Folk Federation of Inc Dates For Your Diary Folk News Issue No 396 Dance News JUNE 2008 $3.00 CD Reviews

8 al 200 stiv k Fe ol s F an Alb t St p Contender a s Cu horu - C op Arch Bish

♫ Folk music ♫ dance ♫ festivals ♫ reviews ♫ profiles ♫ diary dates

♫ sessionsThe Folk Federation ONLINE♫ teachers - jam.org.au ♫ opportunitiesThe CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 1 If your important item misses Cornstalk, please remember there are also:folkmail (members’ email list) contact Julie Bishop JUNE 2008 (02 9524 0247) [email protected]. In this issue Folk Federation of New South Wales Inc au jam.org.au –Folk Fed website, here Post Office Box A182 Dates for your diary p4 members can post info, articles, etc. South NSW 1235 Festivals, workshops, schools p6 ISSN 0818 7339 ABN9411575922 Advertising Rates www.jam.org.au Passion for finding folklore (Edgar Size mm Members Non-mem Waters 26-10-26 - 1-5-08 p8) Editor, Cornstalk - Coral Vorbach Full page 180x250 $80 $120 Looking Back - p10 Post Office Box 5195 1/2 page 180x125 $40 $70 Arlo Guthrie p11 Cobargo NSW 2550 St Albans Folk Festival 2008 p12 Tel/Fax: 02 6493 6758 1/4 page 90x60 $25 $50 [email protected] 1/8 page 45 x 30 $15 $35 CD reviews p14 Cornstalk is the official publication of the Folk Back cover 180x250 $100 $150 Federation of NSW. 2 + issues per mth $90 $130 DEADLINE JULY Adverts - 5th June, Contributions, news, reviews, poems, photographs Copy - 10th June Advertising artwork required by 5th Friday of most welcome. All copy can be received by post, month. Advertisements can be produced by email., disc Cornstalk if required. Please contact the editor FFNSW Committee 2007 Photographs and Artwork for enquiries about advertising Tel: 6493 6758 President, Vacant until AGM Photographs - high resolution JPG or TIFF files. Inserts for Cornstalk Email: [email protected] 300 dpi images cropped at correct size. Vice President: Kate Delaney We use Adobe In-Design, Photoshop 6, Microsoft [email protected] Secretary: Pam Davis 02 9955 3677 Insert Rates: Word. PLEASE do not send photographs as part Email: [email protected] Single-sheet DL size or A5. Members $70 Non- of a Word Document . Treasurer: Bruce Cameron 02 6331 1129 Members $130 No part of of Cornstalk may be reproduced without Email: [email protected] A4, folded to DL size or A5. Members $90 Non- permission of the publishers. All care but no Committee: Carol Hirt, Mary-Jane Field, Wayne Members $160 responsibility taken for omissions or errors. Richmond, Jim Baxter, Dallas Baxter, Peter A4 should be folded. The number of inserts per Miller Robinson, Terry Clinton, Andy Busutti Wrap Co-ordinator James Baxter 02 9810 4131 issue is limited. - [email protected] Please contact Dallas and Jim Baxter, 9810 4131. Membership Secretary Wayne Richmond Offers of help for the wrap are appreciated. Listserv/Jam/Membership 9939 8802 (not after FFNSW Folkmail (web) All cheques for advertisements and inserts to be made 8.30pm) Julie Bishop/02 9524 0247 [email protected] payable to the Folk Federation of NSW Inc

2 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 Sydney launch of the double CD “NSW State of Play” a snapshot of the NSW Folk Music Scene in 2008 7.00pm Saturday 14 June 2008

Café Church Space, 37 St John’s Road, Glebe (corner Colbourne Avenue)

Admission: $10 – or free if you buy the ! light refreshments available

An initiative of the Folk Federation of NSW – http://jam.org.au

Proposed line-up (not yet finalised) *Selalu *Mary-Jane Field *Skorba *Tony Eardley *Lyrebird *Mothers of Intention *Kim Sanders *The Fagans *Wheelers & Dealers

These are only a third of the wonderful artists who donated the 30 tracks on this double CD.

