Yankalilla Acoustic Music Group presents THE 5TH ANNUAL
ACOUSTIC ROOTS
Where Wirrina Cove Holiday Park Wirrina Cove, South Australia When 2–4 September 2016
info@wirrinabluegrass.com
wirrinabluegrass.com
FESTIVAL SITE MAP
Please respect the holiday park – use the bins provided and leave the facilities as you’d like to find them
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WELCOME Welcome to the 5th Annual Wirrina Bluegrass and Acoustic Roots Festival. This is our second year at the Wirrina Holiday Park. The owners, Ben and Holly Taylor are true Festival partners and the results are amazing. The venue is perfect. It’s hard to believe but the quality of the music on offer this year could even be pushing the bar higher. We thank our high-quality musicians for their generosity and support for our Festival. Our workshops, sessions and open mic are all looking good. You may notice a concert Saturday evening in the Open Mic Tent. Well we realised that all the Festival organisers have their own bands so we thought, why not – let’s put on a concert. Ben and Holly are again supplying the marquees, the Yankalilla District Council continues to give us a thousand dollar grant and our mystery sponsor is helping us with some much needed dollars. The main stage is on loan from the Yankalilla Area School and the open mic stage from the Fleurieu Folk Festival. Add to this the efforts of the volunteer team and we have the 5th Wirrina Bluegrass and Acoustic Roots Festival. Without this generous help we would not have a Festival! There are two volunteers I would like to single out for a special thank you, Thea Taylor the Performer Coordinator and Laura McCarthy the Volunteer Coordinator. We are always looking for new supporters especially those who bring new ideas and the ability to bring those ideas into reality. The one area we definitely need to develop more is promotion. So if you have noticed a low budget promotion that we haven’t yet taken advantage of and you think you can fix that problem, please contact us. We take pride in the work we do in getting the best value for every dollar we spend. I’m looking forward to catching up with you all and apologise in advance for leaving any conversation half way through because something else steals me away. Coordinating a Festival can do that to me. Read on to plan your weekend, enjoy the music and generally have a good time. Cheers,
ain M n Ia
Ian Main Festival Administration and Infrastructure Coordinator
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PERFORMERS All Corners Covered Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Clermont and formidable and feisty cellist Rachel Johnston (formerly with the ASO and toured with Missy Higgins) present an eclectic and colourful collection of tunes sure to delight lovers of multiple-string textures, spontaneous improv and quicksilver instrumental virtuosity – this is acoustic music-making at its sparkling best. With a selection from the tips of Scandinavia through the UK to the inner Outback and Oldtime, these tantalising and soaring works are a feast to behold. CM Fri 7:15–8:00pm, Sat 1:45–2:30pm
Astro Cobalt Tried and true Bluegrass with influences. Astro Cobalt (Jeri Foreman, fiddle; Doug Loudon, guitar; Gage Stead, double bass; Paul Cooper, banjo) are Adelaide’s youngest Bluegrass band and played their first folk festival at the inaugural Wirrina Bluegrass Festival. Since then, the band have played at festivals such as the Fleurieu Folk Festival (SA), Frances Folk Gathering (SA), Illawarra Folk Festival (NSW) and Newstead Live Music Festival (VIC). This year Jeri Foreman received the Australian Bluegrass Scholarship. CM Sat 7:15–8:05pm, Sun 1:15–2:00pm
The Backwater Band
The Backwater Band comprises Henk Groot (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Teresa Law (vocals, flute), Lachlan Mcleod (vocals, violin, guitar) and Theo Vandersman (vocals, double bass). An original Australian Folk/Country band with Bluegrass and Celtic influences, the band has an energy of fun on stage and loves to play to a live audience. Whilst they focus on their own originals, inspired by the beautiful River Murray region where the band originated, they still play a mix of favourite covers. CM Fri 9:30–10:15pm, Sat 3:15–4:00pm MS Sun 1:00–1:55pm
