Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennieG Date: 05 Apr 05 - 04:09 AM I saw some of their Sunday night act in the Palladium, they were very entertaining! Amazing outfits too. One band that I would have liked to have heard but missed, except for about 3 minutes, was the New Holland Honeyeaters. When I heard them (while I was waiting in a coffee queue) they were singing an old ragtime song....I like ragtime. "Got a ragtime dog and a ragtime cat, Ragtime piano in a ragtime flat' etc. Cheers JennieG....slowly coming back to life after that rotten illness...even had to take time off work last week (bummer! *grin*) |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Apr 05 - 09:37 AM Gerry, phooey, another good act I missed. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 04 Apr 05 - 02:07 AM For me, the find of the festival was Dolly Putin and the Kazakstan Kowgirls. Think of the Spooky Men, but female, and in cowgirl outfits, and you're just beginning to get the picture. When they were funny, they were hilarious, and when they were serious, they could sing Macedonian with the best of them. I'd like to see them at a Sydney folk club, but they're from Tasmania (or Tasmanistan, as they call it), which is a long way off. |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Bob Bolton Date: 03 Apr 05 - 03:55 AM G'day Naemanson, Our St Albans (there's a Pommie one as well ... ?) is in a small village on the banks of a depression that claims to be the MacDonald River (in non-El Niño years)... about 70 kilometres (~44 miles) NNW from Sydney to a punt crossing (Wisemans Ferry) of the Hawkesbury River, then about 15 kilometres (~ 10 miles) of dirt road - or a different punt crossing and a bit more, but sealed, road up the other side of the river. It's been going for nearly 25 years now - and is a pleasant small festival to unwind at after the big 'un, our National. This year, Easter being fairly early, there is a bit more of a gap that most years, so we'll be fairly unwound by the time we hit Snalbans! Regards, Bob |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 03 Apr 05 - 03:44 AM Brett, St Albans is northwest of Sydney, about 20kms past Wisemans Ferry, if that means anything. It's only about as far as the Central Coast - only a couple of hours drive, but slightly more inland. It's a friendly little festival, in a very picturesque spot on the Macdonald River (which may or may not have water in it). It's one of my favourite festivals. The Pub and the Barn and the Church are all wonderful buildings oozing with character. We often seem to get lovely sunsets there around this time of year, too. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I even struggled along there one year on crutches when I had broken my ankle. Here's the website which will tell you more: St Albans Folk Festival Are you thinking of coming? |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Naemanson Date: 02 Apr 05 - 08:10 PM Where is St. Albans? |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Apr 05 - 09:15 AM tonight I got to the Pete Morton concert as my back felt sooo much better after my physio attacked (oops, treated) it, tho some of her treatment felt like an attack. I was able to relax over lunch, reading my book, without immediately lying down after I'd eaten. The concert was as always great & Pete will be back next year (hooray) I'll try scaning pics tomorrow afternoon & see how they go. I'll definitely include Danny again. He's included in my members pic, so too is Miguel Heatwole who wrote "The People have Songs" mentioned on the 'I can sing' thread. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Peter Kasin Date: 01 Apr 05 - 10:17 PM Souds like it was a winner! I saw Danny Spooner when he was at Mystic last year. What a fine singer and nice guy. Chanteyranger |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 01 Apr 05 - 08:30 PM I studied back massage for a while - sorry my arms aren't long enough... |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Apr 05 - 07:15 AM Robin - we expect to see you wearing those badges one day - in person or in a photo!! Jennie & Hrothgar - I have a lovely pic of you all dressed up for the Costume ball, I also have lots of pics of everything. I'm not sure when I'll scan pics for Mudcat cos I did my back in Wed night & I can only sit for short periods. I had to cancell out of helping out with 2 concerts this weekend, & 2 neighbours & a friend have offered to buy groceries for me. I'll be seeing my physio tomorrow (14 hours to go, not that I'm counting) & I'm much better than I was yesterday. