Mudgee Guardian Press Release
Singing in the rain at Festival
03 Jan, 2010 06:37 PM
There was dancing in the street and singing in the rain as Gulgong Folk Festival visitors joined locals to kick off 2010 on the weekend.
Although rain drove the festival under cover for most of the weekend, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the audiences or the musicians and poets.
Organiser Bob Campbell said the festival program was possibly the best yet and there were good audiences at every venue. The sounds of bush poets, accordions, guitars, mandolins, banjos and accordions could be heard from most of Gulgong’s coffee shops and hotels, where musicians were invited to perform between programmed concerts. The historic Prince of Wales Opera House hosted evening concerts and workshops on subjects ranging from squeezeboxes to Scottish harp music, while dancers practised their steps at the Memorial Hall.
Performers said the informal atmosphere of the Gulgong Folk Festival brought them back year after year. “It’s a beautiful town on the eye,” said Katoomba musician Johnnie Duffy, who played at the New Year’s Eve street concert. “It’s fabulously historical, not like any other town.” Musicians John Spencer and Geoff Welham, who perform as Welspent, said in comparison to bigger folk festivals, Gulgong was quiet and informal. “There is a lot of good music without pretence,” said Geoff. “And no drummers,” John added.
Highlights of the festival included Saturday’s guitar competition, which was decided by a three-way playoff for the prize of a $1000 guitar handcrafted by Gerard Gilet. Muswellbrook musician David Harvey, who works for the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, took home the guitar after his performance of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves. Mr Harvey, who plays in the “three-handed” style of Tommy Emmanuel and Bruce Mathiske, said the festival was a great place to meet other musicians and to perform. “You get all the concerts, but then you can just go and play in the cafes – I’ve played in three places today as well as the guitar competition,” he said.
Mr Gilet, who donated the $1000 guitar, said he hoped the guitar competition would become an annual part of the festival. “If everyone could let other people know about it, we could build it up and it will be a good thing,” he said.
03 Jan, 2010 06:37 PM
There was dancing in the street and singing in the rain as Gulgong Folk Festival visitors joined locals to kick off 2010 on the weekend.
Although rain drove the festival under cover for most of the weekend, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the audiences or the musicians and poets.
Organiser Bob Campbell said the festival program was possibly the best yet and there were good audiences at every venue. The sounds of bush poets, accordions, guitars, mandolins, banjos and accordions could be heard from most of Gulgong’s coffee shops and hotels, where musicians were invited to perform between programmed concerts. The historic Prince of Wales Opera House hosted evening concerts and workshops on subjects ranging from squeezeboxes to Scottish harp music, while dancers practised their steps at the Memorial Hall.
Performers said the informal atmosphere of the Gulgong Folk Festival brought them back year after year. “It’s a beautiful town on the eye,” said Katoomba musician Johnnie Duffy, who played at the New Year’s Eve street concert. “It’s fabulously historical, not like any other town.” Musicians John Spencer and Geoff Welham, who perform as Welspent, said in comparison to bigger folk festivals, Gulgong was quiet and informal. “There is a lot of good music without pretence,” said Geoff. “And no drummers,” John added.
Highlights of the festival included Saturday’s guitar competition, which was decided by a three-way playoff for the prize of a $1000 guitar handcrafted by Gerard Gilet. Muswellbrook musician David Harvey, who works for the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, took home the guitar after his performance of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves. Mr Harvey, who plays in the “three-handed” style of Tommy Emmanuel and Bruce Mathiske, said the festival was a great place to meet other musicians and to perform. “You get all the concerts, but then you can just go and play in the cafes – I’ve played in three places today as well as the guitar competition,” he said.
Mr Gilet, who donated the $1000 guitar, said he hoped the guitar competition would become an annual part of the festival. “If everyone could let other people know about it, we could build it up and it will be a good thing,” he said.
Mudgee Guardian
Road to Nashville starts at Gulgong
31 Dec, 2009 09:39 AM
An album by a multi-talented trio of Mudgee brothers has caught the attention of radio stations in the United States’ country music capital, Nashville. Shardyn, Tayzin and Makirum Fahey, who perform as Brothers 3, recently recorded their album Where Eagles Fly at Robertson Brothers Studio. The debut single, Road to Carcalgong, is an original “feel good country” song inspired by the family farm near Mudgee. A music video produced by CMC award-winner Ross Wood features numerous views of the property.
