Whare Flat Folk Festival 10/11 Review

I have been to every Whare Flat Folk Festival since I was born (in fact, even when I was in the womb). It turns up, with out fail, to end one year and bring in the next in the best way I could imagine: with good music, good friends, some dancing and (ever since I was allowed) a good whiskey or two (or maybe three). Bringing in 2011 was no exception.

Second time guests, Mara!, were as stunning as ever with their phenominal sax player, Sandy Evans, blowing everyone away with her jazz licks fused with the traditional bulgarian rhythms.

Kaitrin McMullan, Andrew Bowen and Joyce Leppard brought in the new year in glorious style (or blow up fat suits should I say) followed by King Leo playing us through to the wee smalls.

The Blues Forum had all the regulars and a few extras including guest artist Dave Murphy.

Other guests at the festival included local and national acts such as Footspa, Steve McGlone, Mike Harding, Jackie Bristow, Matt Langley, youth guest Hazel Cunliffe, as well as other youngsters (I can use this term now) BB and Alex with their dueling banjos. We can’t forget the amazing musicians from across the water though, String Contingent, who got a standing ovation from the crowd at the end of their afternoon concert. Maona House had a concert of their own this year and it was awe inspiring the power that flowed off that stage.

Lovers of dance had a great set of workshops run by Cashy Yates as well as a great surprise when a couple of Irish dancing brothers turned up from the states (one who has is currently dancing with Michael Flatly) and flailed their legs about for our delight and appreciating whoops and hollers.

But the real highlight for me was seeing Maura Hewton-Turner performing again. She has an amazing voice and is becoming a real performer. She’s one to watch for sure.

The wavering weather conditions were no match for a well-built marquee and a bunch of folkies out for a good time. Show us what you’re made of 2011, we’re ready for you!

Siobhan Moroney

Hamsterfest 2009 Review

Hamster Fest at Matamata

One of the beautiful things about going to a festival is bringing bits of it home with you.  I was driving up the long straight stretch of route 27 when I started belting out Mike Harding's Eketahuna with full lung capacity then realized he'd taken the tune from Yellow River. I don't know how much of the original he'd changed but some of the lines are classic like 'Eketahuna where the women are real with their bouffant hair and stiletto heels' This took me right back to growing up in the 50/60s and helping my mother to bouffant her hair before she put on her stilettos and went dancing with my father. It is always heart-warming to hear Mike at festivals bringing us back home with his collection of New Zealand songs. Although David Barne's rendition of Cohen's 'I lit a thin green candle' came a close second. I'd never quite got the full implication of this song until I heard his strident version. I think the black humour of it was a bit lost on the audience although I heard a few laughs. Perhaps being in love with people who make you act crazy is either out of folkie experience or too close to the bone to make one laugh.

It's always a pleasure for me to experience the continuing evolution of the music of Marion Arts. I sense a need for some kind of spiritual expression in her later songs, 'Love is a sacred river flowing down into love..... ' and the song titled My Sacred Heart gives the message of how precious love is yet love can beget love. I enjoyed being reminded too of what a fantastic musician Robbie Laven is with his bass playing enhancing everything Marion did. A musical partnership at its best.

It was a festival with no dramas I was told by one of the organizers and for a festival noted for its relaxed atmosphere everything was remarkably on time. Even the song-writers concert which had too many performers was neatly finished between two other acts on the Sunday. ( Two song-writers concerts next time please guys ) The weather was cooler than last year but there was still heaps of tent jamming and no one would have frozen in the averagely cool and fine weather. One thing I did notice was the Ceilid exuded a strong odor of sweat and beer as did the home brew unaccompanied session. It took a few deep breaths of cool night air to enter these events but once inside the music and dancing were worth it.

I always like the way the final concert includes a few standouts from the blackboard sessions. This year we were blessed with two dynamic young men whose names I did not find out but who referred to themselves as the second best shanty group, and Erin, the teenage performer of the weekend with her passionate version of Wild Mountain Thyme.

Judith McNeil (from her blog: http://judithjazz.spaces.live.com/)

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

From Wellington

From Barnsey:

"Dear all nz-folk,

"Firstly some breaking news - Tim van Eyken has had some great news in that he has been offered a part in the National Theatre Christmas production. It's a direction he has been wanting to go in for some time, however as it means solid work from August through February he won't now be able to attend our festival this year. So we're following up a couple of options and will let you all know what eventuates.

Tim is re-arranging his flights to come out next year instead, and hopes to be able to be in the country rather longer. Secondly, get booking for the festival to take advantage of the earlybird discount and especially if you want bunks. Go to the website http://wellingtonfolkfestival.org.nz/ and go to the Registration page. I'm looking forward to seeing lots of you there...

