Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival

Subject: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Mar 23 - 04:34 AM

well, there are not many sleeps before we head to Canberra for the National Folk Festival

Who will be there?

I know Hrothgar, JennieG & I will be there as Jennie & I, along with his lovely wife Anne are his Beautiful Assistants, at the best singing session in the whole festival - Community Hymn Singing - where believers & non-believers sing the grand old songs. It's on Sunday, & we're back in our normal venue The Terrace, 10.30 to noon.

I haven't had a proper look at the program yet as my printer is (still) not working. It's not easy looking across 14 venues & marking what I want to see/do ...

Martyn Wyndham-Read will be there, so too Billy Bragg, & Chris While & Julie Matthews. The only North American act I can see on the lineup is Tony McManus (Canada) & there are lots of great local acts, too - Keith Potger with Moya Simpson & John Shortis, Frank Yamma, Fred Smith, The waifs ...

Plus all the old favourites, singing & tunes workshops & sessions, late night singing sessions, street choirs, dances, poetry, kids stuff ...

I found this on a newsletter (22nd Feb), but it isn't on their website or facebook page - REJOICE: FLORAL FROCK FRIDAY IS BACK. Google is not very helpful - Torres Strait islanders celebrate Floral Friday, some shops seem to celebrate selling floral dressses for wearing on Fridays??

I look forward to further info & might even pack my only floral dress (red flowers on black voile) as it won't take up much room.

sandra

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Mar 23 - 07:02 AM

Sadly, Sandra, I do not own a floral frock....in fact I do not own a frock of any description.

Looking forward to seeing Tony McManus, he of the amazing fingers!

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GerryM
Date: 20 Mar 23 - 07:37 AM

Tony McManus put on a great show at Katoomba this last weekend. He may live in Canada, but the program had him listed under Scotland.

Teresa & I will be at the National, as always. Haven't looked at the program yet.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Mar 23 - 07:12 PM

Tony McManus was born in Scotland, but now lives in Canada.

I saw him and Alisdair Fraser play at the NFF in....oh, would have been the mid-90s. It was just the most wonderful concert ever.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Mar 23 - 09:45 AM

I was hoping to get to the Folklore conference but as I'm relying on friends for a lift & we normally arrive sometime after lunch ...

2023 NATIONAL FOLKLORE CONFERENCE

This will be on 6 April at EPIC in Canberra, immediately preceding the National Folk Festival, between 10am and 2.30pm.

The venue will be the Singing Room and the program will feature:

Keith McKenry. Searching for Ron Edwards -

Daniel Kelly. A Factory Lad: The Songs of Colin Dryden A Factory Lad - 5 blog posts
A Factory Lad: The Songs of Colin Dryden - 13 videos

W. Benjamin Lindner. Giving Birth to ‘Waltzing Matilda’: A Forensic Analysis

Jo Henwood. Happy Ever After? A Quest for Australian Fairy Tales and Fairy Stories

Emma Gallagher. Mythologising bushland: Bunyips, bush faeries and the childhood imagination in early twentieth-century Australia

Ruth Hazleton & Judy McKinty. The Pandemic Play Project: documenting kids' culture during COVID-19

=================

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Mar 23 - 05:18 PM

Heave.....

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Hrothgar
Date: 28 Mar 23 - 06:38 AM

Yair, righto

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Apr 23 - 05:56 AM

well, Jennie & Himself are on their way to Canberra to visit The One And Only Grandkid, then Himself will spend quality Father & Grandfather time with them, while Jennie does Festival stuff. Everyone will have a good time.

I now have a working printer & a well marked program BUT as only selected bios are on-line, I still know nothing about many acts! Stuff I want to see are circled with biro, yellow marker pen highlights the Gotta-see events, of course some gotta-see acts are on at the same time, sigh.

Of course I could try googling unknown acts, but ...

We are both hoping printed programs will be available even tho THEY know EVERYONE has a smart phone (except Jennie & me who have sensible phones) & the appropriate App so they don't really need to print many (any?) programs, of course lotsa' folkies do only use their phone. Dunno how they read events at 14 venues across 15 time slots on a tiny screen.

sandra (2 more sleeps to go)

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Guest Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Apr 23 - 11:56 AM

My friends & I arrived Thursday afternoon, I wandered around the festival & caught up with a few people., then spent the evening at the opening session/blackboard.

Friday was extremely wet - I really must get a full length raincoat as I said last week when i got just as wet in a similar downpour - but today my new shoes leaked as I told everyone who would listen & even those who didn't!