The boys’ mother and manager, actress and former Simon Townsend’s Wonder World reporter Alita Fahey, said Road to Carcalgong has already been picked up by country music stations in Australia and the United States. Shardyn, 14, Tayzin, 13, and Makirum, 12, are already seasoned performers, having appeared on television, stage and musicals. Shardyn toured with Hugh Jackman as the young Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, Tayzin has worked extensively with Opera Australia and in television, and Makirum has appeared in films including Black Balloon.
The boys not only sing and dance but play up to nine instruments each, interchanging between instruments during their live performances. Brothers 3 recently signed a deal with rising independent label Hardrush which involves singles, albums, publishing and touring assistance. The group will kick off their tour at the Gulgong Folk Festival, which begins today. Although the Gulgong crowd won’t compare to the 16,000 Shardyn sang to in the Boy from Oz arena production, the group is looking forward to the experience. “I love being on stage,” said Shardyn. “It’s good to go up in front of an audience.”
Tayzin said Gulgong audiences can expect “lots of harmonies and changes of instruments and maybe even a bush tap dance” from the Brothers 3. Hardrush will release Road To Carcalgong for world distribution on January 1, followed by the album Where The Eagles Fly at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
31 Dec, 2009 09:39 AM
An album by a multi-talented trio of Mudgee brothers has caught the attention of radio stations in the United States’ country music capital, Nashville. Shardyn, Tayzin and Makirum Fahey, who perform as Brothers 3, recently recorded their album Where Eagles Fly at Robertson Brothers Studio. The debut single, Road to Carcalgong, is an original “feel good country” song inspired by the family farm near Mudgee. A music video produced by CMC award-winner Ross Wood features numerous views of the property.
The boys’ mother and manager, actress and former Simon Townsend’s Wonder World reporter Alita Fahey, said Road to Carcalgong has already been picked up by country music stations in Australia and the United States. Shardyn, 14, Tayzin, 13, and Makirum, 12, are already seasoned performers, having appeared on television, stage and musicals. Shardyn toured with Hugh Jackman as the young Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, Tayzin has worked extensively with Opera Australia and in television, and Makirum has appeared in films including Black Balloon.
The boys not only sing and dance but play up to nine instruments each, interchanging between instruments during their live performances. Brothers 3 recently signed a deal with rising independent label Hardrush which involves singles, albums, publishing and touring assistance. The group will kick off their tour at the Gulgong Folk Festival, which begins today. Although the Gulgong crowd won’t compare to the 16,000 Shardyn sang to in the Boy from Oz arena production, the group is looking forward to the experience. “I love being on stage,” said Shardyn. “It’s good to go up in front of an audience.”
Tayzin said Gulgong audiences can expect “lots of harmonies and changes of instruments and maybe even a bush tap dance” from the Brothers 3. Hardrush will release Road To Carcalgong for world distribution on January 1, followed by the album Where The Eagles Fly at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
The 2008 Folk Festival was a great success in that the artists were great and everyone had a wonderful time over four days and nights of joyous music making, street dances, workshops, poetry and literature sessions.
This year looks even better with people who enjoyed last year coming back and telling their friends. There is sure to be something for everyone and every day is cram packed with entertainment from morning till night.
Many of the artists from last year are coming back and we have an exciting line up of new special guests, Johnny Handle and Chris Hendry from England featuring their new CD, Heather and Sweet Smoke.
Some of this year's featured artists include The Stringybark Band, Home Rule with the launch of their much awaited anthology, blues singer Elis Doyle, guitar maker Gerard Gilet and the Ecopella choir.
Poet Arch Bishop will get the bush poetry rolling as an extra feature this year being two special bush poetry concerts at the Gulgong RSL. There will of course be poets breakfasts each morning. Local lyric poet Kerry Donachy who launched her new book of poetry last year will be back and we are talking to a number of poets who may be coming but we are waiting for confirmation.
Mudgee music will again feature with a special concert at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and at other times throughout. Blue Valentine, Tangleweed, McGee and many up and coming young bands will be there.
The Street Dance on New Year’s Eve, which features Home Rule and friends will start proceedings with Mayne Street closed off for a party and dance night to remember. Many Gulgong have visitors to join them for this exciting event, as it is always a night to remember.
Blackboard concerts and informal sessions are a constant feature and there will be many opportunities for all to perform.
Accommodation is filling up quick but there is plenty of billeting and camping at Red Hill Environmental Centre from only $10 a night. No bookings required, simply go to the Opera House Foyer on arrival.
Season Tickets for the whole festival are only $50 per person and $20 for individual days, $10 per session and children under 15 free. All ticket and price enquiries can be made at the Opera House, Mayne Street, Gulgong and also at the Gulgong & Mudgee Tourist Offices.