Enquiries: Peter Miller-Robinson 9332 4471 Mobile: 0402 487 883 Bookings: 9698 2206 or [email protected] Mobile: 0427 958 788

The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 3 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Metropolitan ►Ami Williamson Sunday 1st Fresh from her Spooky Men’s Winter of Discontent tour of Iraq At their most fearsomely florid and Ami is making bewhiskered, following a delicious a large mark minitour of NSW and Q’ld. New songs on the folk/ and a couple of new facial expressions. country music Joan Sutherland Performing Arts scene. Also Alan Centre - 597 High Street, Penrith Musgrove and His $25/$15 www.jspac.com.au Watsaname Band, with traditional and Monday 2nd eccentric folksongs. Illawarra Folk Pennant Hills Dance Workshop Club. City Diggers Wollongong, cnr Bush Dances. Caller Mark Snell. Church & Burelli Sts. 7.30pm. $12, $8. Community Centre, Yarrara Rd. 7.30- 1300 887 034, Fr o m Th e Ed i t o r 9.30pm. $7. Felicity 9456 2860, 0434 www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au/ Its getting cool in Cobargo. Fires are 437 522 on and woolies are in. Great excuse to Saturday 7th listen to some good music round a fire . Wednesday 4th . There is lots to do this month - Arlo Spooky Men’s Winter of Discontent ►Beecroft Bush Dance Caller Margaret Bolliger. All dances Guthrie will be in town and the Battle- At their most fearsomely florid and taught. Beecroft Community Centre, field Band. The Spooky Men are casting bewhiskered, following a delicious some magic spells round NSW and Q’ld Beecroft Rd. 8pm-12. $17, $14, $12. minitour of NSW and Q’ld. New songs - AND don’t forget the special launch of Helen 9626 7816, www.bushmusic. and a couple of new facial expressions. the double CD “NSW State of Play”. Buy org.au the cd if you haven’t already. (order form The Vanguard, 42 King Street, Newtown. Pre-booked tickets are on back page). Thirty tracks. What a lot of The Jeff Stanley Band work the committee has put in to put out $23 ($52 with dinner) Bookings: Any ► American singer songwriter living in this CD. The Launch is on Saturday 14th Moshtix outlet (02 9209 4614) June at 7pm at the Cafe Church Space in Sydney, raised in East Africa, among Glebe. Thursday 5th African pop, rock, jazz, blues, funk, The Old Spice Boys are on at The Harp The Old Spice Boys ska, and reggae. Bizarre sense of Azo Bell is amazing on the ukelele - never CD Launch The Harp Irish Hotel, humour, and can improvise and create seen anything like it. 900 , Tempe 8pm lyrics on a whim. Also, Chloe Hall In the Illawarra there is heaps on too Enq. 9560 7188 Melbourne-based singer songwriter - Ami Williamson, A tribute to Henry with a beautiful voice. AND Tom Friday 6th Lawson and a touring Peter Hicks. Busy Bolton – Singer songwriter for 30 lot there. ►Beer & Cheese Night ‘Women and years, with a solid collection of finely Song / Women’s Song’. We have been Keep your contributions coming. crafted original folk songs. ‘A gifted accused of singing all about blokes Always looking for interesting articles, cd song maker… talented musician.’ reviews, concerts etc. – shearers, drovers, bushrangers, etc (Anne Infante, Qld). Coral Vorbach – so let’s look more closely at the other half of society. Bring food, The Shack, Tramshed Community drink, songs, yarns, poems. Bush Arts Centre, 1395a Rd, Music Club, Hut 44, Addison Rd Narrabeen (betw. car park and Com Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Ambulance Station, in shopping Marrickville. 8-10pm. $4/$5. 9569 centre). Free tea, coffee. BYO drinks, 7244, [email protected] nibbles. 7.30-11pm. $15. Enq. 0413 635 856, [email protected]

Monday 9th Pennant Hills Dance Workshop – Holiday - No Dancing.