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 01 Apr 05 - 04:57 AM 2 Badges arrived safe - Thanks - was away for a while. One for going - and one for coming.... ;-) Robin |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennieG Date: 01 Apr 05 - 01:24 AM I'm sure I will Roger....in past years I know Sandra has brought back a bug from Canberra but this is my first time! Although I suspect it was probably incubating for a while, I work in a school so there are 1000 peoples' germs around. So now I can't sing, can't talk, but I can whisper quite well! Cheers JennieG |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: freda underhill Date: 31 Mar 05 - 07:48 AM the spooky men's chorale - enter if you dare... |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Mar 05 - 07:45 AM The Spooky Men do not defy description - they are a magnificant choir, are led by one of our best choir masters & I believe they are members by invitation only. However their website almost defies description!! Spooky Men We are the Spooky Men We dream of Mastodons Practice mysterious handshakes and we can grow beards... if we want to the site includes pictures (including a gig they did in my suburb) ps. Jenny - Fritz is from WA & sings with The Rocky River Bush Band, who are really shanty singers & have toured overseas with Kate Delaney in the lineup, & Robin is from NZ. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Hrothgar Date: 31 Mar 05 - 04:01 AM I hope you're going to survive until August, Jen. |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 30 Mar 05 - 09:33 AM Oh yes, and some of the performances I did manage to get to, which I really enjoyed, were Cloudstreet, Pete Morton, The Shiny Bum Singers, the Spooky Mens Chorale (don't ask - they defy description), Donal Maguire, Danny Spooner, Kristina Olson, and the Massed Morris. I only saw a little bit of Les Barker unfortunately, but he is going to be at my folk club in April anyway. By the way, I forgot to mention that the weather was perfect - cool mornings, warm and sunny days, beautiful sunsets, and cool to cold and frosty nights with only a tiny bit of rain in the early morning one day (just as I was going to bed ;-)) |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 30 Mar 05 - 09:08 AM Nope, no cold germs in my car, but I did bring back a couple of Canberra flies. They came out today as I was driving. They wouldn't leave, so they are now ex-flies. I don't have a cold, but I did finish up with a good dose of "festival throat", from which I now seem to have recovered. I also seem to have come through remarkably well after 5 nights of sessioning till 5 or 6am. It was certainly worth it though. I don't think I've ever sung so much or enjoyed it so much. I particularly liked the really late night sessions in the stairwell and the session bar. There were some very good shanty singers from other parts of Oz whom I had never met before - particularly a guy called John from Western Australia, and a guy called Robin from Tasmania, as well as Fritz, who is always there, but I never see him anywhere else. We were singing at full volume for hours, so it's quite amazing really that my voice lasted as long as it did - it was just starting to get a bit scratchy around 5am on Monday. Probably the hardest part of the weekend was pulling up all the tent pegs out of the rock-hard Canberra ground. John had put up a very large tarp and secured it with lots of heavy duty pegs. It was a good structure though - big enough for my tent, John's van and all of the Roaring Forties to practise under. The Roaring Forties, with the help of Don Brian and John Dengate, performed the story and songs of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, with the emphasis on the Australian connection. John Dengate spoke the parts of the unpopular authority figures, as only an ex-schoolteacher can do, and was pleased to garner many boos and hisses. It all went over really well. I'm hoping to get them to do it at my folk club soon. Apart from that, there were all the stalls, street theatre and concerts we could handle, but as usual, I missed a lot of the concerts I had intended to get to. You set out to go somewhere, and on the way you run into so many people you know, and end up stopping to chat or have coffee, and all of a sudden, it's 2 hours later - but that is really the most charming thing about festivals. There's so much to do, and not enough time to do it, but in the end you don't care because it's friends getting together that makes the experience really special. So now we get to do it all again on a smaller scale at St Albans festival (Alison's festival) in less than 4 weeks' time. I can't wait! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Charley Noble Date: 30 Mar 05 - 08:58 AM Sandra- Thanks for being more descriptive about the Festival for those of us that care! I promise to provide equally lurid copy of what will happen at the Mystic Sea Music Festival in June. I didn't know that MY cold germs could be transmitted via the WWW, My apologies for posting on this thread last week... Feeling better, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:54 AM Bob, I put 9 films in for developing today - admittedly one was started in Sydney, but as there is still a film in my camera, it means I really did take 9 films @ the National, which means 9 x 37 pics = a lot of pics. I am sniffling away - at least my cold only started on the way back (there must have been cold germs in JennyO's car) so I was able to sing & sing & sing over the weekend. It was a wonderful Festival for singing - late night sessions, marvellous hymn & shanty sessions, & ballad sessions & I even went to other things like a concerts & a lot of folklore stuff. I also did a lot of socialising & pottering around & buying CDs (8 & I was also given one more!!) & books (Les Barker & folklore) Hrothgar's hymn session seemed to have less session singers & more religious folks than in previous years. Several mentioned that it started during the church service so they missed the beginning. For a while I shared my booklet with a lovely alto who stood up saying "I'm a Baptist & we stand up when we sing" so I said "We're session singers & we sit down". But I did stand up sometimes, cos there were lots of folks standing up. JennieG & Chris Maltby were there cos like me they enjoy a good song There were a lot of beautiful voices in the crowd, many were probably choir members, but I missed the usual suspects from the singing sessions, so when Danny Spooner arrived early for his Shanty session I joined him with the booklet & he added to to 'Amazing Grace' & the following ones. I have a picture from last year's session of Danny & Jack Halyard standing either side of Margaret Walters who has both hands over her ears as they belt out some rousing hymn. The late night sessions ranged from dozens of singers (& listeners) to small groups & included time in the stairwell, the best acoustic venue in the festival. This was the traditional singing site until the Singing Room was established a few years back & is a fantastic place to be with singers packed into evey inch & choruses echoing around the concrete walls. It's also a good place to increase the pain in a sore back & legs, but who cares until later? 'nuff for the moment. I'll get my pics tomorrow & now I can scan (& more importantly, reduce the size of the result) I'll send some off to Jeff asap. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Bob Bolton Date: 30 Mar 05 - 07:00 AM G'day again, Well it's nose down to the grindstone in the photo department ... I suspect that 590 photos were slightly more than absolutely necessary for the Festival's coverage ... Now I'm pondering all the DOS commands I should remember to rename the front end of the file names (to fit my filing system) - err... Regard(les)s, Bob |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennieG Date: 30 Mar 05 - 06:25 AM The worst part was coming back to reality, Sydney and work.....in that order. And the yucky sinus infection I seem to have developed along the way. Cheers JennieG |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Hrothgar Date: 30 Mar 05 - 04:06 AM The survivors loved it. Sandra has some photies too. |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Bob Bolton Date: 29 Mar 05 - 06:14 PM G'day Charlie, No ... I think we all survived the Festival ... now adjusting the the lesser state of reality. (It definitely happened ... or I'm going to find 15 rolls of blank high speed film at the processors this afternoon!) Regards, Bob |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Charley Noble Date: 29 Mar 05 - 04:19 PM Now I realize that Mudcat has been down a lot lately but I'm beginning to worry if there are ANY survivors from this festival. Do we need to send out a Rapid Response Team? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Peter Kasin Date: 24 Mar 05 - 07:42 PM Thanks. Have a great time there, JennyO, and everyone! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 23 Mar 05 - 07:53 PM Hi Peter. I'm leaving for the National in about half an hour. I have been meaning to answer your PM about Jo Cresswell, John Garden etc. I do know of them. I think I saw Jo Cresswell a few years ago when she was performing with Dave O'Neill, although I don't know her personally. I can't see her name on the festival program, but if I do see her I will say hello for you. As for John and Aylwen Garden's band, which is actually called "Earthly Delights" - it is a really excellent band - I love them. They seem to be mainly playing for dances now, so I don't see them all that often. My friend Dot would see them more often as she is into the dance scene, which I am not. I don't know John Garden personally either, but I'll watch out for him. The name Chris Duncan doesn't ring a bell though. John might know them better than I do because he used to live in Canberra about 10 years ago. I'll get him to PM you when we come back. It's a beautiful sunny day, I'm almost ready to go, and my camping spot awaits! Canberra here I come!!! Jenny |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Peter Kasin Date: 23 Mar 05 - 07:16 PM Is Jo Cresswell involved with this festival? Anyone know her? A good musician and dancer from Canberra. Chanteyranger |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 23 Mar 05 - 09:57 AM Refreshing for the last time before I go. John and Sandra are there. Apparently our camp is just inside the entrance to the performers' camping, near the trees and the shower block. The weather in Canberra is improving - there was no rain around 4pm and the wind was dying down a bit. Actually, the weather seems to be improving here too - no rain while I packed the car, which made things easier. One more sleep, and I'm off in the morning. Yippeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 22 Mar 05 - 09:10 AM I'll do my best, Charlie, but you know how it is with 6 days of Guinness, all night sessions, continuous entertainment and exotic food - I'll probably need a holiday to recover! At least my car will probably survive better than the old one I went in last year. The alternator was falling off by the time I got back last year. Now I have a much better car - a very nice Ford Fairmont station wagon with lots of room, very comfortable and runs like a dream (touch wood). As long as it isn't blowing a gale like it is right now, it should be a pleasant trip. |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Charley Noble Date: 22 Mar 05 - 08:43 AM Take careful notes! And if anyone survives, please report back. Cheerily, Charley Noble, now in the slow lane |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 22 Mar 05 - 08:23 AM Refresh again. It's windy and rainy in Sydney. John is leaving in a few hours. I'll be leaving on Thursday morning and in the session bar by Thursday evening. Drive safely everyone! Only 2 sleeps to go. Yay!!! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: gecko Date: 21 Mar 05 - 07:37 AM Hi Callie and all, Wish I were going too but there's always next year! I'm interested in the workshop you mention Callie - Songs of Survival - could you give some idea of the theme please? I realise that you probably won't have time before you go but I'd really appreciate it sometime later when you've got a minute. Yours in Unity gecko |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 21 Mar 05 - 07:27 AM Sandra, John said he wants to check with you about the time he is supposed to pick you up on Wednesday morning. I think he'll be home from work tomorrow about 2pm. Apparently the weather is a bit nasty in Canberra at the moment - big storm came through. However I looked at the forecast for Canberra, and it looks like it will be clearing up there on Wednesday and the days will be fine and warm till Monday. The nights will be cold of course. Meanwhile, the rain looks like it is going to hang around Sydney for a while yet. 3 more sleeps for me!!! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: freda underhill Date: 21 Mar 05 - 06:59 AM I may not get there til Sat or Sunday, I've decided to hang on here for a bit. Don Hopkins will be performing with Lucky Oceans, and will be there from Thursday. btw, Lola was a close friend of mine. |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 21 Mar 05 - 06:55 AM 2 sleeps for me sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 20 Mar 05 - 09:52 AM Up she goes! Only 4 more sleeps! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: GUEST,JennyO Date: 19 Mar 05 - 10:40 AM I'm here, but not sure for how long. My computer is supposed to be fixed, but it still seems to be acting strange. 5 more sleeps to go! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 19 Mar 05 - 09:59 AM 'Songs of Survival' sounds very interesting, Callie. I look forward to seeing you & the Songs. The Shiny Bums will be in the ABBA concert, too & as I am their No.# 1 fan, I won't be missing that. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 18 Mar 05 - 09:22 AM Hi Callie. The meetings are just a suggested time and place for those who happen to be free on any of the days. I doubt whether anyone will be there every day - there's always so much to do! For one thing, I'll be watching the Roaring Forties doing their Tolpuddle Martyrs presentation in the Merry Muse (from 12.45pm) on Saturday. Yes, I look forward to Mic Conway and the National Junk Band too. It is a shame. By the way, did you know that Ukelele Lola died? It was last year, but I only heard a few weeks ago. Jenny |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Callie Date: 18 Mar 05 - 09:12 AM Hi y'all. I haven't visited Mudcat for a while so have only just been reading this thread! Yes, I'll be there, but not sure if I can manage the regular meetings. I'm organising a get-together of the Sydney and Hobart chapters of a project called "Songs of Survival". We have to do a fair amount of last-minute rehearsal for our presentations and also for the Abba Competition (dammit - I have to stop by Ikea and pick up a few allen keys!!). So if I see you all gathered I'll come and join you, but my brain (and body) may be busy 'sorting stuff'. I'm feeling very disappointed that the National Junk Band isn't on the bill. I'm going to miss seeing them terribly. Hope this rain clears up! c |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennyO Date: 18 Mar 05 - 07:51 AM I didn't know when I would manage to get onto Mudcat again, cos my computer crashed. I'm up at my son's place tonight but will be back tomorrow with (hopefully) my computer fixed. Seems my RAM was busted. A quick trip to the computer shop tomorrow and $76 for a new one, and I should be all sorted and working again. Sorry you can't come Brett. I had a feeling that when you didn't mention it again, and with it being so close, that this would be the case. Hopefully you will make it next year. Singing with Hrothgar at 3pm sounds good, as well as our standing 1pm lunch. I'll be around from Thursday afternoon/evening on. Sandra, I'm sure I can manage another all-nighter. I've been practising :-) Woo hoo! Only 6 sleeps to go! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 18 Mar 05 - 06:40 AM maybe see ya Wednesday afternoon? sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: JennieG Date: 18 Mar 05 - 04:42 AM I am off to pack in a few minutes, we are driving to Canberra tomorrow morning. I haven't forgotten my Mudcat badge, it will be hanging around my neck on the other side of my volunteer badge. Let's see.....ball gown, dancing shoes, guitar, singing voice, food to eat, weatherproof coat, warm jumper, books to read, some embroidery and knitting to pass the time until Thursday...I should be right. Cheers JennieG |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 17 Mar 05 - 07:25 AM see ya when we see ya at the 2006 National or some other festival in the future sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Naemanson Date: 17 Mar 05 - 02:52 AM Sorry about the silence but the week got away from me and the phones were out. I cannot make it. If this were happening in April I might but not this year. Maybe next year or maybe there is another festival I could get to. Sorry guys. Have a great time! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:42 AM another possible meeting place - Hrothgar & friends will be singing in the session bar each afternoon, 3pm Robin - I expect to get your badge from Bob on Saturday & will send it away Sunday. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Mar 05 - 05:21 PM Only The Shadow knows! |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 15 Mar 05 - 07:59 AM attendees - me, JennyO, JennieG (& Himself), Hrothgar, Bob Bolton, Cloudstreet, Chris Maltby, Canberra Chris, Bruce from Bathurst (or is that Bathurst Bruce?, I can never remember), freda underhill, Jack Halyard, Callie, John in Brisbane, Patart (& Kate), SqueezeMe, a good crowd - any group of Mudcatters is a good crowd any others? Bates from Birregurra? suggested meeting places: The session bar (near the door to the oval?) each day 1pm for lunch Hrothgar's hymn singing Sunday, hours of unaccompanied singing, always fun And some of us will end each night in the Singing Room - Will I break my record of 4.30am?? Will JennyO stay all night again? Will we have a union songs circle with Pat, Kate & other members of the Blue Mountains Union singers again? I hope so. sandra |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: GUEST,sandra Date: 10 Mar 05 - 08:07 AM SqueezeMe - why not post on mudcat help & Joe or one of the clones (admin-type folks) might be able to assist see ya in a few weeks - sandrs |
Subject: RE: Oz Catters meet @ 2005 National Festival From: GUEST,SqueezeMe Date: 10 Mar 05 - 08:00 AM Reckon you're right, Bob. Just about everything else I can't make my computer do seems to get blamed on the firewall....Will fiddle some more when I get time, but will masquerade as a guest in the meantime. See you at Canberra. MC PS Did you get my email query regarding an early BMC member? |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |