YACKANDANDAH FOLK FESTIVAL Line Up 2010

This year, for our thirteenth year, we have the most sensational line up of artists, to appeal to all ages and tastes. From the one-man band to a group of 20 brass players and our terrific Festival Choir, we guarantee that we are able to offer you a weekend of inspiration and pleasure. Prepare to be excited - VERY EXCITED!

International Artists

Big Low- Netherlands

Central to Big Low are the semi-autobiographical songs and stories of Australian ex-pat Dan Tuffy, currently resident of the Netherlands. Lying somewhere between atmospheric folk/pop and ragged bluesy cabaret the Big Low sound is ornate, cinematic and deeply personal. A host of other-worldly instruments such as the bandoneon, tape effects, cajon, kora and darbouka shift the focus away from your regular singer/songwriter fare towards shores far more exotic and adventurous. With a penchant for the strange and beautiful they will waltz you down the road less travelled to a destination that is utterly mesmerising. In 1985 Dan joined a weird little band from Tasmania called Wild Pumpkins at Midnight. A string of record releases and international tours followed as the ‘Pumpkins’ relocated to London and later to Amsterdam in a career that spanned 13 years and 9 albums. Dan now lives in Holland and has recruited two astonishing multi-instrumentalist virtuosos (Michiel Hollanders & Marc Constandse) for Big Low. He established the Smoked Recordings label and produced 2 Big Low albums and 2 EP’s, all of which have received praise bordering on hysteria in Europe. http://biglow-online.com

Emily Smith - Scotland

Scots Singer of the Year 08/09 & winner of the 2002 BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Emily Smith is widely recognized as one of Scotland’s finest interpreters of traditional song, a singer and songwriter of exceptional talent and skilled multi-instrumentalist (Keyboard & Accordion).   Smith is accompanied by New Zealand born husband Jamie McClennan (guitar, fiddle & whistle). Smith and McClennan are promoting their latest release of lesser-known songs by Robert Burns, ‘Adoon Winding Nith,’ alongside tracks from Jamie’s new instrumental album ‘In Transit’ and Emily’s song based ‘Too Long Away’. Consummate performers, Smith & McClennan are often described by reviewers as “exquisite, mesmerising and enchanting”.  www.emilysmith.org 

www.jamiemcclennan.com
 

WhiteTop Mountaineers - USA

Authentic American old timey, bluegrass & mountain music.The Whitetop Mountaineers is made up of the young duo, Martha Spencer and Jackson Cunningham. They live on the highest mountains in Virginia. Their shows feature authentic old time country duet singing, up-tempo old time fiddle, claw hammer banjo, bluegrass mandolin and guitar instrumentals as well as high energy Appalachian dancing. They attend to their craft with obvious passion, exuberance and soul. Martha and Jackson have carried their music across the USA, UK, Ireland and Australia; winning the hearts of audiences with their heartfelt and energetic performances. http://www.whitetopmountaineers.com/

  

The Beez- Germany

Returning to Yackandandah are the wonderfully entertaining and magnificently clever, The Beez are a four piece from Berlin playing a fast and furious mix of Eastern European and Western pop hits with accordion, acoustic bass guitar, two acoustic guitars and four voices. The Beez don´t cover songs in the conventional sense - they rearrange them, much in the same way as Al Capone might in bygone days have rearranged the face of a hapless business associate. Queen´s Bohemian Rhapsody, Nirvana´s Smells Like Teen Spirit, Music by Madonna all get overhauled. From Pop to Punk, from Polka to Salsa, they all get that Beez facelift and a new lease of life. http://www.thebeez.de/ 

Truck Stop Honeymoon- USA

Truckstop Honeymoon play play tough, funny, hi-octane songs from breakneck breakdowns to heartbreak waltzes. Like a Dodge with a burnt out clutch, their music has two speeds & no reverse. Twangy Diva Katie Euliss pounds a doghouse bass while Mike West picks his banjo mercilessly. A wonderful collaboration producing a barnstorming punk rock take on vaudeville banjo and bluegrass music. They sing songs & tell stories too funny not to be true. Since Hurricane Katrina washed them out of New Orleans, they have toured relentlessly, playing festivals from Norway to Tasmania. http://www.mikewest.net/truckstop_honeymoon