The Cherry Pickers Mark Bandick (guitar, vocals), Paul Cooper (banjo, vocals), Rob Cooper (dobro, vocals), Lou Evangelistis (mandolin, vocals), Max Wright (bass, vocals) are The Cherry Pickers. They appear regularly around Adelaide and at festivals around the country. Their unique take on Bluegrass has been pleasing audiences for nearly a decade and their tasty arrangements are reverent to the Bluegrass tradition and to the original songs, defying any hillbilly stigma. CM Sat 8:10–9:00pm, Sun 3:30–4:15pm MS Sat 12:00–12:55pm
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The Davidson Brothers Making music together for over 20 years, Hamish and Lachlan have firmly carved their contemporary style into the Australian music scene. Well known for their high-powered picking, fine vocal harmonies and classic humour, they are national Bluegrass champions on various string instruments and they lead the way for the current acoustic-roots music revival in this country. They recently released their seventh studio album ‘Wanderlust’ featuring Jacob McGuffie on acoustic guitar and Louis Gill on upright bass. CM Sat 9:05–9:55pm, Sun 11:45am–12:30pm
The Fiddle Chicks With their two fiddles, bass fiddle, stomp boxes and stunning vocal harmonies, The Fiddle Chicks (Dee Trewartha and Emma Woolcock) create a unique musical experience for audiences at festivals and events throughout Australia. Their minimalist sound is strong, energetic and vital. From their inspiring originals to arrangements of songs from the rich heritage of folk music, The Fiddle Chicks have proven themselves to be one of SA’s most endearing and original acts! CM Fri 8:00–8:45pm
Flop Eared Mule
Flop Eared Mule plays their own unique and energetic take on traditional Bluegrass. Born of a mutual love of late night picking, Flop Eared Mule features Heath Joyce (mandolin, guitar) and Jesse Williams (banjo). Fiddle tunes feature in the Flop Eared Mule set, with a lively dynamic created between the mandolin and melodic banjo, in the often fast-paced instrumentals! CM Sat 6:20–7:10pm, Sun 11:00–11:45am
Greg Champion & Friends
Greg came to notice in the 1980s on ABC radio with the song I Made a 100 In The Backyard At Mum’s. Now he’s released around 30 CDs, and won gongs in the VMI category: ‘Vaguely Minor Identity’. For 34 years he has been a member of national ABC radio programme The Coodabeen Champions. Nowadays Greg does guest speaking, where he’s classified as a De-Motivational Speaker, and is a three-time runner-up in the Australian Underachiever Awards. CM Fri 6:30–7:15pm, Sat 10:00–10:50pm, Sun 2:45–3:30pm MS Sat 1:00–1:55pm CM Concert Marquee MS Main Session Area
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Prawnhead Prawnhead honed their skills in the streets and markets of Adelaide. They found that the faster they played, the more money they made. They are a mighty, un-amplified, acoustic force of nature. Prawnhead don’t play blues, they don’t play country, they don’t play Bluegrass, nor do they play rockabilly but they play a mixture of all those things. It’s called Bluebilly. Prawnhead are Eddie Morrison on slap bass, Jake Morrison on guitars, and Adelaide legend Don Morrison completes this powerhouse trio. CM Fri 5:45–6:30pm, Sat 1:00–1:45pm
Saltwater Taffy A salty sweet tang of four part harmony with more than a touch of Old-Timey string band. Saltwater Taffy takes you on a melodic ride across the salty seas to the hills and cotton fields, from civil wars to lost loves. Travel with the Taffies way down that Old Plank Road, along the New Railroad by the Miller’s Pond and up though the North Country with a whisper of old time gospel along the way. Saltwater Taffy is Adrienne Piggott, Kim Brown, Nikkie Nichollson and Bron Lloyd. CM Fri 10:15–11:00pm, Sat 2:30–3:15pm, Sun 2:00–2:45pm
Slim Dime