Friday's highlights - I spent time with my favourite folk family - got the usual hug around my leg, accompanied with the big grin & excited conversation from the youngest, plus a deep conversation with her older sibling.

Musical highlight - our trad music workshops for 8-18 year olds. Pre-teens from 2014 are now in tertiary education & are tutoring younger kids. I love watching them help beginners & intermediate young musicians.

singing sessions (yah)

Concert - Shortis & Simpson with Keith Potger discussing & singing his musical influences. At one stage they stopped singing& the audience filled the venue with one of the Seekers greatest hits! JennieG was in the audience & I sat with Teresa. I don't know where Gerry was, but he missed a wonderful concert

tomorrow will have less rain (YAH!)

Saturday highlight - Martyn Wyndham-Read presents I don't go shearing any more - https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8143658/80-years-old-and-still-touring-the-men-behind-this-national-folk-festival-must-see/

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GerryM
Date: 07 Apr 23 - 06:22 PM

Sandra, I slipped in to Shortis/Simpson/Potger a few minutes into proceedings & sat way in the back & didn't know Teresa was there or I surely would have joined you. I enjoyed the Martin Wyndham-Read, Warren Fahey presentation, you will, too.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Apr 23 - 07:39 PM

As Sandra said, it was a wonderful concert!

Decisions yet to be made about today's choices.

Tony McManus was fabulous.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Helen
Date: 09 Apr 23 - 12:23 AM

This afternoon I saw a news item on ABC TV (Oz) about the National folk fest. Kinda makes me wish I had gone, but ... too late now and Hubby wouldn't be interested anyway.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GUEST,sandra in canberra
Date: 09 Apr 23 - 10:23 AM

the last 2 days have been wonderful, apart from the usual sore feet & back. Lots of good company, interesting conversations, lots of photos taken

Our community hymn singing went well, apart from absences of a number of regulars & the early departure of other regulars for the   
john thompson memorial concert Celebrate at last the life, music and wit of our beloved John Thompson. This much-lauded songwriter, singer, orator, satirist and comedian was famed for his generous, hilarious and multifarious collaborations (Cloudstreet, Never the Twain, Warhorse, The Spooky Men's Chorale). Join Nicole Murray and Fred Smith as they curate this collection of songs and stories for John, performed by festival artists who knew and loved him.?Songs about him, by him and important to him - come and raise your voice in celebration of John Thompson. The 4000 seat venue was full, as was the stage & tonight's singing session continued the tributes. I was only able to see the last 20 mins, but it was recorded ... Cloudstreet on facebook

Tonight's singing session continued the theme.

Today's highlight for me was Martie Lowenstein's documentary on her mother, pioneering oral historian & folklorist Wendy Lowenstein. I had supplied some photos & other information & finally got to meet her & was amazed at the information she had found.

gotta get up early so must get to bed!

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Bruce D
Date: 10 Apr 23 - 08:29 AM

Hope everbody enjoyed the National, I was unable to attend as I'm on my way to a Conference in SA.
Should be there next year.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 07:56 AM

you were conspicuous by your absence!

I downloaded 572 pics from my camera & immediately deleted 30 as they were too blurry - more will be deleted when I examine each survivor. I would have taken more but the camera battery was exhausted! It was my second battery & I hadn't brought the charger as I've never used up 2 batteries before.

Then I used my phone, but haven't yet downloaded the pics as I left my charger in my hotel room (duh!)

Highlights -
Colonial ball (so many beautiful costumes)

Family Bush Dance with Band members aged from 13 to 30ish, & dancers from toddlers to adults

Launch of Keith McKenry's Ron Edwards and the Fight for Australian Tradition Ron Edwards (1930 – 2008) artist, craftsman and publisher of over 300 books had a passion for safeguarding Australia’s unique folk heritage for future generations. He has been dubbed “the passionate observer”. The launch will be held in the Trocadero venue on Saturday 8th April at 6:30pm in the form of a scripted concert featuring performances by Martyn Wyndham-Read, Jan Wositzky, Jessie Lloyd, Chloe and Jason Roweth, Nicole Murray, Bruce Watson, Margaret Walters and Kevin Bradley.

A workshop on the noseflute!! One of the founders of the Bush Music Club played a noseflute (image 6 of 9) before taking the whistle, so I wanted to see what it looked & sounded like - hmmmm

lots of traditional Oz bush music & lots of singing, & of course, the best bit of any festival - falling into good company, & catching up with old friends, & making new ones.

sandra

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 07:33 PM

What Sandra said.