Cheers, David
http://wellingtonfolkfestival.org.nz/
http://morrisdancing.org.nz/

Whare Flat Folk Festival

Several great artists have been confirmed already for this year's festival (December 30th 2007 - January 3rd 2008) including the amazing and prolific Irish singer/songwriter Kieran Halpin, Scandanavian trio Habbadám (featuring the wonderfully charismatic Hannah Wiskari, the guest saxophonist of two years ago) and the highly acclaimed Sam Burke and the Wifeys from Melbourne.

More information on the Whare Flat Folk Festival website.

Canterbury Festival

Review by Bernadette:

My review of the Easter folk festival held at Waipara will concentrate on the aspects of the festival that I didn’t expect. Guests like Chris While and Enda Kenny are known quantities so it is pointless for me to spend time discussing their performances.

The first pleasant surprise at the festival this year was the weather. The forecast horrendous and after freezing last year, I went with every snuggly garment I have, along with extra quilts and a wheatbag (they do have a microwave available for campers) for night time. However, only Saturday was wet and the rest of the time the sun shone and I don’t think overnight temperatures got anywhere near zero!

Several guests stood out for me. Lindsay Martin’s violin playing and accompaniment is always a pleasure to hear but this year he shone on the mandolin. He is not only a skillful player but he seems to know just how to fill in the spaces without taking over the performance. For those of you who have never been to the Canterbury Fest, they have created a clever idea of having a ‘blind date’ concert where anyone who is attending the festival who wishes to perform, puts their name into a box, including all the guests, and the names are drawn out to go into groups. These people then get together and create a number to perform in a special concert on the last day of the festival. It is always great fun and sometimes some amazing acts appear. This year, Lindsay obviously decided to be the ‘blind date’ and he dressed up beautifully with a blond wig, tasteful makeup and a ‘stunning’ outfit. He looked amazing and you could see that he was playing some rousing mandolin breaks but it was a real shame that something was wrong within the sound system and he could not be heard more than one row away from the stage. The other act in this concert that I loved was Enda’s group who did a great précis of The Sound of Music.

Another guest that I particularly enjoyed was Lindon Puffin. From beginning to end of his concert he hardly stopped talking and he was very funny. His rendition of ‘Baker Street’ on the kazoo was inspirational. Add to silliness, a great voice, plenty of stage experience and tons of ‘street cred’ and you get some idea of what he was like. Often people who are not from the folk world feel out of place and have no idea of how to act at festivals but he came along to sessions and joined in where he thought he could without taking over or opting out.

I didn’t get the see Adrian the Clown do his clown act but as a compere he was an inspired choice. He is obviously a ‘street performer’ with lots of clever tricks to get people involved and they worked amazingly with a concert audience – some good ideas for the rest of us to steal.

The President’s choice this year was also a departure from the norm and Russell asked ‘Dunedin’ to be the guest. So a jam session was arranged on stage. Even though I was in this myself I will say that I enjoyed it immensely. Some of the numbers I have heard people do in the past worked incredibly well with the wall of sound behind them – and everyone was obviously having fun!

So, as a festival organizer myself, I have to say that my hat is off to Russell and his team for thinking ‘outside the loop’ with their guests. It was fun festival and I would recommend it to anyone.

Bernadette

Canterbury Folk Festival, Easter 2007

From the nz-folk list:

A quick report back on a very mellow and lovely Canterbury festival. Thanks to the organisers. It gets better every year! Or is that just me who gets to know more people every year and so enjoys it more? Quite a mixed bag of musicians this year, from an English trad feller through thirties swing to some younger local (and loud!) artists, all tastes catered for. Enda Kenny and his great band were my highlight - I just love the way Enda uses words and the naughty way he delivers them, and Lindsay is a GREAT backing fiddle player. Mike Mikaelides Moroney was an added bonus in the band at the final concert. James Wilkinson was in fine form, I've never seen him play with such fluidy and verve.

My partner Fran got some nice pics of him (and lots of other stuff), shortly to be up on the site music.nelson.geek.nz .

Chris While with the voice of gold added her own magic to the mix. There were also a raft of wonderful workshops, topped by the magnificent tunes workshop :) And the usual Easter delicacies like the blind date concert, fairy "bondage" grotto for the kids and the much-patronised coffee bar. I sampled a variety of late night sessions from serious diddly through to lovely English trad harmony, mmmmm.

The spoons were a great idea for meeting people, what a nice pickup line "may I spoon with you?" Thank goodness nobody thought of playing the damn things. And after four years of going to these festivals, I've finally learned how to stay awake until the wee small hours and then still be able to function the next day! My body must have acclimatised to the folky
atmosphere.

See y'all there again next year.

Jenni K