Using minimal arrangements – acoustic guitar, tenor guitar, banjo and vocals, Slim Dime makes a sound that is all bare bones and emotional complexity. Jen Land’s voice tells stories with nuance and emotion. Chris Taylor’s playing is intelligent and idiosyncratic. The songs talk of lives lived and lessons learned, of sorrows and of loss, but there is redemption too, and even joy. CM Fri 5:00–5:45pm, Sat 11:30am–12:15pm, Sun 12:30–1:15pm
Sunny and the Dark Corners Songwriting trio Cate McCarthy, Robert Green and Mick Moffitt, play tough original and traditional acoustic music. Together they combine heartfelt vocals with exciting songs, both topical and fun. Mick and Cate’s Bluegrass influence forms an alliance with Robert’s vocals and strong rhythm playing. Mick’s passion for hard-driving Bluegrass music is reflected in his mandolin and fiddle playing and with Robert and Cate’s soaring vocals, creating a unique sound and captivating audiences wherever they go. CM Fri 8:45–9:30pm, Sat 12:15–1:00pm
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Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club
© www.michael-schober.de
Now in its 18th year, Andrew Clermont’s International Supper Club has featured at Woodford, Tamworth and Fairbridge Festivals, plus the National Folk Fest. Clermont melds people’s musical strengths and inspiration into a ‘wild wood’ with few limits, culminating in a creation of most orchestration possibilities in the name of country and folk music, with a fellowship of youth and wissen who stop at few borders or genres. This year, Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club features Janet and Hugh Gordon (Tamarisque), Quentin Eyers, Margie Russell, Jude Iddison (WA), Tim Bailey and Rachel Johnston. CM Fri 11:00pm, Sat 4:00–6:00pm, Sat 11:00pm
We would like to thank the Wirrina Cove Holiday Park for their enthusiastic support of the Festival CM Concert Marquee MS Main Session Area
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PROGRAM Day 1: Friday 2 September Evening
Day 2: Saturday 3 September Morning/Afternoon
Time
Concert Marquee
Time
4:00pm
Start of Festival
9:00am
Slim Dime 5:00–5:45pm
Workshop: Andrew Clermont A crash course in getting off your Workshop: 10:00am guitar plateau Cate McCarthy 9:30–10:30am & Robert Green Songwriting 10:00–11:00am
5:00pm
6:00pm
Prawnhead 5:45–6:30pm
11:00am Slim Dime 11:30am– 12:15pm
Greg Champion & Friends 6:30–7:15pm 7:00pm
12:00pm Sunny and the Dark Corners 12:15–1:00pm
All Corners Covered 7:15–8:00pm 8:00pm
9:00pm
The Fiddle Chicks 8:00–8:45pm
Sunny and the Dark Corners 8:45–9:30pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
10:00pm
Prawnhead 1:00–1:45pm
All Corners Covered 1:45–2:30pm Saltwater Taffy 2:30–3:15pm
The Backwater Band 9:30–10:15pm 3:00pm
The Backwater Band 3:15–4:00pm
Saltwater Taffy 10:15–11:00pm
11:00pm Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club End of Day 1
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Concert Marquee
4:00pm
Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club 4:00–6:00pm
Open Mic Tent
Woolshed
Main Session Area
Workshop: Rachel Johnston How to join in (without being a jerk) 9:30–10:30am
Workshop: Jeri Foreman, Gage Stead and Doug Loudon Blackboard Slow Jam Music theory with Concert: 10:30–11:30am Greg McGrath Host: & Friends Leonard Cohen Workshop: 11:00– 11:00am– Lachlan Davidson 11:55am 1:00pm Intermediate/ Advanced Slow Jam mandolin with 11:30am– The Cherry 12:30pm Pickers Workshop: 12:00– Heath Joyce 12:55pm Beginner/ Intermediate Slow Jam Blackboard mandolin Concert: 12:30–1:30pm with Greg Champion Host: & Friends John Duffy Workshop: 1:00–1:55pm 1:00–3:00pm Hamish Davidson Bluegrass banjo 1:30–2:30pm Slow Jam with Chris Taylor 2:00–2:55pm Workshop: One Way Ticket Harmony singing Blackboard 2:30–3:30pm Uke Jam Concert: with Host: Shelly Wigley Kevin Smith 3:00–3:55pm 3:00–5:00pm
Day 2: Saturday 3 September Evening Time
Concert Marquee
4:00pm
Supper Club 4:00–6:00pm
Open Mic Tent
Highly Strung 5:30–6:00pm 6:00pm
The Deronion Empire Band Flop Eared Mule 6:00–6:30pm 6:20–7:10pm Alive & Picking 6:30–7:00pm
