Sydney, Australia

Subject: Sydney, Australia
From: Harvey
Date: 15 Apr 02 - 01:56 PM

I am planning to visit Sydney next February, 2003. I don't know anyone in Australia and I'll be travelling alone. I want to bring my guitar and find some sessions or singarounds to go to. Any Mudcatters in Sydney have any info I could use?

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: alison
Date: 15 Apr 02 - 10:03 PM

how long are you coming over for Harvey?

check out the Folk Australia website ... a wonderful source of info...

I run a folk club in Sydney..... and many other 'catters are involved in other clubs here..... so between us we can sort you out I'm sure...


slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Apr 02 - 11:34 PM

G'day Harvey,

Alison's tip, Folk Australia, is probably the best starting point for the Sydney area ... even though it covers all Australia, it has better local contacts for Sydney and is run by 'Catter "Roo".

Will you be sticking to the "Big Smoke" area - or getting out into the country a bit. The 'folk' scene often has more energy and local character outside of the big city, but it all depends on what sort of transport you contemplating.

Regards,

Bob Bolton (about 20 kilometres closer to the city, than Alison)

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 09:27 AM

And if you're still around for the second weekend in March the Port Fairy Folk Festival is on then (albeit 800 kms from Sydney) or further ahead the National Folk Festival in Canberra over Easter - bith large festivals that are well worth attending. (Port Fairy (Victoria) sells out well in advance so some pre-planning is required.

There are of course a number of smaller festivals on at other times.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 09:29 AM

Hello, Harvey

Like Alison I also (nominally) run a folk club in Sydney - "nominally" cos without the helpers I couldn't. Our club, the Loaded Dog,is just around the corner from Bob (who is an essential member & helper) - just a few kms from the CBD - we meet 4th Saturdays, & as happened last Nov when Charlie Noble was in Sydney we can also arrange sessions at the drop of a hat if 'Catters arrive on the wrong weekend.

As Alison says, pls supply more info!!

Sandra

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: alison
Date: 16 Apr 02 - 09:47 PM

Hi John, how's your snake?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: bflat
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 12:18 AM

Got to bookmark this thread as I too, am planning a trip from NJ in the US next year. I'll check back and see if all continues. Got a "mate" in Oz so I am eager to visit.

Ellen

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: GUEST,Nager
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 02:05 AM

Harvey: Don't forget to pop up to Troubadour (Woy Woy) and Newcastle folk clubs while you are in Sydney. Both are a quick and relatively cheap train journey from Sydney and we'll be delighted to see and hear you.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 08:54 AM

Harvey - you might revive my old thread "5-string banjo in Oz" for further helpful hints. My wife and I had a wonderful three weeks and thanks to Oz Mudcatters did not lose any time tracking down some wonderful sessions, song swaps, and concerts.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Guessed
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 09:16 AM

are the Three Weeds (Rose Shamrock & Thistle) in Rozelle (Sat) and the one on the Island (McQuarrie?) still going?

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Big Tim
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 05:42 PM

Private Joke: avoid Gerringong, promises, promises.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: alison
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 09:24 PM

I'm not sure but I think the Three weeds closed... or was taken over by cover bands.... and I have heard of a club on a island that met " along time ago"...... so I think that's a "no".

but there are quite a few clubs.... and many sessions in Sydney and around the area...... Nager do we know each other?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: nager
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 10:16 PM

Alison... We met a few months ago at the Bob Dylan night at Woy Woy... I won the prize for best costume... you run the Western Suburbs club?? If you want a reminder, my picture (in full disguise) is on their web site (enough said!!). I am also a semi-regular again at Newcastle after a lapse of a year or two. Paul

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: nager
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 10:19 PM

Postscript... the club on the island may have been the Dangar Island Club.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: JennieG
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 11:01 PM

The Three Weeds closed some time ago, I believe because of noise complaints from locals. The Harp at Tempe seems to have taken its place - anyone been there? I was going there last week to see Tony McManus but the dreaded lurgy caught up with me and I couldn't, I was too crook.
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Helen
Date: 17 Apr 02 - 11:30 PM

Hi Nager,

I haven't been to the Newcastle Folk Club for yonks but I used to be a card-carrying, fully paid up member. I still live here in Nukes.

