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3 - 15 July 2012
Other Business

Please note change of performers for Loaded Dog, 28 July. Lyrebird can't make it in July, so Chloe & Jason Roweth are taking their place (sharing the bill with Penny Davies & Roger Ilott).  Lyrebird will appear in September.  More details in later Folkmail.

13 & 14 August:  The National Folk Festival is presenting an intensive 2 day Festival & Event Management Masterclass at EPIC: designed to inform & inspire anyone involved in the business of creating, managing & developing festivals & events. A highly practical course full of ideas & examples to increase participants' knowledge & improve their events. Includes sessions on key tasks & challenges for festival organisers such as Marketing, Press, Programming, Evaluation, Sponsorship, Fundraising.

Tuesday 3 July (4-5pm) & Friday 6 July (7-8pm)

Bembeya Music presents FREE African music workshops. Miriam Lieberman – Songs from Guinea & Mali. Tuesday afternoon sessions will include activities for children. All welcome! BYO drums & percussion!  Herb Greedy Hall, 79 Petersham Rd, Marrickville (near cnr Marrickville Rd). Supported by Marrickville Council.

Wednesday 4 July

American Independence Day Contra Dance. Wongawilli Hall.  8pm.  $3, children free. Acoustic musicians & dancers welcome. Gwen 4296 1855.

Friday 6 July

Pukara, Sydney based group who play a variety of instruments from all over Latin America. A fusion between traditional Andean Music, original songs & contemporary Latin music: from the poetic songs of Victor Jara to Salsa to Latin Jazz Fusion. + The Hannafords. Craig & Auriol Hannaford have developed their own contemporary folk/country sound. + Mystery act.  Illawarra Folk Club, City Diggers Wollongong, cnr Church & Burelli Sts. 7.30pm.  $15, $10, Youth (12-16) $5, under-12 free. For info email or call 1300 887 034.

Bush Music Club Singabout Night. 'The Songs They Used to Sing.'  Bring a song or a poem, & food to share.  Tritton Hall (Hut 44), Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville.  8-10pm.  $5.  Bob Bolton 9569 7244

The Bushwackers, an Australian music institution, with 2012 their 41st year. In the '70s & '80s The Bushwackers toured Australia relentlessly playing the thriving pub rock circuit. They came to Sydney 5 or 6 times a year, playing a solid week of pub gigs, finishing up with a bush dance at Paddington Town Hall, or at the height of their popularity in the '80s, their Sunday afternoon 'Giant Bush Dances' at Birkenhead Point, with 2,500 - 3,000 people. The Empire Hotel, 103A Parramatta Rd, Annandale. 8pm. $20, $15. All tickets at the door. Children allowed with a parent. Good food at reasonable prices.  9557 1701

Saturday 7 July

Beecroft Bush Dance, with Snake Gully. All dances taught.  Beecroft Community Centre, Beecroft Rd (opp. Fire Station).  8pm-12.  $17, $14, $12, incl. supper.  Sigrid 9980 7077, Wilma 9489 5594

Spasm Band. Big voices of Andy George & Rhonda Mawer, magic of Chris Blanchflower’s wild harmonica, Graham Vick’s funky double bass - jug, blues, folk. Members have played in various bands incl. East Neasdon Spasm Band, Stovepipe Spasm Band, Wheeze & Suck Band.  + Alanna & Alicia, identical twins who blend folk, jazz, roots in original, acoustic songs. Sweet, sibling harmonies, lyrics sparkling with an original, intimate voice. Natural, intuitive musical rapport. Songwriting awards from several national festivals. + Tully, singer songwriter musician extraordinaire - entrancing, sensitive songs; innovative, impressive, driving guitar technique.  The Shack, Tramshed Community Arts Centre, 1395a Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen (btw. carpark & Ambulance in Narrabeen shops). 7.30-11pm. $20. Info email or call 0413 635 856.

