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20 Jan 14 - 07:53 PM (#3594019) Subject: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie Well, it is official: The Alaska String Band, also known at the Zahasky Family Band, is on its way down under. Sponsored by the New South Folk Agency at http://www.newsouthfolk.com.au/on_tour_3.html, the Z's will spend 10 weeks in Australia after first touring in New Zealand for 7 weeks. They leave home this week but before they cross ocean(s) they have a few gigs in Arizona and California. At that link you will see their listed venues, beginning in early March. They are booked for 30 gigs in those ten weeks in Australia so I'm hoping that a number of Mudcatters will go to see and hear them in spots closest to you. Full of energy, filled to the brim with talent, these multi-instrumentalists and singers- Melissa's low harmony reminds me of a cello or viola- are simply excellent. They perform a wide variety of music, ranging from folk and bluegrass to jazzy boogie woogie in addition to some original songs. Do go see them. This band is not only polished and GOOD, their shows are also authentically Alaskan. Behind them on a screen as they perform are scenes of Alaskan wildlife and terrain, photos that friends of theirs gave them or that were taken by themselves. You will see whales, sea lions and seals, bears, goats, eagles and ravens, glaciers, lakes and boats up close and personal, as well as historical photos of Juneau, Alaska's gold mines and gold mining days. Everyone upon leaving a show of the Zahasky's will know a lot more about Alaska's history and gorgeous scenery and it may even ignite a dream. As Paul Z said the other night: "Watching our show makes me want to live there!" |
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20 Jan 14 - 09:51 PM (#3594081) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: ChanteyLass 17 weeks and all! Wonderful! |
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21 Jan 14 - 12:49 AM (#3594117) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Sandra in Sydney Alaska String Band Tour Australia Looks like I'll be able to see them at the National Folk Festival. andra |
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21 Jan 14 - 01:43 AM (#3594124) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie Great! |
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21 Jan 14 - 03:17 AM (#3594134) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: JennieG I am really looking forward to hearing them! When we visited Alaska some years ago I didn't want to come home, so a re-visit will be wonderful. |
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21 Jan 14 - 12:01 PM (#3594288) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie There ya go, Jennie! They should be a big hit. Oh- by the way- in the song Paul Z wrote about the Princess Sofia sinking disaster, you might wonder about the pronunciation- but he is correct. The name was pronounced 'so fye a', not 'so fee a.' |
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21 Jan 14 - 04:08 PM (#3594379) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: JennieG I always thought 'so fye a" was the correct pronunciation! |
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21 Jan 14 - 04:52 PM (#3594391) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Tangledwood They'll be at the Nationals - great! |
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21 Jan 14 - 05:51 PM (#3594413) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: JennieG Mal, will you be attending this year? |
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04 Mar 14 - 03:16 AM (#3606971) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie After touring and performing in New Zealand the last several weeks, the Alaska String Band is on its way to Australia. Their first stop is at the Port Fairy Folk Festival (in Victoria) from March 7 through the 10th. (www.portfairyfolkfestival.com) If you are in the neighborhood, do take them in. They are very talented and put on a good show. |
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04 Mar 14 - 04:50 AM (#3606993) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Sandra in Sydney my link to the tour posted 21st Jan no longer works so here's the new link Alaska String Band Tour Australia March 07/10 Port Fairy, VIC – (Folk Festival) Thur Mar 13 Brunswick Music Festival, Brunswick, Vic Sat Mar 15 Quarterdeck, Narooma, NSW Sun Mar 16 Humph Hall, Allambie Hts., NSW concert Mon Mar 17 Nowra, NSW - (Private Concert) Tues Mar 18 St.Augustine's Old Chapel, Yass, NSW Thur Mar 20 The Grove Factor Factory, Wagga Wagga, NSW Mar 21/23 Yackandandah, VIC (Folk Festival) Thur Mar 27 Port Noarlunga, SA (The Bowlo) concert Fri Mar 28 Willunga, SA (Fernies) concert Sat Mar 29 Prospect Town Hall, Adelaide SA concert Sun Mar 30 Auburn, SA – H.A.T.S. (Old Courthouse) concert Thu April 3 The Alexandra Acoustic Music Club, Alexandria, VIC Fri April 4 Bendigo, VIC – Folk Club concert Sat April 5 Valencia Creek, Vic - Alaskan Odessy & Show Tue April 8 Alaskan Odessy @ Katinya, NSW Thu April 10 The Cobargo School of Arts, Cobargo, NSW Fri April 11 Diggers Club, Woolongong, NSW Apr 17/20 National Folk Festival, Canberra, ACT Apr 25/27 Mt. Beauty Muster, Mt. Beauth, VIC bookings |
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04 Mar 14 - 04:22 PM (#3607234) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Tangledwood Sorry JennieG, I've only just seen your question. Yes, I'll be there. See you there I hope? |
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15 Mar 14 - 02:52 AM (#3609797) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie Reviewer Gordana Andjelic-avila, among lots more, says: "Winners of the Fame Awards – Bluegrass Band of the Year, the Alaska String Band's members are a gifted guitar picking, violin fiddling, dulcimer playing, bass banging, mean banjo jammin' and cheese grater-a-scraping family of five, who also deliver some sweet angel-like sounding vocals. As if all of the above was not enough, the eldest daughter Laura, is quite the comedienne, speaking in an intentionally shy/awkward and endearing tone, she had the crowd in stitches. The rest of the family, dad Paul, mum Melissa, brother Quinn and little sister Abigail pitched in between songs, verbally weaving a colourful image of their home town and state so vividly and enticingly that, surely America's 49th state's official tourist website must experience huge spikes from online visitors after each "Z-Family" performance." http://www.australianstage.com.au/201403146756/reviews/melbourne/alaska-string-band.html :) |
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15 Mar 14 - 07:54 AM (#3609841) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: JennieG Mal, I've been away for several days......I hope we can catch up again, too! Ebbie, that's a good review. If anyone reading it is heading off to the NFF it would make them want to see the band - they are on my list of "musn't miss performers", for sure. |
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16 Mar 14 - 01:59 AM (#3609967) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie Freshen Up (Remember that soda?) |
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16 Mar 14 - 08:05 AM (#3610012) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Hagman Caught them at Port Fairy on the closing day (March 10). A lot of fun ans spirit. Excellent playing. Michael. |
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16 Mar 14 - 12:16 PM (#3610054) Subject: RE: Alaska String Band Tour NZ and Australia From: Ebbie Thanks, Michael! |