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12 Aug 01 - 08:03 PM (#526362) Subject: 5-String Banjo in Australia? From: Charley Noble I'm planning to venture forth into Australia for a few weeks beginning in December, initially basing myself in an old friend's house in Sydney. I'd rather not bring my personal 5-string banjo, an old S.S. Stewart with me, and I''m wondering what my best option is for begging, borrowing, stealing or purchasing such an instrument there. I hear there's a fine music store called The Folkways. I would appreciate any serious advice, and even some frivalous comments. I'm also planning to track down some of the local Mudcats at their hangout at the Hotel Shannon, make a side trip to Blackheath, head out to Cairns, and then spend more time in Sydney. |
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12 Aug 01 - 10:13 PM (#526428) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JedMarum I think you'll need to be careful about using a local 5 string in OZ. You'll find, owing to the gravitational pull of the moon and opposing wind currents that the fifth string is placed on the opposite side of the neck. It seems a bit strange, but if you play in front of a mirror for a few days, your brain will make the transposition - and it'll be smooth sailing from there on out. |
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12 Aug 01 - 10:13 PM (#526430) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JedMarum ;-) |
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12 Aug 01 - 10:25 PM (#526436) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Sorcha Ah Jed, LMAO! You silly! |
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12 Aug 01 - 11:57 PM (#526476) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: DonMeixner My god, I never thought of that Jed. What will it do to a circle of fifths? Don |
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13 Aug 01 - 01:08 AM (#526495) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au I don't know if you got my last email Charley bedause I got a bunch of them back as undelivered at about that time. As I said, I can't help you with the banjo, but do email me if you didn't get my last one. Murray |
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13 Aug 01 - 01:24 AM (#526498) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Callie Hi Charley Don´t try Folkways - it´s a cd shop!! Instead, try Accordions & FOlk, and even some guitar shops. I´m happy to help you out and do some ringing around for you if you can be specific about what you´re after. I can also put the word out through the folk network and see if you could borrow one. Send me a personal mail and we can take it from there. regards Callie |
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13 Aug 01 - 08:30 AM (#526613) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Sigh...Not as brutal as I expected although I'll have to airdry the keyboard again to remove residual coffee...I suspected I might have particular problems playing the banjo, but I have been practicing while standing on my head. Fortunately, I do not play bluegrass style but an older form of 3-finger picking. Murray, I did get your e-mail and Blackheath is definitely on the trek for 12/5 and 12/6 and I'd love to join your session at The Ivanhoe. Callie, thanks for the info on instrument shops. I'm not terrribly optimistic about finding something I'll be comfortable playing in Sydney. I favor what we call old-timey open-backed instruments such as S.S. Stewart (mine's an Orchester model) or Vega Whyte Lady. Even when I've looking for a 2nd banjo I'm likely to be picky. Do you attend the sessions at the Shannon? I could make the ones on 12/7 and 12/14 if they're really happening. How are they run? Unfortunately, I'll miss out on the session at The Loaded Dog. Are there other sessions of interest in the greater Sydney area? I do mostly nautical songs and drinking songs, either traditional or traditional sounding. |
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13 Aug 01 - 02:28 PM (#526875) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Callie Hi Charley Besides sending you a PM, I forgot to mention that I think your repertoire will fit in really well here, so sing your shanties without fear! The Shannon is a sing around with many people doing chorus songs. Friday nights around 9.30pm to midnight. There are no other sessions for singers except for ones that we can organise for you! I´ve also just re-read your posting and notice that you´re coming in December. Early rather than late December is best, as we tend to close down over summer (from, say, a week or 2 before Christimas and through January). best wishes Callie |
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13 Aug 01 - 02:55 PM (#526900) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Now I've been reading all about poisonous beasties in Australia. This is all fiction, right? The kind of stories like we tell to tourists visiting us in Maine, just to unsettle them a little – monstrous lobsters that drag little children kicking and screaming into the surf, mosquitoes as large as condors that swoop down...;-) |
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13 Aug 01 - 09:04 PM (#527278) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JennieG And when you venture into the bush be careful of the drop bears - they are vicious little buggers, they are - Cheers JennieG |
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15 Aug 01 - 11:04 AM (#528481) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble "Drop Bears", OK. I wonder if they're as mean as the "Croco-Gators"? |
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15 Aug 01 - 11:25 PM (#528973) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JennieG I think they are probably genetic first cousins! Just take care when walking under big gum trees (or eucalypts if you prefer); make sure you are wearing a hard hat. *grin* Cheers JennieG |
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16 Aug 01 - 05:41 AM (#529054) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, Don't worry about those spiders ... the Blue Mts Funnelwebs are nowhere near as poisonous as the North Sydney variety (making them only the second-most venomous spiders in the world). The poisonous snakes (copperheads are first cousin to cobras ... but more vemomous) stay away from the Blackheath session - as long as they throw in a few Irish songs and keep the serpents in fear of St Patrick. I see, now I get my mind to read American dating order, that you will have to choose between Alison's Toongabbie Music Club on the 7th of December or the Shannon Session. I'll see if we can tempt Alison (and, maybe, Alan of Oz) down to the 'Big Smoke' on Friday 14th. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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16 Aug 01 - 10:54 AM (#529220) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Surely, there's a parody of "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" with appropriate howls...Blue Mts Funnelwebs...back to the reference books...hmmmmm.:-0 |
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16 Aug 01 - 09:16 PM (#529798) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, The Funnelweb occasionally encountered in the Blue Mts would be atrax formidabilis while the Sydney Funnelweb is atrax robustus. The latter is considered the deadliest spider in the world ... but there's about 4,000,000 people in Sydney who have never seen one! (And there are definitely none anywhere near the Shannon.) You could probably coax someone to sing The Redback on the Toilet Seat ... or I could be moved to give you The Spider by the Gwydir, about uncomfortable encounters with another bitey resident, latrodectus hasseltii, but Redbacks are comparatively harmless ... only a local variant of your Black Widow latrodectus maculatus, I mentioned Copperhead snakes to Liam's Brother a while back, in relation to an incidental encouter (fatal to the Copperhead, not me). He replied that there is a snake called a Copperhead in America ... and it is kind of deadly, which got the usual Australian reply "Yeah, but not as deadly as this one!". It was a few weeks later that he e-mailed and said he had just watched a nature documentary on snakes - and they said "Of the world's 10 deadliest snakes ... 10 live in Australia!" Probably true, but we don't have to walk around the shopping centres with snakebite kits in our back pockets. I see quite a few deadly snakes, which is more than the average Aussie does, but I leave them alone and they reciprocate. Friends living in the Blue Mts are involved in wildlife rescue ... and that includes snakes. Helen horrified my wife Patricia by stepping outside the hose with a sugar-bag and a forky stick ... and bagging a pair of Copperheads ... to release them somewhere safer (for the snakes!). Regards, Bob Bolton |
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16 Aug 01 - 10:28 PM (#529830) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Bob, thanks for your tactful reassurance. Judy and I are pleased that inhabitants of your side of the world co-exist peacefully with poisonous spiders, snakes and croco-gators. I'm now checking Travelsmith for Kelvar long underwear. |
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28 Aug 01 - 12:25 AM (#536571) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,John in Brisbane Charley, apart from Bob's friendly assurances there really are some mean critters around once you cross the border into Queensland. You should take notice of the risks from estuarine crocodiles and box jelly-fish around Cairns, But the biggest risk to tourists in SE Queensland is drowning in the surf beaches. Swim in a patrolled area and you will be fine. Apart from that, don't spend too long in the sun and try to avoid the airline food. Regards, John |
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28 Aug 01 - 01:46 AM (#536584) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Charley. I saw a Saga 5 string banjo at Dixons Music in Chatswood and a 5 string banjo at Venue Music in the city. I don't know if they would be willing to hire them out. I will contact them tomorrow. Bob ain't kiddin' Murray |
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28 Aug 01 - 04:45 AM (#536605) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Charley, I have a friend in Sydney who fixes up and sells banjos... he might be able to help you out... drop me a line and I'll give you an address..... the loaded dog isn't really a session as much as a "sit down and be entertained" folk club... although you might be able to get a floor spot..... the one I run Toongabbie Music Club does have a session... there are details of other folk clubs etc. at the Folk Australia site slainte alison |
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28 Aug 01 - 09:51 AM (#536704) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Plans are firming up. We arrive in Sydney on Saturday, December 1; take off for Blackheath for a few days, return to Sydney, fly out to Cairns for a few days, return to Sydney and fly out Friday, December 21.