The Foreday Riders, true legends of Australian Blues, this year being their 45th year as a band.  And they are as good as ever!  The Empire Hotel, 103A Parramatta Rd, Annandale (cnr Johnston St).  8pm.  $20. Tickets at the door. Children allowed with parent. Good food at reasonable prices.  9557 1701

Lawson ‘Live’ Christmas in July. 6pm, Mataya, talented young singer songwriter & piano player from Katoomba; with special guest, her father Micky Young on saxophone. 7pm, The Fortunes, very talented local acapella quartet: Kate Swadling, Katie McRobert, Trish Adams, Catrina McKay. 8pm, The Christmas Swamp Band, a great dance & party band well known for their Love Lawson Festival concerts. This time, 8 players: Kate Swadling, Anne Crestani & Dave Warren on vocals; Neil Sagewood, keyboard; Dave Crestani, bass; Brett Dennis, guitar; Julia Day, drums; Micky Young, saxophone.  Mid Mountains Community Centre, Lawson.  6-10pm. $ 15, $12. Under 12, free. Delicious home-made food for sale. BYO alcohol.  Laurie 4759 2592

Sunday 8 July

Pat Drummond & Karen Lynne. Pat's decades of travelling Australia’s backroads & living with its people; often sleeping out under the stars & sharing the campfires of stockmen & travellers, have produced over a dozen albums of songs & stories that many critics have claimed sum up Australia & her characters more fully than possibly any other writer.  +The beautiful voice of Karen Lynne. Karen, who has been showcased on ABC’s Saturday Night Country as Australia’s premier bluegrass vocalist, has recorded two albums with Pat, & brings a touch of gentleness & grace.  Have a look at YouTube clips of their 2010 concert in Humph Hall. Humph Hall, 85 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights.  2pm.  Audience numbers limited to 50 so book early!  Wayne Richmond 9939 8802,

Monday 9 July

BMC Dance Workshop. Dancers' Favourites.  Pennant Hills Community Centre, Yarrara Rd.  7.30-9.30pm.  $7.  Felicity 9456 2860

Tuesday 10 July (4-5pm) & Friday 13 July (7-8pm)

Bembeya Music presents FREE African music workshops. Miriam Lieberman – Songs from Guinea & Mali. Tuesday afternoon sessions will include activities for children. All welcome! BYO drums & percussion!  Herb Greedy Hall, 79 Petersham Rd, Marrickville (near cnr Marrickville Rd). Supported by Marrickville Council.

Wednesday 11 July

Bastille Day French Folk Dance. Wongawilli Hall.  8pm.  $3, children free. Acoustic musicians & dancers welcome.  Gwen 4296 1855.

Thursday 12 July

Pat Drummond, described by Ralph McTell as a ‘National Treasure’, & by Eric Bogle as ‘clear eyed & compassionate ... with songs that have a quality that sets them apart from, & above, most others you will hear'. Songs from decades of travelling Australia’s backroads. + Fellow Blue Mts balladeer Jim Low. Jim's sensitive songs capture his deep interest in & love of Australia, its people & history. 'Bogan Gate' was on ABC Macca's CD. Jim's 2nd CD, 'The Further I Travel', is hot off the press. Floor spots, raffles.  Sutherland Acoustic, Tradies Club, Kingsway, Gymea (short walk from station).  7.30pm.  $15, FF $12, $10, kids free.  Maeve 9520 5628

Friday 13 July

Folk Federation of NSW Inc, Annual General Meeting.  The Gaelic Club, Upstairs Meeting Room, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.  6.30pm. Pam Davis  0412 730 754.

Mofo Concert: Telegraph Tower + My Sauce Good.  The Gaelic Club, upstairs, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.  8.30pm.  Email for more info.

Saturday 14 July

Central Coast Dance. Colonial Theme Bush Dance with Southern Cross. All dances are from the Australian tradition & will be taught & called. Add to the colour by wearing Colonial costume, kilt, military or 'Bush' dress.  East Gosford Progress Hall, cnr Henry Parry Drive & Wells St.  7.30-11.30pm.  $18, $15, students 13-16 $8, under-12 $5. Includes light supper.  Beate 4323 3356, Linda 4381 0457.

