Opportunities for Buskers at the Healesville Festival in March 22/23

The Healesville Festival has developed over the last few years and seems to be on a similar wave lenght to us down here in Newport (27.50 for weekend ticket and free for u15's!).  They have asked us to promote their festival (as we will aske them to promote ours) so here are their two posters - the first is the main festival one (featuring Sarah Busuttil's band WooHoo Review and long time friend of NFFC Nick Charles).  Lots of great acts so fantastic value for money. 

The second poster is for their Buskers Stage - this is a good opp for NFFC'ers to get their songs out beyond the Western suburbs and be part of a what looks like being a top weekend.  Check the calander. 

The Swedish Bush Orchestra

This evening Josefina Paulson came over to Newport to lead the Bush Orchestra session.  Josefina is a highly regarded Nyckelharpa performer and is over in Australia for a range of festivals including the Woodford festival earlier this year.  Greg O'Leary suggested we ask her over to lead an NBO session and so she came.  During the evening she taught a number of Swedish tunes, and also spoke about the various elements of folk music and the ways in which she has learnt to play them musically, and for accompaniement to dancing.  Josefina is as skilled a teacher as she is musician and so all the players enjoyed the session.  Josefina has a workshop in March before leaving Australia to go back to Sweden for their festival season. Details of the workshop and her performances in Melbourne can be found here .  Lovely to have you over in Newport Josefina.

 

Six O'Clock Swill Returns to the RSL

Local NFFC band 'The Six O'Clock Swill' has their first Melbourne gig at the Newport RSL bands and bbq afternoon yesterday Feb 10.  It was a great day and Steve Simon Bruce and Mick enjoyed playing for a friendly and appreciative audience.  The monthly Sunday session is now an institution in Newport and provides lots of opportunities for bands and players of all genres to get up on stage. NFFC'er Rob Broatch and his mate Derek kicked off the afternoon and the punters were duly impressed.   

 The afternoon is always a very social affair and this was no exception.  Edward Nass, who is president of BADFOLK folk club from Berwick was on duties for MC and Sound man as Jan Dandridge is still laid up with a crook ankle.  Edward performed with a couple of outfits during the afternoon and was keen for a chat about how BADFOLK could get involved in the Newport Folk Festival.  We'll have to see what comes from that chat. There was also a couple from Gippsland who manage the  Darnum Musical Village   They were keen musos (flute and guitar) and were keen to get the 'Swill' to come down for a Sunday session in their hall.  Great to make connections with fellow folkies from around the state. 

 One of the highlights of the afternoon was the set by Liam Haven.  Liam is a young muso who lives in Newport and is in the army.  He did a tour in Afghanistan  and was one of the many soldiers who was hit by the IED bombs that we hear about briefly in the news from time to time.  The explosion left him with permanent blindness and he is now doing rehab to get back to work in his regiment (see story below).  For all that, he is back to full strength, writing his own material and playing some pretty impressive guitar licks in the bargain.  All enjoyed his set and we look forward to getting Liam involved in some more of the Newport musical adventures. 
Lots of music in Newport as always..

 

 

PRIVATE LIAM HAVEN

Private Haven is serving with the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, and was wounded in action by a roadside bomb in southern Iraq in May 2008. While on patrol, an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle, severely damaging his eyes and causing permanent blindness – he was 19 at the time. Private Haven has served his nation and continues to do so despite his injuries. He is in a rehabilitation program designed to provide him with skills so he can return to the 6th Battalion based in Brisbane. During his rehabilitation, Private Haven is a regular visitor to his battalion keeping up with of all the battalion activities. He is a courageous young man and dedicated soldier who sacrificed a great deal for his nation.