Alison, the Toongabbie Session does sound interesting. What time does it begin and how long does it generally run, how does it run, and I'm assuming that the general location is somewhere in Sydney's western suburbs? |
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28 Aug 01 - 10:21 AM (#536726) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Charlie.. the website gives you most of the info... but you would be at our Christmas party if you were there 14th Dec..... so food, drink, carols, and music....... there are heaps of places to stay in and around Blackheath... Murray will be able to sort you out there I'm sure..... slainte alison |
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29 Aug 01 - 01:33 AM (#537220) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au The Gardiners Inn Hotel is a decent B&B, although the B is on the scanty side. You can also stay at the Ivanhoe Hotel itself. The Ivanhoe offers an accomodation service. I will get the details. Murray |
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29 Aug 01 - 01:37 AM (#537223) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au I meant to say, Blackheath Folk is not a sessions either. It is a sit down and be entertained, Floor spots are freely available, however. Murray |
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29 Aug 01 - 08:59 AM (#537385) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Murray – Wondering which "B" is on the scanty side? "Floor spots are freely available," does that mean that other "guests" could arrange to sing a song and if so, how? We have quite a variety of music gatherings here ranging from concerts, open-mike sign-ups, regimented song circles, to free-for-all sessions and I would like to avoid doing something arkward in Blackheath; I'm quite happy to sit and be entertained if that is what's happening that evening; who is scheduled to be the entertainer and what kind of music do they do? |
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30 Aug 01 - 10:14 AM (#538085) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble In a PM, Bob Bolten suggested that the Loaded Dog might have an early Session on Saturday December 8th, instead of its usual 4th Saturday slot. I've gotten mixed feedback as to whether this venue is actually a "session," any thoughts? And Bob was saying that the location was in Annandale which falls through the grid of the maps we're looking at in our stack of genuine Australian guide books; can anyone clarify the location so that someone parachuting in might land there? |
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30 Aug 01 - 08:30 PM (#538568) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison it's NOT a session... its a "sit back and be entertained" + a few floor spots... you'll probably be there for their Christmas party too.... check out the link to Folk Australia above..... it'll give you details.... check your maps again Charlie... its basically right beside Glebe, Annandale community Centre, Johnston St, Annandale. there are sessions around the place... most of the hotels in the Rocks have "Irish" type sessions... callie.... is the Carlisle one still on? slainte alison |
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31 Aug 01 - 02:24 AM (#538751) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, The Dog is generally is generally a concert format that starts with 3 or 4 floor spots by non-booked singers /reciters /occasionally players. Greg has just advised me: Don't have anyone booked for December at this stage. My usual format is that I do it on the second or third Saturday in December, and I usually book one act, and then run a blackboard for the rest of the night. I also incorporate a "party" atmosphere by throwing on free food and drink on the night, and encourage lots of festive type participation. I therefore try to tailor an act that In book to that style of evening. To date I have had the Fagans 2 years ago, and the Shiny Bum Singers last year. So I am looking for a suitable act to fit that "party" type format. I take this to mean it will be on, it will be mostly a blackboard night - performers can write their names up and are in the bill. (In contrast to my sole visit to Toongabbie ... before Alison took over ... when you didn't have a hope in hades of singing if you were born more that 5 blocks away ... and even then the person running the show ran a review in the state folk mag and complained of 'foreigners' taking up the singing spots. I hear things are much better today!) Regards, Bob Bolton |
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31 Aug 01 - 02:34 AM (#538754) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison must have been LONG before I took over!!... I don't remember it being like that and I've been there 8 years!!! come and visit us again Bob.. I think you'll be VERY pleasantly surprised.... slainte alison |
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31 Aug 01 - 02:37 AM (#538755) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Alison: It was Alan of Oz's 50th birthday party. Maybe that affected the format ... Regards, Bob Bolton |
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31 Aug 01 - 03:00 AM (#538760) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison that was a special night.... if I remember rightly the Fagans were the guests and we had a room full of people... so probably floor spots were hard to come by.... but I wasn't really there for long... I'd just had a baby and popped in to say "hi".... so I can't really comment on what went on.... but I'd hate to think we have that sort of reputation.... it's not like that at all........ I don't have guest nights anymore..... most people who come along want to play.... so I give them what they want...... slainte alison |
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31 Aug 01 - 09:46 AM (#538886) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Well, I think I can find the Loaded Dog, now that a few more clues have been provided. I just trek on down Johnston Street following the hair of the dog. Wonder what "floor spots" are and "running a blackboard?" Maybe it's a sign-up for those with running shoes...It does sound like the Loaded Dog is a better place to try singing than our favorite pub, the Press Room over in New Hampshire, a place where you have to crank up your voice several steps to be heard above the general roar, and then be heard no more for the rest of the evening while your vocal chords cool off. Bob mentioned by PM a few nautical singers who hang out in Sydney. Any chance of hooking up with them? Are they card-carrying Mudcats? |
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31 Aug 01 - 05:05 PM (#539223) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Callie Not many Mudcatters are Aussie folkies, or the other way round. But I'm happy to organise a gathering of the nautical ones, once I have specifics. The Loaded Dog can be a little hard to find. If we know you're a definite, i'll ask the organiser if you can have a spot (say a couple o' songs) and then stand out the front and wave banjoes so you know where it is! There is still a trad Irish session at the Carlisle Castle Hotel on Sat nights. It tends to be a bit exclusive. A lot of people go, but there's a definite in-crowd kinda feel, and also the feeling that you've got to play a certain way or a certain repertoire or else you're deemed to be unsuitable to receive the free whisky at the end of the night. I'm just back (literally) from overseas travel, Charley. I haven't asked around about a banjo yet. As soon as I find my sea legs as it were I'll get cracking! Callie |
