31 August - 7 September 2012
Friday 31 August

Chaika (Emily-Rose Sarkova, Susie Bishop, Laura Bishop, Laura Altman, Johan Delin - with special guest Rendra Freestone from The Rhythm Hunters) - Chaika's last gig in Sydney for a pretty long time - supporting The Tango Saloon (featuring members of Monsieur Camembert, Marsala, Darth Vegas, & The Sluggs, & special guest vocalist Elana Stone).  Camelot Lounge, cnr 103 Railway Pde & 19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville (opp. Sydenham station, 2 min stroll away).  Food (incl. pizza) available. Fully licensed – NO BYO. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.  9pm (doors 7.30).  $25, $20.  Enq only, 9550 3777.  Bookings.

Saturday 1 September

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

Aaron Lyon & The Wild Things. Soulful balladeer Aaron, with roguish charm, guitar, athletic voice, melodic storytelling - & 3 spirited backing vocalists providing harmony, percussion & Dionysian revelry. + Michael-John Azzopardi ('intricate acoustic masterpieces'), with latest album 'The Curious Tide'. Influences incl. Celtic, European & Eastern folk, blues, jazz, rock, alternative. + Folklore - 4 fine musicians: Cliona Molins & Fiona McVicar both from Jiggery; Anthony Woolcott (Triantan), Rosie McDonald (Mothers of Intention, RAPT), exploring songs & music of the folk tradition. Para celtic harp, fiddle, viola, bouzouki, guitar, bodhran, sweet 4 part harmonies.  The Shack, Tramshed Community Arts Centre, 1395a Pittwater Rd, Narrabeen (betw. car park & Ambulance in Narrabeen shops).  7.30-11pm.  $20.  0413 635 856.

Monday 3 September

BMC Dance Workshop. Mixed traditional dancing, with focus on Maxina, Federation Waltz, Red Socks Reel, & Circassian Circle variations.   Pennant Hills Community Centre, Yarrara Rd.  7.30-9.30pm.  $7.  Felicity 9456 2860

Friday 7 September

Nick Rheinberger with his 'Acoustic Cabaret': a combination of comedy, poetry, yarns, blues, funk & reggae, played on a cornucopia of exotic & junkyard instruments. Regularly performs solo, as MC, poet, actor, comedian, while holding down a day job as an ABC radio announcer.  + Sarah Humphreys - prolific, award winning songwriter (2009 ABC Music Artist of the Year) whose songs have featured in movie & TV soundtracks. In ten years she's supported & toured with Kasey Chambers, Diesel, Renee Geyer, etc.  Humph Hall, 85 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights.  7pm.  Free (Donation of $25/$15 invited).  Bookings, Wayne 9939 8802.

Bush Music Club Singabout Night. 'Songs of Our Family & Friends.' Bring along 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

Maria Forde (Vic.) & more. Illawarra Folk Club, City Diggers Wollongong, cnr Church & Burelli Sts.  7.30pm.  $20, $15, Youth (12-16) $7.  1300 887 034, Email.  Bookings

Jimmy the Fish (Liz Frencham, Robbie Long, Pete Fidler).  + Chris Gillespie, awesomely talented singer songwriter.  The Cafechurch Space, 37 St Johns Rd, Glebe. Comfortable lounges, candlelight, all ages welcome. BYO anything you like - dinner, snacks, beverages (glasses provided), friends.  8pm.  $20, $10.

ACT & REGIONAL NSW
Friday 31 August

CANBERRA:  Jimmy the Fish (Liz Frencham, Robbie Long, Pete Fidler) + Gracenotes.  The Merry Muse, Canberra Southern Cross Club, McCaughey Street (cnr Condamine Street), Turner.  7.30pm.  $17, $14, $12, under-16 free.  Eileen 0412 127 882

Saturday 1 September

NOWRA:  Bush Dance, with live bush orchestra, & callers Margaret Sharpe & Sally Leslie. Celebrate the first day of spring with Shoalhaven Folk Club. 8pm.  $5 for dancers, musicians get in free.  Bring a plate of supper to share.  Everyone is welcome, even if you've never danced before. Musos welcome to join in: sheet music & practice session from 6.30pm. (For emailed tunes: Stuart 0412 288 923.)  Andrew or Alison 4447 5663

NEWCASTLE:  Bukhu - the amazing Mongolian ‘Throat Singer’. + The lovely young dancers from Marie Claire’s award-winning 'Voyage of Irish Dance' school. + Bill Wiseman, with his love of Irish music esp. hauntingly beautiful airs on whistle.  Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club, Wesley Centre Hall, 150 Beaumont St, Hamilton 7.30pm. Carole 4929 3912, Ron 4926 1313, Folk Club 0421 412 358

CANBERRA:  Spring Colonial Ball, with Bon Accord led by Trish Barker from the Sydney Scottish Fiddlers, & caller Don Richmond. Bookings & info on website.  For billets, contact Antonella

CANOWINDRA:  Jimmy the Fish.  Taste Canowindra, 42 Ferguson St.  Awesome local wines & great food. A beautiful place for an intimate acoustic concert.  3 course meal & show $65. Bookings or, with credit card details, 6344 2332

MAITLAND:  Gary Roberts Seasonal Session. This Celtic session happens on the first Saturday of each Season [4 times a year].  Shenanigans Pub, High St.  1-4pm.  Gary 4930 5544

CANBERRA:  The Society for Creative Anachronism St. Vitus Dance weekend - with a Renaissance dinner dance at All Saints in Ainslie starting 6.30pm - 'straight after our ANU dance class'.  Aylwen Gardiner-Garden

Sunday 2 September

MUDGEE:  Jimmy the Fish.  Mudgee Brewery, 4 Church St.  Good beer, good company, good music. 4.30-7.30pm with dinner available.  Free entry.  Reserve a table: 6372 6726

Thursday 6 September

NEWCASTLE:  Jimmy the Fish.  The Royal Exchange, 32-34 Bolton St.  8pm.  Tickets at the door.  NB. There are steps leading to the venue which makes disabled access hard.  4929 4969