Ann Vriend- Canada

Vancouver-born pop and blues folk chanteuse Ann Vriend is a lyrically profound and heart-wrenchingly honest songwriter, whose unique vocal mastery and self-accompanying prowess on the piano turns heads no matter where she goes. Vriend's songs maintain a natural knack for melody within a range of genre varying between indie folk, college pop, and jazz influenced numbers that maintain a consistency of sound in her immediately recognizable vocal and lyrical approach. These talents have taken Ann around the world, headlining at festivals in countries such as Germany, Canada and Australia. www.myspace.com/annvriend 

 

Tenzin Choegyal & Tashi Lhunpo monks –Tibet 

Festival regular Tenzin Choegyal draws on his traditional Tibetan roots to create music which expresses his thoroughly modern life. Since his world music debut in 1997 in Australia, Tenzin’s cantering rhythms, soaring vocals and exquisite flute solos have enchanted audiences around the globe. Tenzin feels a particular connection to the music of the wandering people of his homeland. Tenzin plays the dranyen (long necked lute), lingbu (transverse flute) and various ritual objects and is well-known for his extraordinary vocal ability. He has recently received the BEMAC World Music Award at the 2008 Q Music Awards for his “White Crane Song”. Tenzin will lead an innovative workshop in the Tibetan style of vocal projection and shares his knowledge of the techniques and the stories told through songs of Tibet's nomadic people.

The monks as proficient mandala makers will painstakingly lay in place millions of grains of coloured sand on a flat platform over a period of 4 days from Thursday 18th March at Yackandandah Community Centre in High St.. Once the mandala is completed, it is then dismantled, then swept up into an urn. In a ritual procession, the monks will carry the sand to the Yackandandah Creek, where it will be symbolically scattered to demonstrate life's impermanence.

 

and from Australia

The Hottentots

Two of Australia's finest singer-songwriters, Flemish born nomad Carl Cleves and Greek-Australian songbird Parissa Bouas meld a satchel of styles to "create a wonderfully textured quilt of beautiful and meaningful songs". Carl's unmistakable guitar style is utterly captivating, whilst "Parissa has a voice that would aggravate angels with its beauty". As well as duo concerts, Carl will present his solo show “Travels with my guitar” and Parissa will lead a vocal workshop titled “Songs from Captain Corelli’s Songbook”.www.thehottentots.com
  

Louie Prez Trio

 Ray Pereira, Leo Dale and Doug DeVries take the passion and poetry of Brazilian guitar, add some dynamism and fire with West Africa percussion and stir in soaring and intricate melodies on saxes and flutes. The music is composed, yet improvised. It may sound like Jazz to you, but then again! Is it African? Brazilian? Spanish?

  www.louieprez.com

You can check out one of the trio's Youtube clips here: http://louieprez.com/Content/2009/10/album-cover-shoot-the-video/

Margret RoadKnight

Margret is renowned for her memorable performances in Australia and overseas. 10 solo albums, extensive roots-based repertoire, powerful vocal style, humour and wisdom from surviving and thriving outside the mainstream for over 4 decades. An artist with lyrics "noted for their wit and substance" (Musica Viva).

Now 65 years young, 2010 marks 37 years since her first record was released.
"... as much as for her impressive voice and choice of songs, RoadKnight is delightful because she sheds so much fresh light on the nature of the world and it's people" (Oakland Tribune, San Francisco).
 www.members.iinet.net.au/~margretr

  

Enda Kenny

Dublin born songwriter, Enda Kenny has lived in Melbourne, Australia since 1987. Drawing on the traditions of the seanachie and yarn spinner, his songs describe stories of life, humour, nature and injustice. Enda’s gift as a performer is his ability to bring alive the individual experience in a way his audience intuitively relates to.  "A superb collection of songs from Australia’s finest folksinger”   Sydney Morning Herald. www.endakenny.com.au

 

 