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31 Aug 01 - 05:35 PM (#539257) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Callie, welcome back and thanks for your additional information. I would love to sing a couple of songs at the Loaded Dog if possible. As I've mentioned most of my songs are nautical, or drinking songs, or Southern Appalachian Mountain ballads. I've also been known to sing an outrageous parody or two. If there is a theme for the evening, I'll see what I can warp to comply.;-) A smaller gathering of nautical singers would be greatly appreciated. I'll probably bring my own banjo, and see if I arrive with enough pieces to re-assemble it.:-( Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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01 Sep 01 - 06:51 AM (#539543) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, Floorspots are singing spots for non-booked singers ... anyone in the audience who can twist the club organiser's arm far enough has a chance. The Blackboard concert is a way of running an open note with something almost like planning ... at least for a folkie! The Roaring Forties are the shanty types mentioned and most are regulars or irregulars at the Dog. Margaret Walters (also performs with John Warner, as Walters & Warner) is not a memeber (I think?) but looks in. There is currently a thread Wild Bass Strait about one of John's songs. If you PM me your friends' address out here, I can give you more precise instructions on finding the Dog. As I PM'ed ... Greg is still looking for a main act for the December night/Xmas Party. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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01 Nov 01 - 05:25 PM (#584241) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Time to refresh this thread. It's 30 days and counting till my wife and I fly out of Maine and land, hopefully, in Sydney. Anything new in terms of music sessions, folk concerts, general get-togethers for swapping songs? I still haven't tracked down the nautical singing group The Roaring Forties. Any clues, Bob? I'm still not sure what happens at the Blackheath gathering on December 6th, whether I should come expecting to lead a song or two or whether I should only listen; either is fine with me but I'd like to know beforehand. Murray? The Hotel Shannon looks good on December 7th; is the building still there? Toongabbie looks good for December 14th; I'll have to refresh my favorite Christmas Shanties. Alison? Love to have a spot at the Loaded Dog - Callie? Is there a firm date for which Saturday this will be? I think I'll risk bringing my own banjo, and explaining to Customs that contrary to rumor it's really not a dangerous weapon, at least when properly tuned.;-)
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01 Nov 01 - 08:58 PM (#584348) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, Good to hear you are still Aussie-bound. I'll pick up a few loose threads and get back with an update. I don't think you PM'd me with the suburb/area in which you will be stopping (... ?). This would help in sounding round for locations / help with lifts to clubs &c. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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01 Nov 01 - 09:15 PM (#584356) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: John in Brisbane Hi Charlie, I'm not from Sydney, but know of a couple of locations there where you may be able to pick up a second-hand instrument. If you've reconciled bringing your Stewart that's fine, but you should be able to pick up (say) a Washburn for about $200 US. Selling it again before you leave may set you back (say)$80 US to get a quick sale. If you think that this is better than risking your valued instrument (and if you can stonach playing something else) let me know via email. Regards, John johninbrisbane@lycos.com |
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02 Nov 01 - 09:30 AM (#584586) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble John in B - I would be interested in at least visiting a vintage music shop in the Sydney area if you identify some likely suspects. I've added extra layers of duct tape to my banjo case and I'm sure it will travel fine, to somewhere... |
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02 Nov 01 - 11:52 AM (#584706) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Shimbo Darktree Charley,
I'm from Brisbane, like John (except not originally). |
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02 Nov 01 - 03:58 PM (#584945) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Fortunato While it is NOT true, Jed, that the 5th string is mounted on the bottom of the banjo neck, it IS true that a banjo flushed down the toilet will spin round COUNTERCLOCKWISE until sucked down into the void. |
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02 Nov 01 - 04:01 PM (#584950) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Shimbo - thanks so much for your kind advice. I was planning to comphensate for "downunderness" by standing on my head while playing the banjo. I'm too old to learn new chords and tunings, but I'm still reasonably limber. |
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02 Nov 01 - 05:33 PM (#585014) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen Charley, If you are planning to be anywhere near Newcastle, 100 miles north of Sydney, I could probably arrange for you to perform somewhere. Please make sure that you keep us posted on your itinerary when you get here, so that I can get down to Sydney if necessary to meet you. Helen P.S. If you don't find a 5 string banjo I could let you have a go at 34 strings on my harp. |
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02 Nov 01 - 08:03 PM (#585098) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Helen - We might take a trip up the coast from Sydney the week of December 17th, but we're still trying to leave some time unscheduled so we can respond to suggestions when we're on the ground. One of our nephews is engaged to a Newcastle lass and I suppose we could inspect her family estate. I've always wanted to retune a harp to G-modal...what an opportunity! |
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04 Nov 01 - 08:04 PM (#585941) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Roaring Forties Member Hello Charley Someone said you were looking for the Roaring Forties in Sydney. I can't get Mudcat from home and am sending this from work. If you email me at home, I would be happy to provide you with any information I can regarding the Forties and folk events in Sydney. For example - there is a concert on Saturday 15 December where the Roaring Forties are singing traditional folk carols, the Wheeze and Suck band are doing their very English traditional mayhem and there will also be a performance of a Mummers play. Email me at: mwalters@mail.usyd.edu.au Have a good trip - Margaret |
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04 Nov 01 - 11:35 PM (#586006) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, I presume that the 15 December gig Margaret (whom I mentioned in my PM) mentions could be The Loaded Dog, which is usually on the 4th Saturday ... but seems to creep back to 3rd Saturday in December ... and (sort of) clash with our Bush Dance - half a block along Johnson Street, Annandale. I tend to spilt my time equally between events! Makes for a good mix 'n match Christmas smorgasbord. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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05 Nov 01 - 08:19 AM (#586068) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble I may have to brush up on some of our traditional nautical Christmas shanties such as "Rolling Down to Bethlehem;" life is full of hard choices.;-) Old Washburn banjos can be very nice; I was just checking one out that's listed on Ebay. |
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05 Nov 01 - 10:21 PM (#586404) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Charlie.. we'd be delighted to see you at Toongabbie on the 14th although I won't be there..... in fact so many of us won't be there because of gigs we have moved our Christmas party to Saturday 8th at 3pm onwards....... but you are more than welcome to join us......... slainte alison |
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06 Nov 01 - 08:45 AM (#586638) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Alison - Well, we might roll along with you to December 8th, which front-loads our schedule more but then it's nice to meet the people we've been chatting with (they can run but they can't hide!). We were planning to catch a ride out to Northmead with Bob Bolton who hasn't been to your new location but assures us he can navigate the western suburbs. I have my star charts and with Judy's intuition, I'm sure we will be within cell-phone range...It's the Milky Way Galaxy, right? |
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06 Nov 01 - 11:37 PM (#587185) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison just get north of Parramatta.. and ask for me by name... the red head with the Belfast accent... someone will sort you out!!!.....lol failing that I think Bob has my phone number slainte alison |
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07 Nov 01 - 08:59 AM (#587354) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Callie I'll investigate Loaded Dog dates and organise a spot for you! Callie |
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07 Nov 01 - 11:27 AM (#587467) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Callie - thanks for following up the Loaded Dog contacts; I promise to do something tasteful. My wife Judy, however, is beginning to worry that with so many music events on our schedule we may not get to see the real sights of OZ such as that GIANT BANANA and the GIANT LOBSTER. Bob Bolton assures me he can reliably navigate the Sydney neighborhoods without my star charts, which is just as well given the fact that the charts are from the northern hemisphere and I doubt that any stars I'd be familiar with would ever be visible...This may even make sense... |