Home page article October 2009
This year looks even better with people who enjoyed last year coming back and telling their friends. There is sure to be something for everyone and every day is cram packed with entertainment from morning till night.
Many of the artists from last year are coming back and we have an exciting line up of new special guests, Johnny Handle and Chris Hendry from England featuring their new CD, Heather and Sweet Smoke.
Some of this year's featured artists include The Stringybark Band, Home Rule with the launch of their much awaited anthology, blues singer Elis Doyle, guitar maker Gerard Gilet and the Ecopella choir.
Poet Arch Bishop will get the bush poetry rolling as an extra feature this year being two special bush poetry concerts at the Gulgong RSL. There will of course be poets breakfasts each morning. Local lyric poet Kerry Donachy who launched her new book of poetry last year will be back and we are talking to a number of poets who may be coming but we are waiting for confirmation.
Mudgee music will again feature with a special concert at 6pm on New Year’s Eve and at other times throughout. Blue Valentine, Tangleweed, McGee and many up and coming young bands will be there.
The Street Dance on New Year’s Eve, which features Home Rule and friends will start proceedings with Mayne Street closed off for a party and dance night to remember. Many Gulgong have visitors to join them for this exciting event, as it is always a night to remember.
Blackboard concerts and informal sessions are a constant feature and there will be many opportunities for all to perform.
Accommodation is filling up quick but there is plenty of billeting and camping at Red Hill Environmental Centre from only $10 a night. No bookings required, simply go to the Opera House Foyer on arrival.
Season Tickets for the whole festival are only $50 per person and $20 for individual days, $10 per session and children under 15 free. All ticket and price enquiries can be made at the Opera House, Mayne Street, Gulgong and also at the Gulgong & Mudgee Tourist Offices.
Home page article October 2009
Johnny Handle to Star at
Gulgong Folk Festival this year
UK folk music legend Johnny Handle has been announced as the special guest performer at the Gulgong Folk Festival to be held over New Year. The four-day feast of folk, fun and country hospitality will be spread across 10 venues with the magical backdrop of this historic gold mining town in the Mudgee Region of NSW.
Over 50 musicians and artists from Australia and around the world will play in a program over four days from 31 December 2009 to 3 January 2010. Johnny Handle is expected to attract folk music enthusiasts from across the state, but the Festival is also a great idea for anyone seeking an alternative way to see in the New Year.Johnny Handle has recorded many albums, both with the ‘High Level Ranters’ and as a solo musician and singer. He plays accordion, keyboards, banjo, whistle and the Northumbrian pipes. He founded the Folksong and Ballad Club in Newcastle’s Bridge Hotel with Louis Killen in 1958.
Against the backdrop of 130 historic buildings that line Gulgong’s main street, the Festival commences on New Year’s Eve with a concert and street dance. It continues with music, performances, workshops, poetry readings, bush yarns and dancing at various venues including the Gulgong Opera House, the oldest still-operating Opera House in the Southern Hemisphere, plus three historic pubs, clubs, a gallery and cafe. Visitors can join in the dancing and singing from The Stringybark Band, Home Rule, Blues singer Elis Doyle, Alan Musgrove and the Ecopella choir. There will also be workshops on song writing, percussion, dance, poetry, guitar making, and folk interpretation.
Gulgong is a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney and 15 minutes north of Mudgee in regional NSW. It is a living, breathing perfect example of a 19th century town. Once home to 20,000 people when it was the centre of the gold rush in the 1870s, it now has a heritage listing and is home to around 3,000 people.Gulgong has become an artist’s haven and the Festival is a unique opportunity for local musicians, writers and artists to share and celebrate their passion. The event has been running for 25 years.
An ideal short break destination, other attractions in historic Gulgong include the Henry Lawson Centre, Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Cudgegong Gallery.Accommodation options for the Festival include camping at Red Hill in Gulgong from $10 per night, or at one of the many B&Bs, guesthouses, self-contained houses or hotels in Gulgong and the Mudgee Region. For accommodation enquires contact the Visitor Information Centre on 02 6372 1020 or go to www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au
Festival season tickets for the 4 days cost just $50 and $20 for individual days.
October 2009
Over 50 musicians and artists from Australia and around the world will play in a program over four days from 31 December 2009 to 3 January 2010. Johnny Handle is expected to attract folk music enthusiasts from across the state, but the Festival is also a great idea for anyone seeking an alternative way to see in the New Year.Johnny Handle has recorded many albums, both with the ‘High Level Ranters’ and as a solo musician and singer. He plays accordion, keyboards, banjo, whistle and the Northumbrian pipes. He founded the Folksong and Ballad Club in Newcastle’s Bridge Hotel with Louis Killen in 1958.