The Old Spice Boys 4 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 ►Hat Trick Saturday 28th Bald Faced Stag Hotel 2pm ►Peter Hicks Cnr Parramatta & Balmain Rds, folk singer and songwriter very much Leichhardt, Enq. 9560 7188 in the tradition of Woody Guthrie www.baldfacedstaghotel.com.au and Pete Seeger, with songs about everyday lives and experiences of Monday 16th everyday people, and issues of greatest Pennant Hills Dance Workshop concern to us all. Also Southern – Old and New Dances. Caller Felicity Cross Trawlers - Sydney singers Hattingh. Community Centre, Yarrara Margaret Walters and Don Brian, with Rd. 7.30-9.30pm. $7. Enq. Felicity an interest in Australian traditional 9456 2860, 0434 437 522 songs (esp. maritime); and talent

th for unaccompanied singing and for Thursday 19 trawling through song books etc. for Battlefield Band unusual material. Loaded Dog, upstairs The wonderful Battlefield Band, one Annandale Neighbourhood Centre, of Scotland’s very best, are back in 79 Johnston St. 8pm. $14, $12. BYO, th Thursday 12 Australia and will be appearing at supper available. Sandra 9358 4886, ►Arlo Guthrie On Tour, Bruce Gordon Australia and will be appearing at www.theloadeddog.org.au Theatre, Wollongong The Harp Irish Hotel, 900 Princes Highway, Tempe 8pm Enq 9559 6300 ►February Dream ►Sutherland Acoustic Night ‘The most amazing two female voices th (formerly Sutherland Folk Club). Two Friday 20 in harmony’ was how Bill Bekric heard singer songwriters from Melbourne Pastance. Hornsby Ku-ring-gai them at St Albans.Troubadour Folk - Tom Bolton, a gifted eclectic Folk Club, Beatrice Taylor Hall, Club. CWA Hall, The Boulevarde songwriter + Brent Parlane, described rearWillow Park Community Centre (opp. Fishermans Wharf), Woy Woy. as a National Treasure with a long Hornsby 8pm. Enq. Barry Parks 9807 7pm. $10, $8. Enq. Marilyn 4341 4060, established career and songs that will 9407 make you laugh and cry. Sutherland 0417 456 929 District Trade Union Club (Tradies), Saturday 21st Sunday 29th Kingsway, Gymea (short walk from station). 7.30pm. Floor spots welcome. ►Balmain Bush Dance with Peter Hicks, singer songwriter, folk $10, under 12 free.Maeve 95205628 Currawong. musician, political activist, union Caller Don Richmond. All dances songs, union music, environmentalist, Saturday 14th taught. Rozelle Campus, Sydney peace campaigner, refugee advocate, Sydney launch of the double CD “NSW College, 25 Terry St. 8pm-12. $17, proudly union, unreconstructed State of Play” Cafe Church Space, 37 $14, $12.Enq. Don 9642 7950, www. marxist. St John’s Road, Glebe. Enq. 9332 4471 bushmusic.org.au Illawarra Folk Club, House Concert. or mob. 0402 487 883/Bookings: 9698 3pm. $15, $12. Enq. 1300 887 034, 2206 or [email protected] ►A Tribute To Henry www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au/ or mob. 0427 958 788 (see advert p3 ) Songs with lyrics of Henry Lawson. His life and songs featuring Wongawilli, Monday 30th ►Arlo Guthrie On Tour, The Len Neary, Phyl Lobl, Duncan Pennant Hills Dance Workshop Seymour Centre, Sydney Chalmers, Heather Mandich, Alan – Old and New Dances. Caller Felicity ►Central Coast Bush Dance with Musgrove, John Broomhall, many Hattingh. Community Centre, Yarrara more. MC’d and scripted by Russell Rd. 7.30-9.30pm. $7. Fair Dinkum. Hannah. Felicity 9456 2860, 0434 437 522 All dances taught. East Gosford Illawarra Folk Club. City Diggers Progress Hall, Wells St & Henry Parry Wollongong, cnr Church & Burelli Sts. Drive. 7.30-11.30pm. $15, $12, $8, $5 7.30pm. $12, $8. Enq. 1300 887 034, (under 12). Barry or Janice: 4388 2253 www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au/ Sunday 15th Monday 23rd Battlefield Band ► Pennant Hills Dance Workshop – The wonderful Battlefield Band are Old and New Dances. Caller Felicity back in Australia and will be appearing Hattingh. Community Centre, Yarrara at St Marys Leagues Club 2pm Rd. 7.30-9.30pm. $7. Felicity 9456 Adults $33 Pensioners & Under 18’s 2860, 0434 437 522 $28. Tickets:9677 7777 or 9623 2250 The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 5 REGIONAL AND ACT Sunday 22nd Festivals, Workshops, . Yuin Folk Club 2nd - 5th June Nick Charles House Concert. Lyreb ird Ridge Rd, Schools The Canberra Irish Players, in ‘I Do 23rd - 25th May Cobargo. Bookings essential. 