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11 Nov 01 - 12:37 AM (#590123) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day again Charlie, I see (having read my copy od Cornstalk Gazette)that the 15 December gig Margaret Walters mentions is not The Loaded Dog but Almost Acoustic at the Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre ... another inner Sydney Suburb the one that rosellas ... colourful medium size parrots ... are named after, if you believe the Oxford's etymology (which I don't ... totally). I'll ask Margaret for more details ... and chase Greg Bull to see what and when for the Dog. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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11 Nov 01 - 07:02 AM (#590182) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day again Charlie, I just tracked down Greg to his new address (er ... within walking distance ... in Leichhardt). The Loaded Dog will be on its designated 4th Saturday in December (since it would otherwise clash with Almost Acoustic) ... so it will be a day after you depart these shores ... can't win 'em all! Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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11 Nov 01 - 09:40 AM (#590222) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Well, looks like we'll be searching out Almost Acoustic on Saturday, December 15. Maybe we could do an informal get-together on Saturday, December 8th or join Alison and her gang on that date if we're sure of where they'll be. See above thread - I'm not sure. |
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11 Nov 01 - 03:11 PM (#590331) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble And those persistent references to the "Bush Club" (may be related to our "Bush League"?), these wouldn't be fan clubs for our current President or his father? This trip may become more bizarre than even I was initially envisioning... |
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11 Nov 01 - 10:50 PM (#590566) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison we'll be at our usual scout hall on 8th Dec from 3pm slainte alison |
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12 Nov 01 - 07:44 AM (#590706) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, For better or worse, the Folk organisation with which i have been associated for some 40 years took the name Bush Music Club in 1954 ... referring to the aim to preserve the frendly, sharing music traditions that still survived in "the Bush" ... the country areas of Australia. I guess that you could say "Bush Music" is something like "Country Music" - without any of the commercial hype - or aims and less 'American' focus. Lately it has been dominated by hoards of energetic dancers, outnumbering singers and reciters about 10:1! (but it gives the musos something to do ...). We'd like to say it has nothing to do with your Pres... but our re-elected Prime Minister would like to think everything does. Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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12 Nov 01 - 08:14 AM (#590715) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Thanks, Alison. And, Bob, thanks for the reassurance, I think...Maybe folk partisans in Maine and Australia could set up a formal exchange program. We could start out by shipping you Kendall Morse, but believe it or not we want him back.;-) |
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12 Nov 01 - 08:27 AM (#590720) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Coyote Breath Not in Oz but I'd like to comment on what I have been reading with this thread: Charles (Noble); it sounds like the Aussies will go to great lengths to help you feel welcome. And all the rest of you up-side-downers: good on ya. It is incredibly cheering to see how inclusive you folks are. Makes me feel like trying to stand on my head too! I trust all will have a bonzer time and God bless and keep you. |
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13 Nov 01 - 02:36 AM (#591401) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison thanks Coyote breath.... and we'd do the same for you or any of the other 'catters who come across to Oz too.... slainte alison |
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13 Nov 01 - 07:43 AM (#591467) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Coyote Breath Just for giggles. When I saw the title of this thread I thought:"did I miss something in my favorite movie?" I couldn't remember anyone playing a banjo in "The Wizard of Oz" and then I thought: "Maybe its a thread about "O Brother, where art thou?" What I'm trying to get at is; how do you get Oz? is it from "Aussie"? |
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13 Nov 01 - 06:11 PM (#591928) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison no doubt there is a good explanation..... like "its shorter to spell"..... I reckon "Aussie" looks too much like the french "aussi"....... but I'm just guessing.... *grin* slainte alison |
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13 Nov 01 - 06:35 PM (#591955) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Coyote Breath, I was going to say; "If you give an Australian a shorter way to spell it, he will." ... but I looked at the first thread and realise we have to blame Charlie Noble ... must be a pernicious influence from looking too closely at larrikin Aussie songs to adapt to Portland, Maine circumstances. Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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13 Nov 01 - 10:19 PM (#592086) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Coyote Breath Well good! I glad I'm not the only confused one. Now that I think about it, if The Wizard of Oz had a banjo in it it would BE O Brother! |
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13 Nov 01 - 11:49 PM (#592169) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen I thought the use of "Oz" came from the controversial magazine/newspaper which Richard Neville wrote for, decades ago. By the way, "Aussie" isn't pronounced with an "ss" sound, but with a "z" sound so it sounds like Ozzie and not Oss-ie. Helen |
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14 Nov 01 - 12:00 PM (#592464) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble A-yup, maybe it's safer to stay in Maine.;-) |
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14 Nov 01 - 06:56 PM (#592804) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JennieG There is an old song (I don't know the age of it, Bob may know) Is he an Aussie is he Lizzie, Is he an Aussie is he eh, Is it because he is an Aussie That he keeps you dizzy Lizzie....and so on! Ah, they don't write songs like that anymore do they - probably just as well, really - Cheers JennieG |
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15 Nov 01 - 12:31 AM (#592980) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day JennieG & Charlie et al, Without checking back to sources, always thought that one dated to the end of WWI ... about the time some Australians were taking English war brides home to Aussie (or, in the case of the Boltons, having young ladies follow them home on the quickest steamship they could find ... having a time imperative to become 'honest women'! (Dad was born on the ship ...) Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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15 Nov 01 - 04:25 AM (#593047) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Callie Hey Bob, Helen, Alison, Charley - how about a Mudcat get together when you're here? The rest of us never see each other anyway ... You're welcome to come to my house on, say, a Sunday arvo for food, drink & song. Callie |
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15 Nov 01 - 06:42 AM (#593078) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Callie, Charlie, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all, There has been some behind the scenes organising going on for a quite session in the inner suburbs ... not too many details as the residents of the target are on the other side of the world. I will e-mail Charlie off 'Cat and see how much stretch there is.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX More Thoughts on Oz (carries on from 5 or so posts up) |
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15 Nov 01 - 08:52 AM (#593118) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Judy and I would welcome "Mudcat get together" while we're in Sydney, with the usual caution that the hosts should be careful to make it known that "not-yet-Mudcats" and "no-way Mudcats" would also be welcome. Bob Bolton probably knows more about our calendar than we do at this point, and it would make great good sense to consult him. With regard to my "banjo", the original subject of this thread in case anyone has forgotten, I have been reinforcing its case with duct tape, planning to stuff it with underwear, socks and other assorted apparel. I can hardly wait to pass through security checks and customs. |