Against the backdrop of 130 historic buildings that line Gulgong’s main street, the Festival commences on New Year’s Eve with a concert and street dance. It continues with music, performances, workshops, poetry readings, bush yarns and dancing at various venues including the Gulgong Opera House, the oldest still-operating Opera House in the Southern Hemisphere, plus three historic pubs, clubs, a gallery and cafe. Visitors can join in the dancing and singing from The Stringybark Band, Home Rule, Blues singer Elis Doyle, Alan Musgrove and the Ecopella choir. There will also be workshops on song writing, percussion, dance, poetry, guitar making, and folk interpretation.
Gulgong is a 3.5 hour drive from Sydney and 15 minutes north of Mudgee in regional NSW. It is a living, breathing perfect example of a 19th century town. Once home to 20,000 people when it was the centre of the gold rush in the 1870s, it now has a heritage listing and is home to around 3,000 people.Gulgong has become an artist’s haven and the Festival is a unique opportunity for local musicians, writers and artists to share and celebrate their passion. The event has been running for 25 years.
An ideal short break destination, other attractions in historic Gulgong include the Henry Lawson Centre, Gulgong Pioneers Museum and the Cudgegong Gallery.Accommodation options for the Festival include camping at Red Hill in Gulgong from $10 per night, or at one of the many B&Bs, guesthouses, self-contained houses or hotels in Gulgong and the Mudgee Region. For accommodation enquires contact the Visitor Information Centre on 02 6372 1020 or go to www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au
Festival season tickets for the 4 days cost just $50 and $20 for individual days.
October 2009
Gulgong Festival
Bigger than Ever with International Artists
Plans for this year’s Gulgong Folk Festival are well under way with a large number of artists expressing a wish to appear and many people indicating they will be coming again after a great time at the last one.
Through contact in England with folklorist Malcolm Storey, who attended the last festival, we have been lucky enough to have world famous accordionist, song writer and singer, Johnny Handle from Newcastle in England agree to come out especially for this year’s festival with the wonderful Scottish traditional singer, Chris Hendry. Details of their performances will soon be available.
The festival begins on New Year’s Eve which is a Thursday this year, and will run through until Sunday 3rd January 2010. The popular street dance opens the festival and events will happen at the Opera House, all pubs and clubs, the Memorial Hall and a number of smaller venues around Gulgong.
The Mid Western Regional Council has generously agreed to provide funds for an employee of the Tourist Office to work from the new Gulgong branch to promote the festival and assist with administrative aspects of the event. I wish to express my gratitude to council and Mayor Percy Thompson for recognizing the cultural and financial importance of the festival for Gulgong and the entire region.While we have a small committee of dedicated people who helped make last year’s festival so successful, a number of our most energetic workers have moved on, so there is a need to find as many volunteers to ensure success this year. I would point out that the festival is run entirely by volunteers who have no other motivation but to help Gulgong’s cultural life and economy. Anyone wishing to become involved can call Bob Campbell on 02-6373 4600.
The Mudgee/Gulgong Visitors Centre will be undertaking much of the fine detail organization this year and thanks to Lucy White for her invaluable assistance.
A valuable part of the festival committee activities are the fortnightly music sessions in Gulgong pubs which attract a large number of musicians and audience. All are welcome, ring Bob Campbell on 02-6373 4600 or email bob@fiddlerbob.com.au for details.
September 2009
Through contact in England with folklorist Malcolm Storey, who attended the last festival, we have been lucky enough to have world famous accordionist, song writer and singer, Johnny Handle from Newcastle in England agree to come out especially for this year’s festival with the wonderful Scottish traditional singer, Chris Hendry. Details of their performances will soon be available.
The festival begins on New Year’s Eve which is a Thursday this year, and will run through until Sunday 3rd January 2010. The popular street dance opens the festival and events will happen at the Opera House, all pubs and clubs, the Memorial Hall and a number of smaller venues around Gulgong.
The Mid Western Regional Council has generously agreed to provide funds for an employee of the Tourist Office to work from the new Gulgong branch to promote the festival and assist with administrative aspects of the event. I wish to express my gratitude to council and Mayor Percy Thompson for recognizing the cultural and financial importance of the festival for Gulgong and the entire region.While we have a small committee of dedicated people who helped make last year’s festival so successful, a number of our most energetic workers have moved on, so there is a need to find as many volunteers to ensure success this year. I would point out that the festival is run entirely by volunteers who have no other motivation but to help Gulgong’s cultural life and economy. Anyone wishing to become involved can call Bob Campbell on 02-6373 4600.