Catching up with people not seen for at least four years was the best thing, for me.   Coming to the sad realisation that we may not see some again was not good.

Now I have a year to work on my stamina, to survive the next one!

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Apr 23 - 04:07 AM

a selection of pics from Bush Music Club events & members events will be posted on the Bush Music Club blog - along with a pic or two of other events!

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Ian Hayden
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 03:52 AM

I just chanced upon this thread on a rare visit to mudcat. I was at the Nash again this year and the general consensus was really positive after last year's hiccups. There are so many different musical strands to choose from. A standout for me was sharing tunes with a bunch of talented teenaged players in the session bar. These kids will hopefully form part of the foundation for the festival's solid future.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 07:05 AM

what a shame we missed you, Ian.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Ian Hayden
Date: 17 Apr 23 - 10:41 PM

Hi Sandra, I expect we'll meet up again at the DanceFest in June. An annual musical highlight that has been sadly missed over the last couple of years.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Apr 23 - 07:18 AM

I'll be there on the door.

Some of those teenagers you played with might be part of the Bush Music Club's Saplings program for kids approx 8-18. The 7 year olds who started with us in 2014 are now 16 & are tutoring today's new starters! The older ones are at University. Photos will go on BMC's blog when sorted, in the mean time I'll send you my favourite pic.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Helen
Date: 20 Apr 25 - 04:22 AM

A news article about this year's [Australian] National Folk Festival 'steering true' in its 59th year after facing financial difficulties

"In short: The 59th annual National Folk Festival is on in Canberra after last year's event faced falling attendance and ticket sales combined with rising costs.

"Artistic co-director Holly Downes says the festival has turned a corner, in part because it offers a wider range of entertainment than some other music festivals.

"What's next? Organisers are looking to next year's milestone, with the National Folk Festival to celebrate 60 years of music and dancing."


The article is a bit vague about the "change of direction", i.e. I suspect that is a diplomatic way of saying the organisers are steering it back on course. I don't know the full story but I did hear a few snippets.

The big news is it will be the 60th festival next year.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: JennieG
Date: 20 Apr 25 - 04:39 AM

The 50th, back in 2016, was a bit of a fizzer.

2016 was the 100th anniversary of the uprising in Ireland, an event which was featured more than the 50th anniversary of the NFF. Many long-time attendees, some of whom had been at the original NFF back in the 60s, were a bit ticked off. I understand that the Irish government, via the Irish Ambassador in Oz, threw some money at the festival to help promote an Irish presence, but as to whether anyone gave money to celebrate the 50th anniversary - ah, that I don't know.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GerryM
Date: 20 Apr 25 - 08:37 AM

I have the impression there's more spoken word this year than in previous years, and maybe more for the kids to do.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Bruce D
Date: 12 Jun 25 - 01:06 AM

Sorry I missed this years NFF, but transport issues prevailed, hopefully ext year.

Bruce D

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Hrothgar
Date: 12 Jun 25 - 02:58 AM

It is not going to be the 60th, and it is not the 60th anniversary of the first one.

...but I suppose it is something to use as a promotion.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jun 25 - 06:45 AM

Phyl Lobl wondered why they were talking about the 50th a year early

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: GerryM
Date: 12 Jun 25 - 08:46 AM

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Folk_Festival_(Australia) says it was first held in 1967, so the 60th anniversary won't be until 2027. 2026 would be the 60th festival, but since it was cancelled in 2020, and not a full festival in 2021, I figure the 60th festival will be in 2028.

Wikipedia also says, "However, it has not yet recovered from the leadership of Katie Noonan and Helen Roben, who made rash financial decisions and disrespected volunteers." I don't want to reopen that can of worms, I just want to express my surprise that such a strongly worded opinion made it into Wikipedia.

Subject: RE: Ozcatters & 2023 National Folk Festival
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Jun 25 - 10:21 AM

oops I made a typo above - 50th instead of 60th.

the wikipedia police removed a pic of descendants of one of the Bush Music club's early members signing a copy of his biography!! Pic of the book was posted with the permission of his granddaughter who is his literary executor ...

I just checked wikipedia & found this under Features -
For the 5 days of the festival, there is also an almost continuous Session in the world-famous "Session Bar", known as the 'London Underground' of folk music, that only stops briefly due to alcohol licence restrictions in the early morning and kicks off again in mid morning for another round the clock session of music and culture.

London Underground???

Details of the festival are a tad old - Bush camp, Balls,etc - & the latest revision was 22 May