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16 Nov 01 - 12:25 AM (#593733) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison I'm game if I'm free.. but finding time is very difficult.... its a busy time of the year... but let me know if you manage to sort something out..... slainte alison |
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16 Nov 01 - 07:55 AM (#593846) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie ... and Alison, Toongabbie Music Club's 8 December night sounds like a good open session (Alison?) for those who can find their way out west to Northmead Scout hall, Whitehaven Road. Others sessions need some scouting out for house capacities! Charlie: Getting you concertina though customs and security should not be too bad ... now your concertina ... that looks very like a nail bomb on the X-ray screen (so does a button accordion ... I once made the mistake of flying to Adelaide with my button accordion as hand luggage ... on a flight that stopped over at Canberra ... extra security for politicians (?!?) ... everyone off the plane and back through security ... luckily the X-ray lady was a squeeze box player! Regards, Bob Bolton Regards, Bob Bolton |
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16 Nov 01 - 05:24 PM (#594261) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Bob - The "banjo" may be considered a dangerous weapons given its steel strings, the tools I keep in its case's secret compartment, not to mention what would happen if someone tried to play it if it weren't perfectly tuned. I'm leaving the contertinas behind, under the tender loving care of my nephew who has generously agreed to housesit for us while we're downunder; hopefully he'll remember to water the plants, not the concertinas, and feed the cats and the birds (not to each other). This trip is definitely happening - two weeks to go! |
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17 Nov 01 - 02:09 AM (#594535) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Yep its an open session.. and you're all more than welcome to attend........ it starts at 3pm and I will have to leave around 7,30pm to go to a gig.. but if any of you are around in the afternoon... come on over... slainte alison |
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17 Nov 01 - 10:09 AM (#594630) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Do I have this straight? The Toongabbie Folk Club is holding a special get-together in Northmead at their usual location on Saturday, December 8th, beginning at 3 pm and ending whenever. |
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17 Nov 01 - 06:59 PM (#594833) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen Damn-it, damn-it & double damn-it - Hubby's work is having a (boring - did I say that?) work dinner that night, but I may be able to come down for a few hours in the afternoon. I'd rather go to your session than some boring work dinner - especially since it is a very rare Mudcat gathering, with very special guests from o/s. Damn, damn, damn & damn - spelt with a capital 'F'! Helen
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17 Nov 01 - 07:40 PM (#594851) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Yes Charlie.. we are having our Christmas party on the Saturday (8th), because a lot of us have gigs on our usual club night and we would have had to miss the party... so we moved it!!! the club will still be on Fri 14th... but there will be a lot of us missing.... come on down Helen, the more the merrier.... slainte alison |
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18 Nov 01 - 08:57 AM (#595047) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble So when were "The Roaring Forties" getting together at Almost Acoustic", was that Saturday, December 15? And where is this club? |
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19 Nov 01 - 12:24 AM (#595440) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, The 'Forties will be doing shanties and (nautical?) carols at the Almost Acoustic ... Balmain (?) ... another inner suburb - next to Rozelle. Myself, I'd walk from Ron's place ... but I'm starting to sound like one of these compulsive walkers/joggers/runners (the middle aged male equivalent of anorexia nervosa). There will also be Wheeze & Suck Band (strange bunch of Poms ... but good fun) doing an appropriate Mummers' Play. Anyway, I'll get all the details from Margaret Walters and send them off. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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19 Nov 01 - 01:26 PM (#595683) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Thanks, Bob. And is anyone planning to join the Shannon Session on Friday, December 7th, 8:30 PM, if that's the right information? |
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20 Nov 01 - 07:59 AM (#596244) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, That Almost Acoustic show is on at the Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre – which is (logically) in Rozelle as I think I told you some time back ... not in next-door Balmain, as I seem to have said the other night! It's about 2.5 km, as the crow flies, from where you will be stopping ... but something more than 3.5 km by roads that have to take into account such uncooperative features as Blackwattle Bay, Rozelle Bay and White Bay. Since it also takes in a large concrete slab of the Western Distributor, I will concede that it probably is not an ideal walk, so I can give you a lift in the car, if needed. I have not got to the Shannon lately ... other things have got in the way, lately. I know Margaret has been getting along ... her main worry is the the landlord might have a restaurant group booking, coming up to Christmas ... ? Regards, Bob Bolton
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20 Nov 01 - 09:42 AM (#596331) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble With regards to the viability of the Shannon Session, I'm reminded of path of devastation that the Portland Folk Club carved through various pubs and restaurants in the 1980's. We were truly the kiss of death, not one place survived hosting our sessions. Let's see, there was The Chowder House, The Irish Village Pub, Rosie's, The Marble Bar, Mulligans, and the Swedenborgian Church (which still exists). Our venues probably collapsed for reasons unrelated to our sessions but I doubt if we were very much help; few of our members paid for more than one drink and we did irritate regulars who were trying to watch their favorite games on the TV, play darts, or pocket billards; there were times when our singing and all of the above activities were going on simultaneously. One owner fled to Florida in the dark of night, another plowed his motorcycle into a tree. We thought of putting this together into a song, with a verse for each venue, but we doubted that it would earn us much of a welcome to the next venue. I'm looking forward to exploring the greener field of Australia!;-) |
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20 Nov 01 - 09:56 PM (#596921) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, I don't know if I should mention that one of the owners is a folkie ... Anyway, we can all bowl in ... and if they've hired out the venue ... the session is back at ... ? Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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21 Nov 01 - 08:20 AM (#597111) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Another thing I'll be looking for while in Sydney, besides banjos, is used bookshops. There are several that offer nautical song and poetry books over the internet through www.booksfinder.com that I have dealth with over the years but I'm not sure if they actually operate storefronts. I'm particularly interested in books by C. Fox Smith, Stan Hugil, William Doerflinger, and Joanna Colcord. Old bookstores and music shops - what joy! |
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21 Nov 01 - 05:45 PM (#597522) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen A friend of mine used to run his used bookstore by e-mail, possibly through booksfinder, and he focused on nautical books, among other things. I think he is overseas now, and I haven't heard any news of him for quite a while. His book business is called Petebooks, I think. Helen |
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21 Nov 01 - 09:38 PM (#597638) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charlie, A short walk up the hill (OK ... 1 km) from Ron & Barb's place will bring you to the front of a semi-detached, on Glebe Point Road, housing Cornstalk Books (old Australian books) and Da Capo (secondhand music books and sheet music). Well worth the stroll! Regards Bob Bolton |
