Step into the rich storytelling tradition of women and Appalachian Old-Time music with Suzanne Diprose of Oh Suzannah.

Through four powerful songs Suzanne explores the lives, struggles, resilience, and voices of Appalachian women whose stories have been carried through generations of song. Discover the fascinating histories behind the music — from textile workers and mountain communities to pioneering songwriters Hedy West, Ola Belle Reed and Hazel Dickens.

The workshop features live performance, historical storytelling, the stories behind the songs and celebration of women’s voices in Old-Time music.

It will be an inspiring journey through the songs that preserved the experiences of ordinary women and shaped the traditions we continue to enjoy today. All welcome — no musical experience required.

A stringed instrument enthusiast and one of the founders of the Jamboree, Chris this year will be showing and playing comparisons between various banjo forms and other stringed instruments, as well as demonstrating some frailing and finger-picking techniques on the 5-string banjo.

Compare the banjo mandolin and the mandolin, the banjo ukulele and the ukulele, the 6-string banjo and the guitar, the tenor (4-string) banjo and the mandolin, the Shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed “banjo”) and the dulcimer.

Tunes will include “Skip to my Lou” in C and “When the Saints” in G. Listen, view, try or bring your own.

Tony O’Rourke plays traditional Irish music on tenor banjo (GDAE) and has published a number of tune books of Irish music. He has conducted workshops both in Australia and Ireland and is often seen at one of the many impromptu music sessions at the Jamboree. He will be hosting two workshops – not to be missed!

All participants at workshops will receive a booklet and CD of the music to be studied at the workshop. (Very generous, Tony ([Ed.])

Irish Tenor Banjo

In this workshop the tunes we’ll be looking at are the reel Music In The Glen, a jig called The Stonemason composed by one of my favourite banjo players, Kevin Griffin, a slip jig, Drops Of Brandy, a polka from Co. Cork, The Cuil Aodh, and a hornpipe composed by piano accordionist Pat Crowley with the very Irish sounding name the Harp and The Shamrock, apparently the name of a pub owned by Crowley’s parents in Kinsale.

Guitar Backing – How to Support your Banjo Player

For this workshop I’ve selected for study two reels, one an Irish tune, Sally Gardens, and the other an American Old Timey/Bluegrass tune, Bill Cheatham. These are two common tunes in their respective genres. For the jig I’ve chosen one of my all time favourites, a tune titled A Thousand Farewells. This tune was composed by Tipperary fiddler Seán Ryan(1919-1985). The much maligned John Ryan’s is my choice for a polka. This is often referred to in Australia as Forty Pound Float. For this tune I’ve removed the irritating double thump at the beginning of the tune and treated it just as I would for any other Kerry polka. For the waltz I’ll be using a tune composed by Jay Ungar called Ashokan Farewell, composed around 1982. I’ve created separate pages for the backing and the melody for those of you wishing to study both.