Friday, March 06, 2009

Bards, Ballads and Bulldust Festival

Easter weekend 10 - 12 April 2009
The beautiful high country town of Naseby is presenting the 4th Bards Ballads & Bulldust Festival at Easter 2009.
       www.kiwifolk.org.nz/festivals/BBB/index.htm
The weekend activities will be presented by 'Tui Award' winning high country balladeer, Phil Garland and based around the historic Ancient Briton Pub, which is hosting the event. Festival goers will be treated to some top quality Kiwi Country / Folk music and bush poetry relevant to the New Zealand High Country. As well as being home to Ross 'Blue Jeans' McMillan, one of the finest bush poets in the country, the Naseby festival will also play host to a trio of bush balladeers from across the Ditch.

The Bards, Ballads & Bulldust festival is the only one of its kind in the country, where the emphasis is on the spoken word in the form of bush poetry, which has a huge following throughout Australia. Bush balladry has been an integral part of our national heritage since the 1890s, but its profile has remained small, going largely un-noticed and un-recognised until the birth of Bards Ballads & Bulldust. Our bush poets are finally getting some of the accolades they richly deserve thanks to Naseby and the Bards, Ballads & Bulldust Festival.

Naseby (2000 feet above worry level) is the historic capital of the High Country and home to curling. Where better to experience high country life at its exhilerating best. Visitors can see a town changed little from the earliest beginnings of the Otago goldrush, whilst at the same time visit wonderfully preserved and historic buildings set amidst some of the oldest gold diggings in Central Otago.

2009 featured guests include:-
  • Milton Taylor     - Highly entertaining award winning bush balladeer from Australia returns by popular demand.
  • Melanie Hall     - Acclaimed bush poetry reciter from Australia
  • Suzie Carcary   - 2008 champion prize winning bush poet from NSW. Originally of Scottish ancestry & respected singer of Scottish songs.
  • Marcus Turner  - Mere words cannot describe this brilliant singer/songwriter & multi instrumentalist from Dunedin
  • Martin Curtis    - Highly acclaimed and popular Kiwi reciter & balladeer from Cardrona
  • Keith Scott       - Expat Maniototo oral historian and playright from Sydney.
  • Ross McMillan  - Famed local poet & High Country balladeer.
  • Des Styles        - Local goldfields poet from Naseby
  • Roger Lusby     - Popular Kiwi balladeer and bush poet from Nelson.
  • Dusty Spittle     - Legendary Kiwi story teller and country balladeer, who has just been inducted into the American old-time Country Music Hall of Fame.
  • Basil Fitzpatrick - Popular performance poet from Chch
  • Bush Telegraph  - Renowned Kiwiana bush band and barn dance specialists from Canterbury.
  • Phil Garland      - Multi award winning folklorist, singer / songwriter and backblocks balladeer from Culverden.

Programme:-
  • Good Friday - Welcome and informal gathering in the Ancient Briton Pub, Naseby with music session from Phil Garland & Bush Telegraph - a chance to join in!
  • Saturday - Live performances throughout the day from invited poets and musicians in the Ancient Briton Pub.
  • Saturday Night - Miners & Musterers Ball with Bush Telegraph in the Naseby Town Hall. Admission $20 - supper included.
  • Sunday Morning - High Country breakfast with live poetry, songs & yarns from invited guests and local Syndicate farmers.
  • Sunday - Live performances continue throughout the day from invited poets and musicians in the Ancient Briton.
  • Sunday Night - Open poets night at the Ancient Briton, when invited guests will share the stage with all comers.
  • Busking throughout the weekend in the Main street and outside the local cafe - hosted by Basil Fitzpatrick.
Admission free to most events.
Tickets to the Miners & Musterers Ball are $20 incl supper.
Well priced meals & snacks available from the town hotels and local Cafe throughout the weekend.
Accommodation should still be available at the two local hotels, two motels and the camping ground. Further accommodation can be found at Ranfurly only 20 minutes away. However early bookings are advised!

For further information contact the programme oganiser Phil Garland  pgarland@xtra.co.nz  or view the frestival webpage www.kiwifolk.org.nz/festivals/BBB/index.htm

ANCIENT BRITON HOTEL & MOTEL
Leven St, Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Phone 03 444 9992, Fax 03 444 8232,  E-Mail

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HE WAHI RA
Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Phone 03 482 2553, Fax 03 482 2553, Mobile 021 460 284,  E-Mail

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LARCHVIEW HOLIDAY PARK
Swimming Dam Rd, Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Phone/Fax 03 444 9904,  E-Mail

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MOUNTAIN VIEW ACCOMMODATION
13A Channel Road, Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Phone 03 444 9972, Fax 03 444 9972,  E-Mail

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ROYAL HOTEL
1 Earne St, Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.
Phone 03 444 9990, Fax 03 444 9704,  E-Mail

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THE OLD DOCTOR'S RESIDENCE LUXURY BED AND BREAKFAST
58 Derwent Street, Naseby, Central Otago, New Zealand.

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GLENSHEE PARK HOMESTAY
Tel: (03) 4449624  Fax: (03) 4449624 e-mail: mas.glenshee.park@xtra.co.nz

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SHORTLAND STATION  HOMESTAY.
Glenis & David Crutchley 114 Kyeburn Diggings rd, R.D.2 Ranfurly Ph (03) 444 9621 or 0800 375247. Fax: (03) 444 9610 d&gcrutchley@xtra.co.nz

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WEDDERBURN TAVERN
SH 85, Central Otago, New Zealand. Ph/Fax 03-444 9548 :: Email: wedderburntavern@clear.net.nz

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NASEBY TRAIL LODGE 
Corner Derwent & Oughter Streets, Naseby, New Zealand.
Phone 03 444 8374, Fax 03 444 8222, Reservations 0508 NASEBY (0508 627 329),  E-Mail

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DANSEYS PASS COACH INN
Phone/fax 64 3 4449048   Email: booking@danseyspass.co.nz

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Ranfurly Lion Hotel & Highland Wine Bar & Cafe
www.ranfurlyhotel.co.nz
10 Charlemont Street East, Ranfurly, Otago 9332. (03) 444 9140

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WEDDERBURN LODGE
State Highway 85 , Wedderburn, , New Zealand.
Lorraine- 03 444 9194, or Alison- 03 444 9124

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For cribs available to rent in Naseby contact jan@weddingarranger.co.nz