Loaded Dog Mini-Festival
Mini reviews of the May 2005 event

By Sandra Nixon
Posted Sunday, June 19, 2005

What a fantastic, full and varied day's entertainment it was - the Mini festival/Dog Day at The Loaded Dog Folk Club, Annandale on Saturday 28 May!

Can you imagine trying to programme a whole day concert fitting in 22 artists over a period of 12 hours? Well that's what Sandra Nixon did, almost single-handed for yours and my enjoyment. Congratulations Sandra! And for $20 - what a bargain. Those who couldn't make it will be sorry.

A wide range of performers from solo artists to five piece groups, some of whom I'd never seen before. Great to see the rare talents of Paul Hemphill and Rhona MacLeod back on the music scene.

Can't mention everyone but I do love the warm sincerity of Jane Faulkner's verse; she really has that knack of involving the audience; Miguel's comic songs went down well. There seemed to be a lot of nostalgic content in people's sets or is it just that I'm getting to be an "old" folkie and enjoyed some sentimental oldies. John Warner's Lewellyn Walking always moves me to tears. Duncan Chalmers, Bill Bekric, Bob and Monica Foggin and friends kept the downstairs session rocking all afternoon! Childrens' activities from 11.30 to 1.30 attracted a few locals who should have been there in their hundreds.

I know Sandra did stacks of publicity with the help of the council and if she has the energy and support of other folkies to make it an annual event I feel sure it will take on! Everyone I spoke to commented on the varied and talented choice of artists which provided a very full day's entertainment.

A big thank you again for a wonderful day Sandra - ideal venue for such a function. So well organised!! Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped to make the day such a success.

Margaret Bradford
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My impressions:

• a small group of fascinated children playing along with Margaret, Alan & John
• the disappointed mother of a toddler who loves to sing who arrived after the kid's festival was over. I sent them into the singalong & hoped they enjoyed it.
• Judy Pinder & her sisters (wonderful!!) - wanna see more of them,
• Rhona's wonderful songs about lusty widows & other characters unfortunately cut short by a sore throat which led to
• a short Morris interlude to fill the gap, (well, they couldn't dance in the yard, there was no-one to see them there!!) first time we've ever had a Morris side at the Dog?
• a great singalong with Duncan & co,
• Robin Connaughton filling in for Craig & Simone who had to cancel several days previously,
• how many different shades of green can be seen on 1 stage - the answer's Ecopella,
• the Dog emptying for the dinner break, and those who ordered pizza had a very late dinner,
• good stuff from Margaret W while the audience slowly came back from dinner,
• blues from John H,
• slide guitar from Chris O,
• Miguel & audience singing his Catflap song, with Mig brushing back his fur & looking very feline (where's our artist-in-residence when we need her?),
• the mothers finishing the night with Tam Lin,
• the wonderul singing from the marvellous Dog audience in the best acoustic space in Sydney
• my awakening early next morning by a group of noisy @#$%^& neighbours getting home at 7.05, eventually I got back to sleep.

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I've been meaning to write to thank you for all the work you put into the mini-festival. I hope it was a success financially - I know it was a success artistically. Well done!

Gerry
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It was a pleasure to play.

Best wishes,

Bob & Monica Foggin
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Thank you for the mini festival organisation. I enjoyed it's warm intimacy and I loved the music.

Deep regards,

John Hospodaryk
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Dear Sandra

Thankyou for the privilege of singing to such a warm & responsive audience . . . also I'd forgotten how excellent are the acoustics of the 'doghouse' Well done for organising it.

Thanks again,

Kate M
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I enjoyed the performers I saw after I arrived 7.30 - very impressed with Miguel, and the Mothers of Intention!! Thanks for your hard work.

Chris O
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Thanks for the opportunity to sing at the Loaded Dog again. Tim recorded our set & it sounded great.

Looking forward to our visit in September with the Bums

Regards

Annette & Tim (Lighthouse, Shiny Bum offshoots)
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Hi Sandra and all the Loaded Dog organisers

Thanks for the great day at the dog mini festival. The mothers of intention were really pleased to be playing as part of an illustrious lineup. There was a lovely ambience and the short spots with lots of performers made for a varied and interesting day. You obviously all put in a lot of work and I hope it was a success.

Thanks also for the cheque which turned up the other day. It will go straight into the next CD fund.

Cheers . . .

Rosie
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Thanks to Bob Bolton for the photos.