Sydney’s historic Hyde Park Barracks, ‘Redcoats & Convicts’ Open Day, 9.30am - 4pm. Lots of ‘living history’ entertainment, incl. friends of the Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy offering some c.1800 costumed music & dance - with lots of led participatory dancing, between 1 & 2pm. So a free dance!

The Bearded Gypsy Band, inspired by the likes of Django Reinhardt & folk music from around the planet. Eclectic mix of pulsing gypsy tunes. Four young musicians, still at school & university, with a musical authority beyond their years.  + Daniel Champagne. Dazzling performance, often sounding more like a three piece band than a 20 year old singer songwriter guitarist. One-of-a-kind guitar style - 2-hand tapping, body percussion, old school finger-picking techniques; & dynamic vocal work. One of the most impressive one man shows.  Illawarra Folk Club, City Diggers, cnr Church & Burelli Sts, Wollongong.  7.30pm.  $20, $15, Youth (12-16) $7, under-12 free.  For info email or call 1300 887 034. 

Celebrate Bastille Day with Dahlia Dior & Emma Hamilton, & their fabulous bands - highlighting the passion of Edith Piaf, plus a tribute to the French classics, & fine originals. Jazz, gypsy, folk & pop all with a French twist.  Camelot Lounge, 19 Marrickville Rd (cnr Railway Pde), Marrickville.  9pm (doors 7.30).  $25 Presale, $30 at the door. Bookings.

Enzo Toppano and Vov Dylan return to Humph Hall!  Enzo's 83rd birthday celebration last year with numerous celebrities including George Gola, Bob Barnard, Peta Toppano and Barry Crocker, was the biggest event Humph Hall has ever seen.  Last December Enzo and Vov launched their new CD 'Off the Cuff' here and now, due to an unexpected opening in their timetable, they are able to be back again together with Mark Howard (double bass) and Brian Dean (guitar).  Humph Hall, 85 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights.  2pm.  Audience numbers limited to 50 so book early!  Wayne Richmond 9939 8802,

Sunday 15 July

Nigel Foote Trio. Nigel will be playing with his son Martin as well as a talented young dobro player.  Mid Mountains Folk Club, Joy Anderson Room, Mid Mountains Community Centre, Lawson.  2-4.30pm (NEW TIME!).  $7, $5, <12 free. Tea, coffee, light refreshments throughout the afternoon. You're welcome to bring food for yourself or to share & BYO alcohol.  Nick Szentkuti  4758 7953.

ACT & REGIONAL NSW
Saturday 7 July

NEWCASTLEPat Drummond  +Douglas Stewart, entertainer extraordinaire, with Carole Garland.  Wesley Centre Hall, 150 Beaumont St, Hamilton.  7.30pm.  $15, $12, $10.  Carole 4929 3912, Lainey 0421 412 358, 4954 3455 Newcastle/Hunter Valley Folk Club.

Sunday 8 July

QUEANBEYANAlanna & Alicia Egan.  +Danny Mack.  The Artists Shed, 14 Foster St (behind Magnet Mart off Yass Rd).  2-5pm.  Entry by paper note donation. Enjoy a glass of wine, wonderful artworks, great music - & lovely rustic surroundings!  Ros 0438 768 754. 

Friday 13 July

CANBERRATracy McNeil Band.  + Nigel WearneThe Merry Muse (Monaro Folk Society), Canberra Southern Cross Club (The Bowlo), McCaughey St (cnr Condamine St), Turner.  7.30pm.  $17, $14, MFS $12, under-16 free.  Eileen 0412 127 882.

Saturday 14 July

CANBERRACanberra Contra Club's 7th Birthday Bash. All dances taught & called.  St Margaret’s Uniting Church Hall, cnr Antill St & Phillip Ave, Hackett.  8-11.30pm.  $18, $14.  Rob (02) 6251 1287