Lucie Thorne

Lucie Thorn has earned her place as one of the most striking lyricists and voices of the recent indie rock and roots scenes and with her latest release - "Black Across the Field" - she has garnered some extraordinary attention from the country's leading critics. Described as "diverse, profound, breath-taking" ()Rhythms), "intelligent .... gorgeous" (The Australian, 4 stars), "spellbinding" (J-Mag) and Thorne as "a gentle chanteuse who has delivered quiet perfection" (Bernard Zuel, SMH), Thorne combines spacious gritty rock n roll and startlingly original dark-folk, with that signature warmth and intimacy for which her live shows have become so renowned. “Black Across The Field” has just been announced as one of the Short Listed Albums for the 2009 Australian Music Prize.  www.luciethorne.com

 

Tobias Hengeveld

Sweet, melancholy and occasionally menacing melodies work deeper beneath your skin with each visit. Tobias Hengeveld will be show-casing songs from his new album All The Lines Are Down. A distinctly Australian voice whose new work is a haunting dream, illuminated by the history, mystery, wonder and woe of this place and its people.
“Understated, dream-dark folk songs of life in urban and rural Australia...His is a unique voice in the making, with a strong sense of place and wonder.” Lucky Oceans, The Daily Planet – Best of 2009 (ABC Radio National)
 

Peter Denahy

Original songs about dung beetles, hair and people. Maybe a fiddle tune. Pete combines many a bent tale, accompanied with extraordinary guitar & fiddle playing. He has toured with the Ploughboys and the Slim Dusty Show.

In 2008 Peter shot to fame for his song "Sort of Dunno Nothin" and was nominated for five Golden Guitars. Pete has now made Yackandandah his home. www.peterdenahy.com 

Hussy Hicks

Hussy Hicks have been winning fans from Berlin to Beijing and beyond over the past 3 years with their unique brand of acoustic roots music. Their shows range from high energy funky folk hoe-downs to intimate and intricate concerts with Leesa's powerful soaring vocals and Julz's eclectic gypsy/funk virtuosic acoustic guitar style impressing audiences across all genres. www.hussyhicks.com

 

Suade

Suade is Melbourne's premier vocal group. Delivering unbelievable harmonies like no-one else! Their concerts are infamously engaging - involving everything from outrageous comedy to tear jerkin' tracks - all performed with just their voices. They've performed to audiences from 50 to 25,000; from lounge rooms to live TV arena spectaculars.
They're the Melbourne voices with a twinkle in their voices and a sparking in their eyes!   www.suade.net

 

Bizerka

Bizerka play a fiery blend of Eastern European music in a toe-tapping, foot-stomping style which never fails to get audiences up and dancing. Popular with young and old alike, they play music from over a dozen countries and cross cultural borders in an instant, without pausing for rest. www.bizerka.com     

 

Sal Kimber & the Rollin' Wheel

Since her debut release "sounds Like Thunder", Sal Kimber and her band The Rollin' Wheel, have been gallivanting around the countryside offering their exciting take on Australian alt-country n blues. Sounding rural and rootsy but with urban savvy, they regale audiences with tales of ghost towns, rebels and romance. www.myspace.com/salkimber 

 

The Roaring Forties

The Roaring Forties is a 4 member "spirited pre-acappellan group" performing unaccompanied chorus songs in the English traditional style. They also sing finely crafted original songs - many with instrumental accompaniment - about Australian working life and the environment. www.roaringfortiesfolk.com 

Nick Charles

A treat for lovers of acoustic roots music. A unique mix of virtuosic guitar instrumentals and country folk/blues style original songs. www.charlesgultar.com

 

 

Merri May Gill

Merri-May Gill will make you giggle as she bursts like an over-ripe tomato back into the music scene - sowing in her wake a garden of bemused punters ready to race to the bar for an after show chaser! With side kick "Janice" on work experience from the Moree Municipal Library.  www.merrimaygill.com

 

The Re-Mains

The Re-Mains have an international reputation as masters of the elusive alt-country/folk-rock crossover - combining banjo and guitars with masterful song writing to create a unique genre - country rock and roll - that falls between the gaps and fills 'em up like putty. They are just back from their second tour of Canada.  www.re-mains.com

 

Doc Jones and the Lechery Orchestra

Amid an ever-growing march of "gyp-rock" or gypsy inspired bands around the rest of the country, Doc Jones and the Lechery Orchestra provide something intriguing. Whilst the gypsy and circus elements are undeniable, Doc is influenced by jugband music and vaudeville. Violin, glue and accordion weave around Doc's songs and get every bit as quirky and intriguing as the song. The sounds are evocative and irresistible, bound to take you times and places you weren't expecting to go - but you'll be happy to be there. www.myspace.com/docjoneslecheryorchestra 