6493 Not Like Thee, Dr Fell’. Canberra A Celtic Cultural Experience 6758 Irish Club, Weston, 8pm. (02) 6288 Lake MacQuarrie, email [email protected], 7451 Tuesday 24th ph/fax 02 4943 3436 rd Tuesday 3 Battlefield Band 6th-9th June 38th Top Half Folk Festival, Kakadu, NT. Arlo Guthrie On Tour, The Clarendon One of Scotland’s very best, are back Hotel, Katoomba www.topendfolkclub.org, Jayne 08 8985 in Australia and will be appearing 3570, [email protected] Wednesday 4th at The Burns Club 7.30pm, Kambah 5th-9th June Arlo Guthrie On Tour, The Clarendon ACT $25. Tickets - 02 6296 2425 Henry Lawson Festival of the Arts Hotel, Katoomba wwww.henrylawsonfestival.asn.au Wednesday 25th Friday 6th 6th - 9th June Arlo Guthrie On Tour, Lismore Workers Battlefield Band Sessionfest (Note:) At Bargoed Wildlife Club In aid of Clan McEwan Pipe Band. Reserve, Swansea. off Galgabbee Rd 16’ Sailing Club 7.30pm Belmont, for more info contact Bilbo: 4958 4033 or Saturday 7th NSW, 7.30pm $35.00. Tickets - 02 12th -14th September Ami Williamson One Woman Show. 4952 6533 Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival (Performer The Tea Club Nowra, bookings are closing soon) Thursday 27th Friday 13th Contact Jane Richter kvfolk@bigpond. com, (02) 4421 5887 , Southern Cross Battlefield Band Arlo Guthrie On Tour 12-14th September Club, Canberra The Scots School, Albury NSW 7.30pm $33/Students: $25.00 Nanga Bush Camp. Dwellingup, WQ. Saturday 21st www.nangabush.com Tickets/02 6021 3233 ►Playford Restoration-era Ball 17th - 21st September (1650’s-90’s England). Canberra, Turning Wave Festival Historic town of Gundagai www.earthlydelights.com.au/John & www.turningwave.org.au or 02 9489 5786 Aylwen (02) 6381 1098 3rd - 6th October ►Winter Solstice Supper Dance Uranquinty Folk Festival. www. uranquintyfolk.com/ (02) 6029 2156 with Walcha Road. Wesley Centre, 19th October 150 Beaumont St, Hamilton. 7.30pm. Illawarra Folk In The Foothills [email protected] Enq. [email protected] The Folkus Room 24th - 26th October Serbian Cultural Centre & Club The Merry Muse ACT Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, www. 5 Heard Street Mawson ACT Polish White Eagle Club dorigo.com./festival or festival@dorrigo. Sunday 1st 28 Turner Street com, ph: 02 6657 2988 The Yearlings; Doctor Stovepipe Friday 13th 7th - 9th November Festival of Irish Music - Fleadh Nua 2008 Friday 6th Pat Drummond and Karen Lynne Goulburn Traditional Irish Music · Song Queen Juanita & The Zydeco and Craig and Simone Dawson. and Dance Kevin Doyle (Phone 9181 3365 Cowboys This will be supported by Divided or 0401 827 460) or Email: irishmusicianss Sunday 8th by 2 at 8pm. (Divided by 2 are [email protected] Harry Manx; Yeshe Reiners Thursday 12th formerly known as Divided by 3.) 14th - 16th November Gaelic Storm; Owen Campbell From 7pm, Entry $12/$15. Music At The Creek (Majors Creek NSW) Friday 20th Friday 20th Enq. 02 48422889 or matc.enquiries@musi- Richard Leschen; Robbie Long (Lawnmowers) with catthecreek.com 31st December Saturday 21st Liz Frencham; supported by Dave It’s happening ...Gulgong Festival, New Saturday Arvo Jazz 2pm - 5pm ... O’Neill & friends Year’s Eve 08 to 3 January, 09 Street with The James LeFevre Quintet Friday 27th Dance, All the old favourites, and a few Saturday evening - 6.00pm ... Nick Lotsi & Friends; +Triplika (Jewish new favourites. Check the web - Gulgong Charles; plus a selection of other won- Folk Festival 08 for more details. derful music makers Klesma) 31st December Friday 27th Woodford Folk Festival All of Us, All Together with Peter www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/ Hicks & Ross Smithard PLUS Martin 15-18th January 2009 Doherty & Leigh Birkett 24th Illawarra Folk Festival Saturday 28th Bulli www.illawarrafolkfestival.com A Night of Big Bands