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27 Nov 01 - 03:31 AM (#598309) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen A very strange thing happened on the same day I posted my last comment. I e-mailed my friend with the book business, because he has hotmail, and because this thread reminded me to try to contact him, and then I drove to the supermarket/post office etc & as I was driving along I thought that the car ahead looked like his car. He parked near the supermarket and I parked a little further along and started walking back to see if it was him. It was. I haven't seen him for nearly a year, and on the very day that I finally try to track him down, there he is. Amazing. I know that this is complete thread drift, but it was a pretty incredible coincidence. To bring the thread back on track, slightly, he said he still has some nautical books, but not as many as he used to have. Helen |
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27 Nov 01 - 09:20 AM (#598432) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Well, on Thursday our time we'll be winging our way to Oz, arriving there Oz-time Saturday morning. There we'll crash for 24 hours or so with one of our hosts (contact Bob Bolton for further details). Next we'll secure a rental car for our trek to the Blue Mountains, basing ourselves in a lovely looking place in Blackheath where we'll try out the hiking trails, riding stables, and the Thursday night music gathering at the Ivanhoe Hotel. Then it's back to Sydney in time for the session at the Shannon Hotel on Friday. Then it's the Toongabbie Folk Club on Saturday. We disappear off the screen to Cairns for a few days, gathering at the Havana Cafe on Wednesday December 12. We'll be back in Sydney to catch The Roaring Forties' holiday program at Almost Acoustic. Then we are unsceduled, other than frantic shopping, for the rest of the time until we fly out Friday, December 21. It may be time to start a new thread, with a link back to this one if anyone is interested. We should be able to provide some updates while we're staying with our Sydney hosts. Thanks again to all you Oz folks who have been so helpful!;-) |
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28 Nov 01 - 07:59 PM (#599798) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Still rattling 'round, packing up stuff, unpacking the kittens, re-packing the stuff...looks like we'll get our first winter storm some time tomorrow. Hope we'll off and flying before that. Now where did I put my ATM card? Here, kitty, kitty... |
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29 Nov 01 - 08:22 AM (#600096) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Out the door and into the snow! What joy! |
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02 Dec 01 - 06:59 AM (#602084) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day all, Well, Judy and Charlie arrived intact ... the lovely old |
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02 Dec 01 - 07:09 AM (#602088) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton Let's try that again ... the last one bolted! G'day all, Well, Judy and Charlie arrived intact ... the lovely old S.S. Stewart banjo also intact ... the banjo case not quite so! I did tell Charlie I was coming to look over the case and see if it was repairable ... but talked all evening and came home none the wiser about damage to the hinges. Now if any other Sydney 'Catter happens to have a spare banjo case ... Anyway, Judy and Charlie have settled in at their friends' house in Glebe - and are setting off tomorrow for the Blue Mountains and touristy pursuits. Thursday night, 6 December, calling in at Blackheath Folk Club. Back to Sydney on Friday and (since the Shannon Hotel is booked out for a Christmas party, the session is moving to a lovely studio in Darlington owned by a friend of Margaret Walters (Walters & Warner, Roaring 40s). Any 'Catters interested, ring me on (02) 9569 7244 in early evening. Saturday afternoon is a Christmas special afternoon at Alison's Toongabbie Music Club (Scout Hall in Westmead - details from Alison or me). After that they are heading north to Tropical Cairns/Pt Douglas (Phwewww...!) More later. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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02 Dec 01 - 06:01 PM (#602308) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Well, it's all true. The banjo arrived safely, as did Judy and myself, but the banjo case is pretty much trashed. Looks like we're going to have a fine time swapping songs, poking around old book shops and sightseeing. Bob has been more than gracious, as have our Sydney hosts. Now it's off to the Blue Mountains in the rental car on the "wrong" side of the road. The Blackheath session will be this Thursday at the Ivanhoe Hotel in case you'd like to join us. We's really here! What joy!;-) |
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02 Dec 01 - 10:35 PM (#602499) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen I'll try to weasel out of hubby's Christmas dinner on 8 December so that I can go to Toongabbie, but it might be a whirlwind trip, there and back in time to go to the dinner as well. How are you getting to Queensland - driving, flying, whatever?? If you are driving maybe you could stop over for a quick visit in Newcastle. On second thoughts - it's probably out of your way if you have a tight schedule. Anyway, I'll do my best to see you at Toongabbie. Helen |
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06 Dec 01 - 04:10 PM (#605141) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen I don't think that I can get down to Sydney tomorrow and still get back in time for the work dinner, so I'll have to go to one of the other planned rendezvous points & dates. The Toongabbie thing starts at 3pm and the dinner starts at 7pm, on a lake cruise boat, so once the boat departs the chances of joining the party diminish rapidly. Since it takes at least 2 hours to get back from Sydney I'd have to leave there at 5pm at the latest, which means I'd just be enjoying myself & I'd be packing up to go home. I thought hubby might have come down with me, but he can't because he is on stand-by for work, so that kills that idea too. I'll copy the itinerary and work out when/where/how etc and let you know. Helen |
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06 Dec 01 - 07:19 PM (#605294) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Callie Charlie - I'm going to try to get to the session tonight, but am working til about 11.30. I'll try try try! Welcome to Sydney! Callie |
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07 Dec 01 - 02:07 AM (#605506) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz These reports are going to be somewhat erratic. We're back in Sydney for a couple of days before flying off to Cairns. Last night at the Blackheath Folk Club gathering was especially gratifying. John Dengate, a Sydney topical songwriter, was the featured performer. I also got to meet Denis Kavans who was a labor organizer among the building trades in Sydney for years and is a fine poet. Bob Bolton drove up from Sydney to join the group, sang "Across the Western Plains", which tied in to Denis Kevans' "Across the Western Suburbs", an urban renewal protest song that I'm very familiar with from Wooloomoloo in the late 1970's; I got to sing the Portland, Maine, version from our working watefront referendum of the mid 1980's; I also got to sing "Dead Dog Cider" and "Yangshi River Shanty" which seemed to meet with general approval. The gathering was well attended and well coordinated. There was quite a range of songs from traditional Australian bush songs, poetry, and tunes to more contemporary goodies. I hope I have a copy of Kevans' "Ode to Concrete", a lovely thing for those anticipating the Blue Mountains being tastefully paved over. Tonight we search out wherever the Shannor Hotel session has adjourned to, a studio on Ivy St. I'm told, beginning around 8:30 pm; I'm sure I'll be the only one there on time...Tomorrow it's off to find the Toongabbie Folk Club in the North Mead Scount Hall, beginning about 3 pm. Hey, we actually saw a kangeroo in the wild. They really exist beyond theme parks. What joy!;-) |
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07 Dec 01 - 09:22 PM (#606128) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Well, we're continuing to blaze our trail through the Sydney neighborhoods, searching out places to graze and water, and of course to sing songs. Last night we tracked down the Shannon Hotel remnants at Alex's lovely studio. There were about twenty people there, all fine singers. I was particularly pleased to meet Margaret Walters and John Warner, two members of the nautical singing group "The Roaring Forties." My group Roll & Go has a lot in common with this group which helps explain how quickly we picked up on each other's choruses and "in-jokes." I do believe my chorus for "Dead Dog Cider" has been re-planted in fertile ground. This afternoon at 3 pm we drop in to the Toongabbie Folk Club in Northmead at the Scout Hall in Moxham Park for some holiday songs. Then tomorrow we disappear off the schreen to Cairns for a few days. We will be at the Havana Cafe with the Cairns Folk Club on Wednesday if anyone is within range. Cheerily, Charley and Judy |
