Banjos galore

I went along to the first of the workshops for the year on Saturday afternoon to find out something about banjos. Never owned one, probably never will.. but it seems a lot of people like them, and it turned out a lot of fun to try one out and receive a bit of advice, some practical help, and some beginners music charts to get started with.

Rick Sidgwick welcomed us to the scout hall, and pointed out the three banjos Peter had kindly supplied for a few of us who were coming along banjo-less. I picked up a 'New Windsor' model which was at least 60 years old. I chose it because I thought it was the quietest of the bunch and would be less embarrassing than the other two. Once a whole crowd of banjo players had gathered we got started with Peter Somerville explaining clawhammer banjo. Then the noise filled the hall as we all tried to get the technique right. With a bit of patience and one-on-one guidance the noise started to sound more musical as Peter worked his way around the circle.

Then we broke out into the beginners and not-so-beginners groups and spread out around the scout hall area to do some serious practice on the tab Peter supplied for 'Cripple Creek'. Our beginners group in the front yard even got some applause from passers-by. This was real 'immersion' for me and I was amazed to hear something vaguely musical starting to come haltingly from the instrument that I had never attempted to play before.

After a cuppa and biscuits we spent a while learning about choosing, care and feeding of banjos. Peter fielded plenty of questions, including a request to play a couple of pieces for us which he did. Then we all got to participate again with a different tuning for "I'll fly away". I was sorry to have to leave before the session finished, I hope we can get a summing up from Rick to finish out the blog entry (and a couple of pics). I thought it was great value for $25 to get 4 hours of fun and education. Hmmm maybe I could sign up for another session and become a yodelling banjo player...

Steve

Club Night 30 April

Lots of new faces and great music filled the hall for our April get-together. Alan started things off with Pat Works on the Railway, a song about the thousands of Irish labourers who built the American railway system. Jackie told her Ned Kelly story, a fascinating story about a little-known incident in Ned's early years. Greg H gave us a new take on a couple of old favourites, Rita Baker's Polka and Railway Hotel, played in an open G tuning on the guitar. Bernadette, accompanied by Greg J, sang Fields of Gold. Coincidentally Jane and her partner had also planned to sing this song, so we heard it twice, and both performances were very enjoyable!

There was a strong contingent of fiddlers present, and it wasn't long before Moira and Nicola, along with Richard on cello and Rick on guitar, took the stage and gave us Da Slockit Light and The Dark Island. Rob D sang Woody Guthrie's classic song Deportee, with many of us singing along in the chorus.

Then it was time for poetry and Dave rose to the challenge as usual, with a spirited rendition of Henry Lawson's poem The Lights of Cobb & Co. Raymond usually gives us an original song and tonight was no exception with What Are You Looking For?

Greg O has a vast repertoire of songs stored away in his memory, and he pulled out a true gem for us tonight, Woodbine Hill, an old song performed in the traditional way - Greg sang the song while doubling the melody on fiddle. There's a story behind the song, but you had to be there...

After the break, the fiddlers once again took centre stage with a lovely performance of Pachelbel's Canon, followed by Christina with Für Elise on ukulele. Adapting classical pieces to the uke has become Chris's specialty!

Lyn often comes up with quirky and entertaining songs; tonight it was These Foolish Things, with the lyrics changed to give a satyrical look at 1970s "hippies".

There were lots more songs, including Country Roads from Chris and Ted's "politically incorrect" song full of the names of old cigarette brands, before winding up with the traditional Parting Glass at about 11pm. A big thanks to everyone who came, everyone who sang and played, and we'll see you all again next month.

Photos coming soon...

Newport Bush Orchestra Monday 19/04/10

Present: Rob R, Chris K, Christine H, Bruce W, Wendy L, Simon D, Christina, Alasdair, Kathryn T, Michael DV, Bruce S, Helen, Annette J, Marilla H, Helen H, Catherine, Rhonwyn, Kevin.

Tonight we reviewed School Polka and each member also chose a tune for the Bush Orchestra to run through. We also welcomed newcomer Kevin to the group.

A quick reminder that there will be no Bush Orchestra rehearsal on the ANZAC Day holiday - Mon. 26/04/10. We look forward to seeing everyone the following Monday 5/05/10

Bruce

Newport Bush Orchestra Monday 12/04/10

Present: Rob R, Chris K, Christine H, Bruce W, Ggreg O, Wendy L, Simon D, Christina, Alasdair, Dave I, Kathryn T, Michael DV, Bruce S, Helen, Annette J, Marilla H, Gyrah, Czarlene, Zion, Zymone, Czarina, Athaliah, and newcomers: Helen and Annette.

A great turnight for the first evening of Term 2. We welcomed back two new members: Helen and Annette and learnt the jig, I Will Buy Shoes for You and reviewed Moonan Flat and Gardebylaten.

Newport Bush Orchestra - Tuning Up For Term 2!

Sweet Australian Dance Music resonates all the way down Mason St each Monday evening - 18 of the happiest people in town playing the old tunes dating back to a time when there was no telly to sit in front of, when you had to wind up the clock on the mantle piece each evening before retiring, and when the milk and bread and more were home delivered each day.

Yes the Newport Bush Orchestra captures that and more as they wend they way through the old tunes - The Gerversoni Waltzes, The Quick Steps and the The Polkas.

From 7.30 to some time beyond 9.30 each Monday night the groups of fiddlers, uke players, guitarists, accordionists, tin whistlers, mandolinists and more strum and bow and squeeze in time.

All is well with the world in this part of town!

Breizoz April '10

Breizoz Thursdays brought us another evening of exhilarating music and entertainment. First up was Stump Jump (Russell Barrett, Steve Martin and Michael Stewart) warming the audience with a repertoire of Russell’s original pieces.

After the break Braemar’s Eddie Lewis, Marc de Rijk and Colin MacLeod delighted the audience in their kilted splendour performing Irish and Scottish music. Singing beautiful harmonies and playing a selection of instruments… guitar, fiddle and bodhran, the passion and exuberance of Braemar’s performance inspired the audience to sing, clap and even dance (see pics).



Christine

Club Night March 2010

A big night with lots of regulars and quite a few new faces too. "Hillbilly Mike" must be spreading our influence in the East as there were a few other folks from the other side of town too, lovely to see (and hear) you!

Alan and Christine started us up with All I Have to Do is Dream, followed by Bill and Marilyn with Mr Bojangles. (Music trivia question: who wrote Mr Bojangles? Answer at the bottom of this report. )
Suanna played a couple of originals - Pirate Song and Hello Fiddle, showing that she's not only a great player but a talented composer as well!
Raymond gave us a superb version of the convict classic Moreton Bay, filling the hall with his rich voice. In her first solo performance, Christina performed The Entertainer on ukulele - as she said, it seems to work pretty well on piano so why not uke? Nice work Christina!
There were a couple of Simon and Garfunkel classics performed during the night, with 59th Street Bridge Song from Tiya and Sound of Silence, complete with the original S&G harmonies, from Christine and Alan.
There was also a bit of a blues theme going, with John leading us on Red House...(once you get a good 12-bar blues going it's hard to stop!) and a little later Gail with another one...can't remember the title but it got just about everyone playing along!
Lots of dance tunes and singalongs (and another first - Bruce on fiddle!) took us up to 11 o'clock when Alan wound us up by getting everyone singing along to Leadbelly's classic Sylvie. It's a big sound when everyone joins in! Thanks everybody for another great night of music!

Music trivia answer: Mr Bojangles was written by Jerry Jeff Walker, see Wikipedia.