6 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 of Victoria, and judged at the National WHAT IS CONTRA DANCE? Folk Festival. Belated congratulations ind out at www.sbcds.org/ folk news to Felicity Hattingh, who won the F contradance/whatis/ General category with At Skaters Sutherland Acoustic and at jam.org.au Pond; and to John Short, winner of and at Granville Town Hall (Sydney) the More Advanced section, with The Name Change on Sutherland Folk Club has changed Flying Doctor. (As you know, John Saturday 26 July, 8pm, with it’s name to Sutherland Acoustic. is co-organiser of the annual Contra Pastrami on Ryebuck We still will be strongly folk music Dance in aid of the Royal Flying and Julie Bishop based but will sometimes incorporate Doctor Service – and 2008 is the 80th John 9623 7551, Leila 9896 8992 other music that might be better anniversary of the RFDS. This year’s described as acoustic hoping to attract contra is on 26th July, at Granville a broader audience that might have a Town Hall.) And Felicity’s and John’s Contra Dancing A browse through the many wrong perception of the word folk. entries in the Exhibition / Display websites devoted to contra dance We would also like to indicate category were selected by TSDAV to brings up quotes like this: to the general public that we are be demonstrated during the judging “If I’m ever in a coma, somebody not inclusive but open to all comers announce ‘Hands Four’ and start so the word club has been omitted. Dancing at GULGONG! shuffling your feet. If that doesn’t What won’t change is the venue and bring a smile to my face or get my the outstanding acts we continue to toes tapping, then you know I’m showcase which we are privileged to beyond hope. ... bring to the Sutherland district. “Much of contra’s popularity is Jenny Watson in its simplicity: if you can walk, you can contra dance. It doesn’t matter dance news if you have two left feet. (Contra Gulgong Folk Festival is on again, dancing uses a walking step so it New Year’s Eve ‘08 to 3 Jan ‘09. S doesn’t matter which left foot you They want to revive the DANCE pro- start on.) I was thrilled to encounter gram: I’ve been asked to take Contra workshops; there is interest from a a place where the whole community Scottish dance group, and Irish. But dancing together is more important more dance presenters are needed! than any one person or any couple Please contact Bob Campbell (02) looking good. I had previously taken 6373 4600, [email protected] or some dance lessons that were horrible Cindy Picton (02) 6374 2558, cindy. because the instructor kept chastising [email protected] http:// us for every small mistake. Worrying gulgongfolkfestival.150m.com/ about getting each step right meant that the evening caused more stress GO TO GULGONG Wongawilli to welcome in 2009. than it relieved. The contra dance Wongawilli is recording another floor, on the other hand, was a playful album, Australia Street, to be released oasis. Everyone was very patient with in June and launched at the Illawarra teaching someone who was new, had Folk Club on 1st August. That will no idea what was going on and lacked be after a smaller version of the band a good sense of rhythm. I was hooked. tours Europe in July. They’ll have gigs Since then, it’s seeped into my blood in Berlin with The Beez, at Skagen It’s happening ... Gulgong Festival, as I’ve danced thousands of dances Festival in Denmark, various folk New Year’s Eve 08 to 3 January, 09 and have discovered a source of deep clubs in Scotland and north England, Street Dance !! All the old favourites!! joy and great playfulness.” (Greg and the Furness Tradition Festival A few new favourites!!! Rohde) in East Cumbria. www.myspace. Please contact Bob Campbell And “The only real answer to com/wongawilliband (IFC Newsletter, (02) 6373 4600, [email protected]. the question ‘What is contra dance?’ May.) au or Cindy Picton (02) 6374 2558, comes when you try it.” [email protected] Dance Composers http://gulgongfolkfestival.150m.com/ The Bush Music Club scooped the Woodford is wonderful - pool in the 2008 dance composers’ but - for those who think competition, run annually by the intimate and small with a bush fragrance is best: Traditional Social Dance Association The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 7 Passion for finding folklore EDGAR PEMBERTON WATERS Born 26th October, 1925 Died 1 May 2008

