BS: Going to Oz in October

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 11:54 PM

G'day again Giok,

I had a look through the Folk Directory listings for the various folk clubs along your (presumed) route ... and most of them seem to be on nights in the first or last (or fourth) week of the month - and they mostly miss your fortnight!

I should go through the list again and extract the ones that still seem to match your travels ... er ... yes ... maybe tonight!

Regards,

I hope to meet you - at The Loaded Dog, perhaps.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: alison
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 01:30 AM

we have a great alternative to kennels... which is probably available over there too... we have pet sitters.. they can either "live in" or visit once of twice a day to feed / walk the pets... empty garbage and collect mail... works out much cheaper then kennels and the animals get to stay in their own environment.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: JennyO
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 10:56 AM

I assure you we have plenty of music, singing and dancing in the Coathanger City (the Sydney Harbour Bridge is often affectionately known as the Coathanger because of its shape).

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 06:39 AM

I want to go for longer, but the other half is worried about our aginig parents,[1 Mother each], and the cost of putting the dogs in kennels for that long too.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: Hrothgar
Date: 28 Jul 03 - 04:35 AM

If you come up the Newell Highway from Melbourne, the smart move is to give Steak-and-kidney the go-by, and keep heading north to Brisbane. :-)

We are really nice people, and the weather is better. Some music, singing, and dancing around, too.

You really should have given yourself more time .........

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 11:42 PM

G'day Giok,

If you drive up inland from Melbourne, you'll ptobably come up the Newell Highway ... through the riverina (another great wine area - pace Helen) as far as Forbes. Unfortunately, you will have just missed a great Folk Gathering over the "Queen's Birthday Weekend" ... 4 to 6 October, which will launch a CD of Forbes district collected songs - many about bushranger Ben Hall - and will have folk performers from all over. (Organised by folklorist / collector / performer Rob Willis ... and his wife Olya anmd lots of others.)

From Forbes you can head eastward through Bathurst, which has a very active folk club, and on over the Blue Mountains - where there are also several folk clubs, particularly at Blackheath. Either of the links above should tell you what is on when you are passing through. Mudcat's "Roo" - Valda Low, who has the Folk Australia site lives at Mt Riveview on the eastern side of the Mountains, so her site should be good for all the mountains clubs. There will be a Concertina Gathering at Lithgow, just before you go over the Blue Mountains ... but it's scheduled a week too late - 1 - 2 November.

When you get to Sydney, you'll be too late for North by Northwest - but may get to The Loaded Dog (25 October - inner west ... 2 miles from Sydney CBD). Alison's Toongabbie Music Club should be the night before at Northmead in the (northish)west (about 11 miles out of Sydney).

Up to Newcastle - the seaward end of the Hunter Valley is mostly by what passes for expressway in this part of the world and Helen can tell you what's likely to be on. The rest of the Valley is more "Scenic Route" grade roads, but well worth it. (And more very nice wineries!)


Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: Helen
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 09:11 PM

Ah, another pilgrimage to GodZone Country!! I live in Newcastle which is at the coastal end of the Hunter Valley. Lovely city, well worth spending a bit of time here. And the Hunter Valley is lovely too. I hope you like wine because our wineries are among the best in Oz, and the world too.

Looking forward to seeing you here,
Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: alison
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 08:35 PM

Here is an excellent site

Folk Australia maintained by mudcatter Roo.

it has details about clubs and festivals in all the states .... the festival guide especially should help as it has a month by month section.

October is a lovely time of the year to visit... not too hot yet!!

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: JennyO
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 11:40 AM

Well there's a few of us here in Sydney - Sandra, whose Loaded Dog folk club will be on Saturday 25th October, Alison, who has the Toongabbie folk club on I think the 2nd and 4th Fridays, and I have North By Northwest folk club on the first Thursday, which is Nov 6, but you might be gone by then. Bob Bolton usually can be found at the 'Dog', and I always go too.

There are also often sessions at people's places on Friday nights, as well as other assorted things. Here's a link to the Folk Alliance website, showing some venues for clubs and sessions. Just put in the state you want - NSW for Sydney and surrounds, and VIC for Melbourne and surrounds. I see a couple of them have not been updated though, so if there is one you are interested in, best to check first.

Australian Folk Directory

You could PM me if you like for more suggestions.

Jenny

Subject: BS: Going to Oz in October
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Jul 03 - 10:59 AM

We're planning a trip to Oz in October, and hoped to meet a couple of down-under Mudcatters. We will be flying to Melbourne about the 16th, and after a couple of days visiting friends, we will collect a hired motor home, and head towards Sydney. At present the plan is to go on the landward side of the mountains, and return, along the coast. We want to visit the Blue Mountains, and the Hunter Valley, but we haven't planned anything else yet, any suggestions from you guys on the spot will be gratefully received. Return date is about the 6/7th November, from Melbourne.
Giok