Are you going to the St Albans festival around the 26th April?

Harvey, if you drop by Newcastle we can rustle up a session or two, or a spot at the Folk Club - Nager & I will practise our "networking" techniques to arrange it.

Helen

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: nager
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 12:28 AM

Hi Helen, yes we are hopefully going on the Saturday and Sunday.. blasted work commitments mean I can't manage the Thurs and Fri. Do you know Lisa and Brent and Ron etc from the folk Club... I began going there back in the 80s at Tighes Hill Tech when most of the crowd then were different people although a few long term members are still there. Paul

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: alison
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 04:00 AM

great... more opertunities for a mudcatter photo at St Albans then...

yes nager thats me... and how could I forget that outfit!!...lol

slainet

alison

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 10:06 AM

Gerringong again welcomes visitors! Sorted out by PM.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Fortunato
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 11:35 AM

JennieG

"the dreaded lurgy caught up with me and I couldn't, I was too crook."

Translation for us none Australians? Please!

Regards, Fortuanto

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 08:44 PM

crook is a "South British" (below the equator) expression roughly meaning "not 100%" or worse. Lurgy has currency in Brittain as well, it is a bug, virus, bacterium, or otherwise unspecified pathogen but usually equates to "cold" or "bad cold" if the lurgy has been "dreaded".
Too right blue..........

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Helen
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 09:41 PM

"Dreaded lurgy" is usually influenza. "The lurgy" is "a bug, virus, bacterium, or otherwise unspecified pathogen".

"Crook" means "sick" or if it is used as an adjective, e.g. "I have a crook back" means that there is something wrong with the body part. A very useful term. An American friend who came out here to work in a medical diagnosis place - sonar/sonic something-or-other - told a funny story about when he first started people would come into the clinic. He would ask what their problem was, and they would answer "I have a crook back/knee/arm etc". He was totally mystified until someone finally cleared it up for him. The other part of the story is that when he would say his name - Bob - people would say "Barb? Why do you have a woman's name?" American accents!

Paul, I probably have met you then. Did you go to the Dungeon at Tighes Hill, or just the hall at the front of the campus? Those were the places I went to most. After they moved I stopped going so much - for unrelated reasons. So, yes I know Lisa & Brent & Ron, & the other crowd.

Helen

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: nager
Date: 18 Apr 02 - 11:03 PM

Not to mention "Lurgi" used by Spike and the Goons back in the 50s and 60s. Helen, I missed the dungeon as I was in Sydney and then Mudgee before coming to Newcastle in the 80s. But used to go to the hall for a while until they moved.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 12:16 AM

G'day Nager,

You shifted our "GUESSED"'s guess to Dangar Island ...

I seem to recall that Dangar Island Folk Club closed, years back, when Danny Watson's family moved out, to Lane Cove, so their kids could go to Macquarie University (memory 'slippage' by GUESSED ... ?).

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: JennieG
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 02:25 AM

I believe that the term 'lurgy' did start with the Goons. However it has become such common usage here that I am sure a lot of people think it really is some sort of illness! According to the doctor I had a nasty dose of viral bronchitis so I have been laying low for a couple of weeks. Feeling much better now though.
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: GUEST,Helen, on hubby's computer
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 06:58 AM

Lurgy, by the way, is pronounced with a hard "g", like "gibber" and "goanna" and "Gulgong" ... and what do you mean my examples aren't helping at all?

Helen

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 08:41 AM

"Stir the Wallaby stew,
Make soup with the Kangaro's tail,
I tell you things got pretty crook,
Since Dad was put in jail.";~)

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 08:47 AM

I suppose "crook" beats the South Wales (old S Wales) oft heard expression. "I've been bad in bed, under the doctor".
This has been known to lead to some misunderstandings.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: Harvey
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 02:03 PM

Thanks to all for the info. I'll be in touch with some of you nearer the time, when I have a better idea what I'll be doing.

Subject: RE: Sydney, Australia
From: GUEST,Helen, on hubby's computer
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 06:45 AM

Nigel,

So, is like being in bed with a wog?

"Wog" can be either a derogatory term for an ethnic person, or it can mean a virus/bug in the medical sense. Also an unspecific medical condition, like being "crook".

Helen