Keshie

A young 7 piece band playing African festival music, Keshie is a unique combination of musicians who are blending the street music of West Africa with the chilled vibe of Aussie folk. www.goodvibesmusic.com.au

Richard Perso

Richard Perso is an exciting new find on the music scene. This multi-instrumentalist is on a roll. His performance includes over-driven acoustic guitars including 12 string slide, 6 string, steel bodied tri-cone, lap steel, and these are combined with a stomp box, tambourine and 3 didgeridoos. Hang on for the ride...  myspace.com/richardperso  

 

String Theory

String Theory is a newly formed band, who started as good food and kitchen table music appreciation society. Based in Melbourne, they're a young bunch with pretty eclectic musical backgrounds. They come together with fiddles, banjo, guitar, cello, Appalachian dulcimer and sweet vocal harmonies to serve you up some traditional American folk songs and tunes.  www.myspace.com/musicstring theory4

 

Brunswick Women's Choir

Hailing from Inner Melbourne, the Brunswick Women's Choir has been singing in more than 25 languages and peace and justice, love and anger, beauty and promise, for 17 years. The choir's 35 women come from a range of backgrounds and are united by their shared passion for singing and commitment to social justice. Our repertoire reflects the passions, sorrows and triumphs of life. www.brunswickwomenschoir.org.au

 

Kwela Swingsters

The Kwela Swingsters play township jive from 1960s South Africa. Bring your dance shoes and swing moves as the pennywhistles, horns and irresistible rhythm section play tunes and Polly sings swing era standards. From Joburg via Victoria we bring the Kwela groove to you! www.youtube.com/watch

Andy Rigby & Polly Christie

When one of Australia's leading folk harp exponents (and makers) meets the honeyed vocals of a world music and choral diva, you're in for a rich feast of music. Andy Rigby specialises in Celtic and Latin American styles, whilst Polly Christie sings jazz, gospel, Indian and a whole lot in between. A sublime acoustic experience...

 

O'Neill & Rodgers

O'Neill and Rodgers perform a blend of original and interpretative songs that have their genesis in bluegrass, Iris, folk and blues music. Dave is renowned for his guitar, mandolin and fiddle playing, whilst Bob is best know for his vocal skills, songwriting and guitar playing. Their original music is heavy influenced by contemporary events and each song has a story. Bob and Dave will get your toes tapping your hear warmed through the sheer drive of their songs and the evocative nature of the stories that underpin them.www.myspace.com/rodgersoneill

 

Bruce Watson trio

An iconic songwriter of the Australian Folk Scene with Lyndal & Strat. Aruce's music reflects life, ordinary people. Politics and the environment, with a strong Australian flavour, presented with a lively sense of humour and a warm stage presence. He is a well respected songwriter whose songs have been covered by a host of major artists. Bruce will be launching his new CD. www.myspace.com/brucewatsonmusic

 

Janette Geri

Janette's music is a potent mix of soulful Blues, Jazz and Celtic, delivered with total honesty and rare warmth. A voice truly remarkable, rich in beauty and power, she delivers songs of substance with grace, souring passion and great tenderness. She is a compelling performer, earthy, playful, weaving a spell around her audience with original contemporary and traditional songs.  www.myspace.com./janettegeri

  

 

The Red Brigade

The Red Brigade is a high energy, saucy, all female, 12 piece brass band experience. Fitted out in royal red marching costumes, plumes, epaulettes and knee-high boots, the Red Brigade brings you big band swing, Balkan brass numbers and all time 80s dance classics such as "The Final Countdown" and Flashdance.

Rosie Haden 

"Pure audio bliss; country-tinged blues and uniquely blended roots genres." (St Kilda Festival 2010). The Rosie Haden and Kim Volkman Duo - Kindred spirits, the rocky blues edge of Kim Volkman and the rootsy sounds of Rosie Haden come together in gritty, free-flowing vocal and guitar harmonies. Rosie says: “Kim’s guitar playing is just perfect – his playing is like reading a perfectly nuanced sentence. It is simply right.” Kim says: “Before I played with her I knew that Rosie’s voice is great - but from the first time I played with her it was the subtlety of her singing that I loved.”

NEO String Orchestra is a community orchestra of players from North East Victoria, who have been playing together in this guise since about 2005. We get together about 4 times per year to nurture beginners and veterans and explore some of vast amount of music written for the bowed string instruments. Our conductor, Kevin Williams, is an inspired violin maker who works with Australian timbers. Kevin has been making violins, conducting and keeping us in line for many years.

 

 

 

 * Just

Ethnic Tribal Beats influenced by the Philippines and Australia. Reggno-Rock is joyous energized music stemming from a desire for world harmony. Just create an organic, electrifying, dance atmosphere. Their music is all about passion, rhythm, movement, and having fun. Original world tribal music with a dash of rock.

 

*Red Dog’s Folly

When it comes to rattling sheds and getting feet stomping Red Dog’s Folly has it covered with a repertoire of new original musical flavours blended with solid country rock that always seems to strike a chord with audiences.

 

* Sam & Simone

Sam Niedra and Simone Nolan are north -east Victoria bred, and now Melbourne based, singer/songwriters who blend their original songwriting, melodic finger style guitar, alternate tunings, and vocal harmonies to create beautifully evocative folk music. Past performers at Yack, the duo are a regular fixture on the Melbourne music scene. www.myspace.com/samniedra

 

 

 

* Leanne Murphy

The stirring ballads, humorous ditties, and lyrical melodies of Beechworth singer-songwriter-pianist Leanne Murphy reflect on well-known themes.... love and belonging, dogs and cats, vegie gardening and lawn-mowing, and her passion for singing. With a winning combination of traditional and new, Leanne’s performances will delight music lovers of all ages. Her two CDs are Portal (2003) and Home Grown (2009).

 

 

* Neil Higgins 

Neil is a Singer/Songwriter who performs his works in an easy-listening acoustic style. His lyrics are strong, caring and sensitive portraying our way of life from social and cultural outlooks combined with a lot of entertainment.

 

 

 

* Violindigo

is the student ensemble of the Yackandandah based Suzuki studio of David Pietsch showcasing some of their best tunes.

 

 

 

 

 

* John Anderson

“The Great Presenter” songwriter musician extraordinaire together with Irene Palmer on harmonica and flute gives presents (gift wrapped song titles) and sings them with The Elastic Band… and other musicians who turn up. A fun interactive and somewhat cultic experience.

 

 

  

 

* Captain Pete

Captain Pete, the author of ‘The true Adventures of Mudpoo’ integrates story telling with many original award winning songs, poetry and drama. Children become active participants performing as colloquial characters or band members. Bushrangers, Swaggies, and Mudpoo appear from the audience. Look out it might be you!
Fun for all the family.

 

 

Graeme has been  dubbed “Australia’s finest contemporary autoharp player” and has conducted autoharp workshops at the National FF, various Fiddlers’ Conventions and bluegrass and old time festivals.  He has recorded with a number of eminent folk and country artists.  His mission is to “make the autoharp recognised if not popular!”

 

 

 

O’Shea Ryan Dancers dressed in colourful costumes with Celtic Designs thereon, performing selections of Irish Jigs and Reels to “toe-tapping” Irish Music.

 

 

The Bhutanese Community in Australia - To help celebrate this year's festival theme of 'Harmony', members of the local Bhutanese and African Union communities have been invited to be guests of this year's Yackandandah Folk Festival. The Bhutanese community of Albury Wodonga will be performing some dances and songs together with Bhutanese musicians from Melbourne who will play traditional instruments on Sunday at the Market Stage.

 

 

Bungowannah is a bush band led by Mike Giblin who has workshopped local schools to learn dances for the family bush dance on Friday night.  Bungowannah has been playing for dances around the region since 1992.

Darren Paul - Darren grew up in Yackandandah and has performed as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist in bands, duo's and trio's since 1993 on the regional gig scene. He has also scored lots of gigs while living in Darwin and Brisbane. Darren is building on his catalogue of original rock/folk tunes 

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 ***   Plus the wonderful Arts Yackandandah Festival Choir and many more local and emerging artists at The Shed, the Market Stage and The Star Hotel as well as buskers in the streets ***
 

 

Graeme Fletcher - autoharp