7:00pm
Hut 7:00–7:30pm
Astro Cobalt 7:15–8:05pm
8:00pm
Time
Slim Dime 12:30–1:15pm 1:00pm
The Davidson Brothers 9:05–9:55pm
Open Mic Tent
Woolshed
Community Gospel singing with Saltwater Taffy 10:00am 9:30–10:45am Workshop: Cate McCarthy & Robert Green Songwriting 10:00–11:00am Workshop: Rachel Johnston Intro to improv 10:30–11:30am 11:00am Flop Eared Mule Blackboard 11:00– Concert: 11:45am Host: John Francis Workshop: 11:00am– Mick Moffitt 1:00pm The Davidson Bluegrass fiddle Brothers 11:30am– 12:00pm 11:45am– 12:30pm 12:30pm
The Cherry Pickers 8:10–9:00pm
9:00pm
Concert Marquee
Main Session Area
9:00am
Old Hat 5:00–5:30pm
5:00pm
Day 3: Sunday 4 September Morning/Afternoon
Astro Cobalt 1:15–2:00pm
2:00pm
10:00pm Greg Champion & Friends 10:00– 10:50pm
3:00pm
11:00pm Andrew Clermont’s Supper Club Unplugged
4:00pm
Workshop: Theo Vanderman The bottom line – bass 10:30–11:30am
Slow Jam with Greg McGrath & Friends 12:00– 12:55pm
Workshop: Leonard Cohen Dobro/ resonator Blackboard 12:30–1:30pm Slow Jam with Concert: The Backwater Host: Band Glen Parsons 1:00–1:55pm 1:00–3:00pm
Saltwater Taffy 2:00–2:45pm
Greg Champion & Friends 2:45–3:30pm The Cherry Pickers 3:30–4:15pm End of Festival
End of Day 2
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COMMUNITY MUSIC MAKING WORKSHOPS
We have a fantastic array of workshops on offer this year, and a traditional Australian woolshed to house most of them. Thanks to the experienced musicians who share their skills. We had many offers and could not accommodate everyone but we hope you will enjoy and learn from what’s on the program this year. And if there’s something you’d like us to offer in future, please let us know!
Introductory/Intermediate mandolin – Heath Joyce
Inspired by the traditional playing of Herschel Sizemore and Bill Monroe, Heath’s passion for bluegrass mandolin has become his focus over the last few years. Heath is also an experienced guitarist, teaching instrumental music at Ballarat Grammar and is the founder of the Bellarine Bluegrass Collective running a monthly bluegrass session. Come and learn a few skills from Heath!
Crash course to flat-pick Bluegrass/folk guitar – Andrew Clermont
How to make what you play, sound like it was always meant to be there. Includes applying Guitar to Fiddle tunes and the most volume you can extract from your instrument per effort. Rising above and around your Musical Plateau; useful accompaniment and a bit on how to go nuts in performance!
How to join in (without being a jerk) – Rachel Johnston
Everyone loves a good session! But what are the best ways to join in the fun and blend into a group? To contribute rather than complicate? We’ll look at basic accompanying skills, rhythmic ideas and ensemble skills that will help you approach all playing situations. Whether you are a beginner or looking for ways to extend yourself, come along and learn how to play along with style – whether you know the tune or not!
Intro to improv – Rachel Johnston
Improvisation is a wonderful way to explore your instrument, express yourself musically and collaborate with other musicians. Join this workshop and try out your improv moves from baby steps to bold manoeuvres, as we play various games designed to stretch your musical mind. All levels welcome!
Songwriting – Cate McCarthy & Robert Green Are you stuck for fresh songwriting ideas? Robert Green and Cate McCarthy will demonstrate how they develop their songs. They will facilitate participants to expand concepts and structure and liberate their creative songwriting ideas. Have a bit of fun and come out of workshop with a song written by participants.
Bluegrass and old time fiddle styles – Mick Moffitt
Mick started playing Bluegrass Fiddle and mandolin about 38 years ago and has been playing ever since. Influences are the great Bluegrass fiddle players eg: Byron Berline, Mark O’Connor, Scottie Stoneman. Mick will look at left and right hand techniques including bowing, droning, double stops. Working out breaks for songs, Variations on tunes. Backup, Licks and tricks.