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13 Dec 01 - 05:54 PM (#609267) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Back from tropical Oz, the Port Douglas/Cairns area, where there are indeed jillions of pretty fish, all to be seen swimming amidst the reefs. Snorkling was great! People were generally very helpful. We visited the local Habitate for wildlife and got to feed lots of roos in all sizes; they tend to grip your hand tightly so you don't move away. We were also besieged by hundreds of geese and ducks who had flown in to the preserve to also enjoy the feeding. No luck with the Cairns Folk Club; we found the Havana Club where they were supposed to be, renamed The Ant, but were told their last meeting was the previous week; one never can check too many times. Tonight, we'll attend the Shannon Hotel session and tomorrow listen to the Roaring Forties do their Xmas program at the Almost Acoustic. With a little luck I'll be able to refit my trashed banjo cash back together for one last trip. In addition to duct tape, the folks around here use fence wire. That should do it. Maybe I should check out the Disney shanty singer listing in Tokyo on the way back.;-) |
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13 Dec 01 - 08:05 PM (#609354) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Nice to see yourself, Judy, Bob and your 2 American friends at our little club Charlie.... and it was great to hear you sing.... enjoy the rest of your stay... slainte alison |
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13 Dec 01 - 09:58 PM (#609412) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day all, I have sent a couple of photographs to Pene Azul ... I hope that some can be displayed somewhere as a chronicle of Charley Noble & LD's southern peregrinations. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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15 Dec 01 - 02:58 AM (#610254) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Nice turnout at the Shannon Hotel session last night. In additional to some wonderful songs that I could anticipate was a whole set of contemporary political ones with all sorts of references to political personalities which were totally beyond my world; seemed like these songs were in constant state of revision, if not derision... This evening we play audience at the Almost Acoustic in Rozelle at the old church on the corner of Darling St. and Victoria Rd. if the directions are correct. We'll get to hear The Roaring Forties and another group called Wheeze & Suck do their special holiday program. Maybe they'll be a party afterwards.;-) |
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16 Dec 01 - 01:58 AM (#610850) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz What a wonderful traditional Christmas season song party at the Almost Acoustic last night. The Roaring Forties were in great form, really needed no amplification. And the Wheeze & Suck band did an updated mummers play and a fine set of dance tunes and songs. The old church hall was packed (Margaret Walters had graciously reserved us great seats) and audience participation can only be described as robust! Tonight we have a quieter evening with Sydney political singer-songwriter John Dengate, whom we met last in Blackheath. And with the help of our host's son Robert, who is a building contractor, we have managed to rebuild the banjo case so that it should survive the trip back to the states even if run over by one of them Sydney buses going the wrong way down the street.;-) |
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16 Dec 01 - 05:57 PM (#611196) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Had fine time last evening with John Dengate and his wife Gale. They served us a version of Wallaby Stew, washed down with bottles of intriguing white and red wines. John knows any number of traditional sea shanties, many with their unique Australian verses, some of which he has composed himself. I got to sing some of my own political songs, old music hall numbers, sea shanties, and a few unclassified dities. It was amazing how quickly John caught on to "A Cowardly Act", that tragic song about the cow who sinks the Japanese fishing trawler; I swear there were tears in his eyes! Now it's off to find the highest order old books shop in Sydney, All at Sea Book Shop (check it out at Bookfinders.com). There are rumored to be shelves there of old nautical books, songs and poems by such fine writers as C. Fox Smith. |
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19 Dec 01 - 11:54 PM (#613464) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST,Charley Noble in Oz Made it to All at Sea Books and heard many a tantalizing tale about C. Fox Smith's books, including the story of an original manuscript of some of her sea poems which I missed by a month or two. Hope it's found a good home. Just spent 3 days about 2 hours west of here at the Horvath (our Sydney hosts)week-ender, off the expressway, off the asphalt and down a winding gravel road into what looked to me like a landscape from the Ethiopian highlands, gentle hills and valleys, ancient Eucalyptus groves, new pines, grape vineyards and olive groves, lots of horses. Their house overlooks a small winding river valley, with a pool at the bottom large enough for comfortable swimming. We got to do that. Spotted several roo across the river in park-like fields, all grazing happily away. We went on a long walk along the river, staring into a variety of wombat holes, and sure enough on the way back there was a wombat of truly awesome dimensions. We think we saw the Southern Cross that night but there must have been a jillion or so stars, all appropriately upside down. Now we've got to do our final re-packing, for that long flight home. Ugh! Thanks again to everyone, especially to Bob Bolton, who helped make our trip so special. And, yes, we'd be happy to reciprocate in terms of hospitality in Maine if any Mudcats from Oz wander our way. Cheerily, Charley Noble, still in Oz |
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20 Dec 01 - 05:03 PM (#613862) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Helen I'm sorry I missed seeing you. (I've been organising a Carols by Candlelight which was on Wednesday night, so everything has revolved around that for the last few weeks. I've been eating, breathing and sleeping it.) I'm glad you enjoyed your stay, and got to see some of the wildlife - folkie & animal varieties! (Nothing so feral as a folkie??) Enjoy your trip back, and maybe you can post some pictures on the Mudcat Photos page. Helen
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20 Dec 01 - 05:24 PM (#613870) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: GUEST Thanks, Helen, We have had a lovely time. Judy and I have coffeed up again on Glebe Point Road at our favorite pastry shop, and it's off to the international airport. Now why is something stirring in my luggage?;-) |
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20 Dec 01 - 11:54 PM (#614033) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day GUEST (we hope that is Charley ...), I hope you're not trying to smuggle out any of our rare and protected (and highly venomous) snakes ... spiders ... toxic box jellyfish ... they'd all freeze, back in Maine anyway! I second (indeed, maybe first ... ) Helen's suggestion of a photographic record of the southern saga. I sent off some from Blackheath and Toongabbie to Jeff (aka Pene Azul ... ?!?) last week - and Sandra Nixon tells me she has some nice pix from the Alex's studio session at Darlington and Almost Acoustic at Rozelle. I haven't yet seen the pics I passed on to Alison appear on the Toongabbie Music Club web site (Blicky). I have to steel my nerves to face that damned, intrusive, irradicable 'pop-up' internet gambling box in order to look at the site ... and I have not done so in the last few days. Anyway, Charley and Judy, have a good flight back ... and work at readjusting your internal thermostats and/b> the circadian rhythms. I'll send off the words / dots / MIDIs / MP3s? of those Bernard Bolan songs I mentioned on the 'phone last night - sometime after Christmas. That way you get time to settle back in ... and I get time to get the tunes right! Regards, Bob Bolton