The Mudgee/Gulgong Visitors Centre will be undertaking much of the fine detail organization this year and thanks to Lucy White for her invaluable assistance.
A valuable part of the festival committee activities are the fortnightly music sessions in Gulgong pubs which attract a large number of musicians and audience. All are welcome, ring Bob Campbell on 02-6373 4600 or email bob@fiddlerbob.com.au for details.
September 2009
Gulgong Folk Festival
The festival this year is shaping up to be larger and better than the highly successful event last year, and there is certainly more interest from artists wishing to appear. Of course there will be the same informal all inclusive atmosphere with sessions all over town as with previous years. We were considering a session on the moon but there was no atmosphere.
As well as well known local artists and musicians from many parts of Australia, we are lucky to have International performers for the first time with Johnny Handle and Chris Hendry from the UK and Esme Boone from Ontario Canada,
As reported in the last Gossip, Mid Western Regional Council has generouslyprovided funds for the Mudgee Region Tourism to assist with publicity and office assistance for the event.
As a result of this we have been able to set up an interactive web page for the festival which has grown into an exciting promotional page for Gulgong and the region. All venues for the festival have contact details and performers are being added as they roll in. Visitors can simply log on to www.gulgongfolkfestival.com to find details of the festival as well as accommodation and things to see and do in Gulgong.
I recommend that anyone interested in the festival check out the site and make a comment. Gulgong organizations and businesses who feel they should get a mention should write a message on the site and let us know. www.gulgongfolkfestival.com
This festival is run entirely by volunteers and we are running short of people to help. Anybody wishing to be involved should contact me on bob@fiddlerbob.com.au
World renowned guitar maker, Gerard Gilet, who has a residence in Gulgong, will be presenting workshops on the use of Australian timbers in guitars as well as other aspects of making guitars in Australia. Gerard will be donating a guitar as a prize for guitarists willing to display their abilities. I have been playing a Gerard Gilet guitar for a few years and would recommend them.
Most other aspects of the festival can be found on the web page or by contacting me. I would like to point out that this is the last year that I will be accepting responsibility for organizing the festival. I have been involved since the first festival in 1984 and have enjoyed every minute, however I’m finding my own music and writing has taken a back seat due to a lack of helpers. So folks, we are looking for some interested volunteers to become involved in this important cultural event for our tow and district. The web page will now make it easy for anyone to pick up the baton and run. More news will be in the next Gossip.
Bob Campbell (Gulgong Gossip, October 2009)
As well as well known local artists and musicians from many parts of Australia, we are lucky to have International performers for the first time with Johnny Handle and Chris Hendry from the UK and Esme Boone from Ontario Canada,
As reported in the last Gossip, Mid Western Regional Council has generouslyprovided funds for the Mudgee Region Tourism to assist with publicity and office assistance for the event.
As a result of this we have been able to set up an interactive web page for the festival which has grown into an exciting promotional page for Gulgong and the region. All venues for the festival have contact details and performers are being added as they roll in. Visitors can simply log on to www.gulgongfolkfestival.com to find details of the festival as well as accommodation and things to see and do in Gulgong.
I recommend that anyone interested in the festival check out the site and make a comment. Gulgong organizations and businesses who feel they should get a mention should write a message on the site and let us know. www.gulgongfolkfestival.com
This festival is run entirely by volunteers and we are running short of people to help. Anybody wishing to be involved should contact me on bob@fiddlerbob.com.au
World renowned guitar maker, Gerard Gilet, who has a residence in Gulgong, will be presenting workshops on the use of Australian timbers in guitars as well as other aspects of making guitars in Australia. Gerard will be donating a guitar as a prize for guitarists willing to display their abilities. I have been playing a Gerard Gilet guitar for a few years and would recommend them.
Most other aspects of the festival can be found on the web page or by contacting me. I would like to point out that this is the last year that I will be accepting responsibility for organizing the festival. I have been involved since the first festival in 1984 and have enjoyed every minute, however I’m finding my own music and writing has taken a back seat due to a lack of helpers. So folks, we are looking for some interested volunteers to become involved in this important cultural event for our tow and district. The web page will now make it easy for anyone to pick up the baton and run. More news will be in the next Gossip.
Bob Campbell (Gulgong Gossip, October 2009)