The bottom line (Bass) – Theo Vandersman
Bass is an integral part of the Bluegrass (and related) sound, and adds an important element to practically any acoustic music. Theo Vandersman from the Backwater Band will show you how to get a good bass sound and explore interesting accompaniment on a variety of basses – something for all occasions! Come and ask questions – any levels welcome. From bluegrass to bushdancing, celtic and rock. Theo plays a variety of instruments and has played folk music (plus bluegrass and rock’n’roll) all his life but also has a degree in double bass playing. Bring your bass or try one available.
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Banjo – Hamish Davidson Hamish Davidson is one Australia’s most active Bluegrass banjo players, frequently teaching, recording on sessions and performing live with The Davidson Brothers. Having first picked up the instrument 20 years ago, Hamish has worked with artists from Smokey Dawson to Dan Sultan and his main influences are Jim Mills, Rob McCoury, Sammy Shelor, Tony Trishka and Ian Simpson. Recently Hamish published his first tuition book titled ‘Bluegrass Banjo Davidson Style’.
Mandolin – Lachlan Davidson Lachlan Davidson is a three-time Australian National Bluegrass Mandolin Championship winner. With a background in fiddle, Lachie’s approach to mando is with a high attention to rhythm and solid, bright, punchy solos. Playing mandolin with The Davidson Brothers since 1998, he is at home on stage and has performed on National television and recorded with including Lee Kernaghan, Beccy Cole and Sara Storer. Modern trad-style Bluegrass is his focus and major influences include Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Dan Tyminski and Adam Steffey.
Resonator guitar – Leonard Cohen If you are playing a resonator instrument or slide guitar (or if you are thinking about it), you’ll want to come to this session with Leonard, who boldly goes into amazing territories with his resonator guitar. Leonard loves to encourage others in playing many styles of music, and has a real appreciation of ways to enhance a melody with the range of things that can be done on the resonator guitar. Warning: You may have far too much fun during this time.
Harmony singing – One Way Ticket Phil Parker (guitar, lead vocals), Andrew Hook (mandolin, guitar) Dave Taylor (bass) and Leonard Cohen (resonator guitar) are One Way Ticket. Formerly 4/5 of Old South Bluegrass Band, this fabulous crew specialise in harmony singing as well as fine Bluegrass instrumentation. Phil, Andrew, Dave and Leonard love to share their music and are presenting this year’s harmony singing workshop at Wirrina.
Music theory – Jeri Foreman, Gage Stead & Doug Loudon Music teachers Jeri, Gage and Doug demystify music theory for folk and bluegrass music. If you play an instrument but don’t understand why you play particular chords at different places in a song, have always wanted to learn ‘a bit of theory’ to support your playing, or are just starting out on an instrument, this will give you a great basis for understanding more about why and how the music works. They’ll teach you some of the essentials for playing well with others, understanding what to play and when to play it (and why things sound good or bad!), and send you away with plenty to think about.
SLOW JAMS/LED SESSIONS Do you feel shy or nervous about playing and singing in public? Want to play in a group but don’t feel confident yet? Slow Jams/Led Sessions are sessions where the music is handled at a moderate level by a sympathetic musician or band. Leaders this year are Greg McGrath (of Australian Bluegrass Blog), Chris Taylor (Slim Dime), The Backwater Band, Greg Champion, The Cherry Pickers, and Shelley Wigley (Ukulele). We expect tremendous fun to result! Check the program for these sessions in the undercover area near the bar. And did you know that you can have time with experienced musicians for one-on-one encouragement and advice? Any of the people appearing in the Festival concerts (and many that you will see playing around the grounds) are happy to help where they can – just walk up, say hi and ask for some time with them. It could change everything!
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ACOUSTIC ROOTS SPONSORS Major sponsor
Corporate partners
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computer i.t. s e r v i c e s
alison fort graphic designer
And our special thanks to all our volunteers who have given their time and skill to make this Festival happen.
info@wirrinabluegrass.com
wirrinabluegrass.com