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20 Dec 01 - 11:57 PM (#614034) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton Errr... G'day again Charley (et al)..., I seem to have left out one lousy left hand angle bracket ... I wasn't really shouting - just typing badly. Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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21 Dec 01 - 10:55 PM (#614547) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison Haven't appeared yet Bob.... they've changed the rules and I can't update the page just at the moment..... but they will appear soon.... can't do anything about the ads I'm afraid... slainte alison |
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22 Dec 01 - 01:32 AM (#614617) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison OK... photo page is now up here... mainly photos of clubs members... but there is one of Charlie. slainte alison |
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22 Dec 01 - 11:30 AM (#614770) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Judy and I got just back to Maine more or less on schedule, with all our baggage including the banjo (no stowaways;-)). It's a looooonnnnngggggg trek but we certainly had a lovely time in Oz, and we want to thank you again for your hospitality and good humor. Here, things are quite Christmas-like with trees all covered with snow, about 6 inches on the ground, and ice on the walks, and somewhat colder than Sydney, about 30 degrees outside and probably not Centigrade. The cats seemed pleased to see us, especially Judy's fluffy black one, and they were well cared for. No family emergencies while we were away and only a few plantive telemarketing appeals on the answering machine. Hope you all have a lovely holiday season, and give our love to your neighboring roos and wombats. Charley Noble, back in Maine
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03 Jan 02 - 07:32 AM (#620298) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day all, NOW ... in glorious technicolor ... you've read the thread - now see the saga! Charley and LD's southern oscillation is documented in Mudcat Links (photos ... Events ...). Thanks to Jeff (aka Pene Azul) for a sprightly job of pasting them up on the display wall. Regards, Bob Bolton |
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13 Feb 02 - 04:55 PM (#649390) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Refreshing for Guest Iceman. |
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19 Dec 02 - 10:08 PM (#850874) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Refreshing for nostalgia sake. Hard to believe that we were there only a year ago. What joy! Thanks for the hospitality. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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20 Dec 02 - 06:34 AM (#851020) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Sandra in Sydney Hello, Charlie & Judy Have you set a date for your 2003 trip yet? sandra |
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20 Dec 02 - 09:55 AM (#851128) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JedMarum did you ever get used to that fifth string on top, instead of on the bottom of the neck?? ;-) |
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20 Dec 02 - 10:35 AM (#851144) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JennyO Hi Charley. Funny this thread should pop up now as you answered my post on the thread about "Hillcrest Mine" only a couple of days ago. Maybe that's what jogged your memory? I went to the Almost Acoustic concert that you were at last year but I don't remember you. I wasn't a mudcatter then, in fact I have only had a computer for a few weeks.I just read right through this thread and I'm sorry I missed all that. I actually run a folk club called "North By Northwest" in Gladesville, only about 10 minutes drive from Almost Acoustic. We are usually on the first Thursday of the month, but I see you had something on that night last year, so you couldn't have come anyway, even if you had known about it. It was Sandra who told me about Mudcat and I seem to be addicted to it already! Now if you are coming again next year, I'd love to connect with you and if you happen to be around on the first Thursday of the month, even better! We'd love to have you, and you would be guaranteed of a floorspot, at the very least. We also have the occasional Saturday afternoon singaround, but that only happens about once every two months. By the way, Sandra runs the Loaded Dog now! It's an excellent acoustic venue. Hope you make it back here soon! Jenny |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:09 AM (#851595) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Bob Bolton G'day Charley, Coincidental that you should revive this thread ... with its old heading. I have just come home from the auction of my late Dad's home- the house where I grew up ... and in the back of my car, along with various family mementos, were two 5-string banjos ... both belonging to my older brother, Eric. Eric has not been able to play for some years due to work-induced hand injuries and both banjos need repairs, so I said I would take care of them while I locate parts and, if necessary, repairers. One is his original banjo (apart from the home-made one with a 10" cake pan as a head that we made back around 1963) ... This is a fairly standard Vega, that has a crummy tailpiece that has broken in several places. The other is an old (late 1890s?) Clifford Essex, marked: CE SPECIAL XX. This really needs to have more modern pegs fitted to handle steel strings, to replace the old friction pegs - a compound construction with black plastic heads driving turned metal pegs. Otherwise, it seems to be a nice old banjo - old vellum head, open back, ebony fretboard, dark (rosewood?) neck, lots of mother-of-pearl inlays, 29 tensioners. I need to chase up some banjo repair types to see what we can do to get it going ... if not Eric! Reagrds, Bob Bolton |
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21 Dec 02 - 10:12 AM (#851657) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Nice to hear from you all! Not sure when we may be rematerializing in your part of the world. Our nephew Bert and his new wife Bron are by reliable satellite scanning now residence in some part of New South Wales described as Terrigal. Is there such a place? Bob- it sounds like your Clifford Essex banjo is well worth carefully restoring. I'll see if I can find one on e-Bay to view, or maybe you can start a new thread with links to an image or two. Jenny- we'll certainly add you to our list of valuable music contacts. Now if some of you folks would work your way over here to Maine, we would certainly like to reciprocate with one of those incredible Mudcat song parties that people will be fondly remembering for years. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:00 PM (#851938) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: JennyO Charley, Terrigal is on our Central Coast, about 50 mins drive from where I live in Sydney. My son and a few other friends live up that way. Also on the Central Coast there is a thriving folk club called The Troubadour. Jenny |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:28 PM (#851946) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Stewie Here's a link to a brief article on early history of the instrument in Oz: Banjo in Australia --Stewie. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:44 PM (#851955) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Very nice article, Stewie. Thanks! Charley Noble |
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22 Dec 02 - 07:45 AM (#852114) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Sandra in Sydney Hello, Charlie I miss logging on for a day & miss a lot!! But I got home far too late last night. Bob & I were both working at the Bush Music Club dance - him taking photos (naturally!!) & me collecting money (naturally - my favourite job at any folk club, when I'm not taking photos!!). Terrigal isn't very far from the Dog (& Jenny's club is about 15 minutes closer to Terrigal). Jenny - Charlie is already booked for a floor spot whenever he gets here (his trip will include a 4th Saturday!) Have a look for the photos of his 2001 trip under Quick links, then Members photos & events. Charlie & Judy were sitting not far from you. Sandra |
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22 Dec 02 - 07:57 AM (#852117) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: alison you were missed this year at our Xmas party... a few people asked "where is that American bloke who was here last year?" slainte alison |
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22 Dec 02 - 10:15 AM (#852174) Subject: RE: Help: 5-String Banjo in Oz? From: Charley Noble Alison- I do have fond memories of singing at the Toongabbie Folk Club, one of my Christmas shanty parodies I believe and surely "West Indies Blues." Last Friday I was doing similar things at our local coffeehouse, the Sidedoor Coffeehouse in Brunswick. Now it's back to wrapping up all them Roll & Go CD's and T-shirts for the lucky relatives. Cheerily, Charley Noble |