; fatchancemusic@gmail.com
www.fatchancemusic.com.au
www.facebook.com/FatChanceMusic
Four-piece string band from Melbourne, featuring banjo, fiddle, guitar, slide and some great harmony vocals. They play stripped back harmonic folk/ and have been avid attendees of the Jamboree for many years.
sheawilcox@gmail.com
https://soundcloud.com/hillbillykit/sets/hbk-demo
John’s involvement with old-time country music and bluegrass began in Melbourne in the late 1960’s. Since that time he has been a prominent performer and teacher of old time and bluegrass music, both as a soloist playing banjo and guitar and singing songs from the pre war period, and with various musical collaborators, including his first wife Juanita, Rob Lewis, and Appalachian Heaven. John has travelled extensively, and has a vast collection of American old time, bluegrass and pre-war blues music and literature, which he uses as a source of inspiration for his own playing and to assist anyone who is looking for an obscure song or tune or information about the artists and song origins. He loves nothing better than finding a new tune to learn, a new song to sing or talking to someone who shares his interest in old time and bluegrass music. John produced a solo CD in 2013 entitled “Still Rollin’ On”. The 17 tracks feature his guitar, banjo and vocals, including five original instrumentals.
john.l.boothroyd@gmail.com
www.johnboothroydmusic.com
Little Birds is a collaboration between work mates Adrian Newman and Simon Carroll who both share a passion for music of many genres including old-time Americana. They have performed together at workplace showcases and occasionally entertain each other with extended irreverent corporate poetry exchanges via email.
Adrian is a talented multi-instrumentalist with a knack for making things such as bagpipes, piano accordions, and a variety of stringed instruments sound good. He also coordinates and performs in staff choirs and recently took on the role of Musical Director in Damascus College’s recent sold out season of the musical “Grease.”
Simon performs on stage in the theatre, at spoken word events and has, for the last couple years been clawing his open-backed banjo at community festivals, pubs and clubs, including at last year’s Banjo Jambo. He’s excited to be back again with such good company.
simonays@gmail.com
www.simonays.com
Moosejaw Rifle Club are a four-piece folk/country/bluegrass band with four-part harmonies and hooks galore. Their rollicking rhythms have gained attention in every band-room they’ve played. Their original song-smithery melds effortlessly with their more traditional influences appealing to a diverse audience of music lovers. Members: Mick Bourke, Jared Boyle, John Collins, Aaron Robins.
moosejawrifleclub@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/moosejawrifleclub
A great foot-stomping mixture of alt-country, folk, blues and rock, this band hails from Melbourne, where they have been playing as a group for around 7 years. Vinnie Aulich is the banjo player and he will be joined by three others from the band for this performance, on mandolin/violin, accordion/harmonica and acoustic guitar.
niceboytom@gmail.com
www.niceboytom.com
www.facebook.com/NiceBoyTomMusic
Nine Mile Creek is a bluegrass band playing traditional and original bluegrass, with a touch of swing and Americana. Long time fans of the bluegrass genre and those appreciating the joys of good acoustic music are embracing Nine Mile Creek’s fresh approach.
Members: Andrew Barcham; Doug Wallace; Colin Weight; Mark Pottenger; Kat Mear
Contact: Mark Pottenger: mpotteng@bigpond.net.au
The Duck Downpickers play acoustic-zyda-Jug-holy-billy-blues, a little tongue in beak! They cite among their influences Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers, The Skillet Lickers, R Crumb and The Cheap Suit Serenaders and the Old Crow Medicine Show.
Trio consisting of Gerry McDonald – Vocals, 5 String Banjo and Foot Percussion; Clayton Jacobson – Vocals and Double Bass; and Jonathan Ashley – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica.
www.facebook.com/TheDuckDownpickers
Craig Woodward’s ‘Flying Engine Stringband’ is the current incarnation of the band formerly known as Headbelly Buzzard who held an almost 20 year Friday night residency at the Railway hotel in Nth Fitzroy. Featuring fiddles, clawhammer banjo, guitar, Banjolin and double bass with occasional high lonesome vocalizing, Flying Engine continue the tradition of driving, hypnotic American Southern Appalachian style Old Time Stringband music for your dancing and listening pleasure. Check them out to see for yourself why ‘Old Time Stringband Music’ is enjoying such a strong, spirited worldwide renaissance!
Featuring: Craig Woodward, Liam Wratten, Susan Shaw, Brett Leppik and Jeremy Hanley.
craigwoodward@hotmail.com
What do you get when you put together 3 string virtuosos, Oz’s top jug player, a soulful Blues Harp, and a witty Washboard broad? One helluva toe tappin’ Jugband whoopin’ it up! Marni and Teana, former members of Gutbucket Jug Band, reunite with GBJB’s Brent and Tony plus Barry (Kazoobafak) and Mark (Sheehan, Smith & Sheehan). This lovable combo reinvent the pizzazz of Jugband music from the 20’s Speakeasy era plus originals.
Brent Davey Banjo/Voc, Tony Dunn Jug/Voc, Marni Sheehan Mando/Voc, Teana Amor Washboard/Voc, Barry Martin Blues Harp, Mark Smith Guitar/Voc
brentdavey01@gmail.com
Peter Scholtz: Banjo and dobro
Adam Clusker: Fiddle
Alison Byron: Bass fiddle and vocals
Geoff Byron: Mandolin, vocals and guitar.
byron@graytech.com.au
Acoustic folk, Americana, high-lonesome alt.country & bluegrass. Melbourne’s band of knockabouts, The Stetson Family, are at the forefront of Australia’s progressive bluegrass scene. Their original songs dig deep into the roots of bluegrass, folk and alt-country to deliver a fresh twist on a timeless sound. The band are regulars on the festival scene, have received numerous accolades both in Australia and in the US. If you’re up for songs of snake handlin’ preachers, shallow bush graves and twisted tales of the human heart, don’t miss The Stetson Family.
Nad Budge – vocals, guitar, dobro; John Bartholomeusz – vocals, guitar; Colin Swan – banjo, vocals; Luke Richardson – Double bass, vocals.
www.thestetsonfamily.com
www.facebook.com/TheStetsonFamily
