Australian Folk Mags/Radio??

Subject: Australian/NZ Folk Mags/Radio??
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 03:36 PM

I've just had a request to send one of our(Boat Band) new CDs to an Australian radio station, and it's made me think I know just about SFA about the Australian/NZ scene. So, if we want a bit of down under publicity, which magazines or radio stations should we be sending review copies to?
   The music is very hardline traditional English fiddle/melodeon/banjo tunes. It's well reviewed in the Brit mags, and is selling in America and Ireland. No singer songwriter, nothing relevant to modern urban youth(unless they like old tunes). I'd be really really grateful for any antipodean advice about how to get through to like minded people there.

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 07:57 PM

The ABC at abc.net.au has a complete national network for Radio and TV (if you want free publicity and airplay, it's about the best!) - I did post a fair bit a while ago to El Greko about how to find the right places internally (ooooooooooo!), but can't put my hands on it now... !!!

The Planet, the Music Show, are some (Radio) places there that may be interested in such Trad Folk - but perhaps George followed up there when I mentioned it and can advise ...

The Folk Rag used to send out a regular email, but last I heard have ceased due to time pressures
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/FolkMusic_SEQ was one of a couple of groups I set up ages ago, but still seems sitting futilely on the launch pad...
the other is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FaMD_SEQ

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 08:04 PM

G'day Greg,

The only 'national' magazine is Trad&Now: Trad&Now link

This has run to some 15 issues in a 'glossy' format ... but the departure of the main design person led to a crisis - and it has just been reorganised in a 'non-glossy' format. This will lower the price ... and, it is hoped, broaden the market.

I can only suggest you start with Cec Buccello of Trad&Now for national coverage.

The rest of the magazines are either state-based (usually representing that state's "Folk Federation") or else fronting larger, specific-interest, individual folk organisations ... such as the Bush Music Club's Mulga Wire, of which I am Co-editor as well as Editor of its "folklore" supplement Singabout. Mulga Wire/Singabout concentrates on our Australian folk song / ~music /~lore elements ... and, of course, the diverse sources of (principally) our colonial era.

If you want a comprehensive listing of all the State and individual club magazines ... I'll need to do some research - but Trad&Now is your starting point.

There are also a few record-selling contacts worth a direct approach ... one that immediately springs to mind is Henk Weerd's Folk Trax at: Folk Trax


Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 08:43 PM

I'm one of the presenters of Focus on Folk, the program of the Folk Federation of New South Wales, broadcast every week on 2MBS-FM in Sydney. We're always happy to get CDs for consideration for airplay. You can send a CD to

Focus on Folk
Folk Federation of New South Wales
P O Box A182
Sydney, NSW 1235
Australia

Put "Attention: Gerry Myerson" on the envelope and with any luck it will be expedited to me.

The Folk Fed website is at http://www.jam.org.au/

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: rich-joy
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 09:00 PM

Greg, you could also purchase a "Folk Directory" from the Folk Alliance Australia site - they include folk radio listings/details, state by state ...

http://www.folkalliance.org.au/

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Jun 06 - 09:25 PM

For What Its Worth - I have had the pleasure of providing a sound system for the Boat Band at Cecil Sharp House when they were doing a
gig down our way . I was well impressed , as were the people who were
dancing (It WAS a cajun night) and would like to wish Greg and the Band every success in their endevours to get their music to a wider audience .

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 01:56 AM

Thanks very indeed to everyone for this information. Keep it coming!

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 06:50 AM

G'day again Greg,

If you go to the Trad&Now link I provided, you will find that they do web sales for a wide range of folk CDs (and books ... mostly from the Illawarra group that founded Trad&Now) and (at least up until now) they have had a booth at major (and NSW local) folk festivals selling their books & records. If they did handle your CD ... that would, at least, get it on display about the place.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Jun 06 - 09:33 AM

Gerry - naturally I will expediate your CD when I receive it!

Another Folk Fed committee member runs a radio program (in rural NSW) & is also a contact for the Oz Community Radio network, so if you want to send a second copy (attn Bruce Cameron) I could pass that on, too.

Folk Alliance Australia's newsletter also includes reviews, see Rich-Joy's post for their website.

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 06:54 AM

Well, how about that for timing?

(Thanks for the heads up, Sandra.)

This CD is a winner and it just happened to be my featured album on today's program. Is there a blue clicky thing somewhere around here pointing to today's program?

If the band can reach the same level of energy and enthusiasm on stage as it does on this CD then we want to see them in Australia. And I always thought they only played Cajun music.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 08:38 AM

Another ABC (Aust) music program that leans heavily towards 'folk type' music (the ABC records of lot of local aussie 'ethnic style' groups - then played on the program) is "Music Deli".

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Jul 06 - 09:29 AM

Music Deli

Music Deli presents a variety of musical styles focussing on live performances.

Friday 8pm
repeated Sundays 4pm

Related (Music) Links
Into The Music
The Music Show
The Daily Planet
The Weekend Planet
Quiet Space
Singers of Renown
Sound Quality

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: GUEST,AnneMC
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 01:17 AM

And if you want air play in New Zealand, try contacting :

Mitch and Robyn Park
(Folk on Sunday, Radio Kidnappers 1431AM)
1214 Louie Street
Hastings, NEW ZEALAND 4122.                [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]
http://www.radiokidnappers.org.nz/fos_KCAR.html

Even in parts of NZ that don't receive their radio station output, we still get to view their play list (with song and CD details and artists' websites given) on a national email list and can look you up.

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Mags/Radio??
From: greg stephens
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 02:06 AM

Bruce from Bathust: thanks for the kind words. We would love to come to Australia: it would need an agent who can put a tour together, any ideas? We dont have the contacts.
Everyone: thanks for all the information, this is all very interesting.