High to go to university that year was London, where he immersed himself in the much older son of the doctor. the British and Irish folklore collections Sydney University during and after of the British Library and Cecil Sharp World War II was a tumult of ideas House. He met and worked with such clashing with the constraints of pre-war luminaries as Peter Kennedy, A. L. thought. Thinkers like John Anderson (Bert) Lloyd, Seamus Ennis and Ewan and Ian Maxwell held sway and the MacColl and eventually took a job young Waters’ head was turned. Among as Alan Lomax’s research assistant. this tumult he met Ann Barnard, with His recently augmented knowledge whom he shared much of his ideals and of theBritish collections informed whom he later married. Lomax’s Folk Songs of North America, Though his brother, Darcy, became for which Waters is credited in the a pivotal figure in the influential introduction. Sydney Push, which grew out of the Waters also talked and gave lectures Andersonian Libertarians, Waters in London on Australian folklore, and rejected Anderson’s philosophy, opting met some of the performers who grace instead for a commitment to the left the English collections. It is said that Edgar Waters never which eventually led to membership of After some time in Britain, Waters selfishly constrained another person, the Australian Communist Party in the was beginning to feel the pull of home despite the many people who loved early 1950s. He resigned in 1957, his when a welcome letter came from him, or self-interestedly asserted initial discontent,fuelled by a sponsored friend Peter Hamilton, inviting Waters ownership of an idea, in s[pite of a tour that included Soviet Russia, was to help establish a new record and lifetime of research and study that confirmed by the invasion of H u n g production company, Wattle Films created many unique concepts that a r y . He r e m a i n e d , nonetheless, and Records; Waters agreed, pausing inspired others. He was a scholar in in the circle of university academics, only long enough to raise the funds to history and folklore with a rigorous and in 1947 edited Rebel Songs with purchase a professional tape machine. attention to the detail of fact and Stephen Murray-Smith. He left for Australia via a severely critical of assertion and At the Public Library of NSW (later communist youth meeting in Warsaw assumption, while remaining a truly State Library), where Waters studied and a sponsored tour of communist gentle man. His knowledge of the and worked as a librarian, he found China. writings and collections of the world of the time to feed his growing interest in Wattle Records altered the cultural folklore studies was unequalled, and his folklore and Australian history and in landscape, publishing Australian involvement in such studies in Australia the reading rooms met Russel Ward, performers for the Australian made him one of the critical academic who was embarking on the research market. The Drover’s Dream, sung figures in the development of that area that led to The Australian Legend.Ward by pioneering revivalist band the of study and a major contributor to encouraged Waters to record the songs Bushwhackers, was a commercial Australia’s understanding of its own of bushman and musician Joe Cashmere success, charting at a time when such culture. with the then still novel tape recorder, material was relatively unknown. Waters was born in Sydney in 1925, and in 1953, with friend Jeff Way, he Wattle went on to release more than but grew up in Casino, northern NSW. visited Cashmere who had retired 20 records, many of which are still His father, Eric, was a bush worker, a to a small bush block in Sylvania, south referred to today. tick inspector who died in a tent away of Sydney. Typically, he shared the Closest to Waters’ heart were the from home when his son was 11; his recordings with others, including John of field recordings, including mother, Thelma Lancaster, subsequently Meredith, who was similarly starting to Australian Traditional Musicians worked as a cleaner to raise the family. record. and Singers, which was compiled by Unusually for such a beginning, Waters’ Though Waters continued to record Meredith, and Australian scholastic achievements saw him the rest of his life, he felt he did not Traditional Musicians and Singers accepted into Sydney University at 16 possess the engaging personality in Victoria, which contained Waters’ in possession of a scholarship for the necessary to a folk collector and copious notes. Waters wrote on folklore children of veterans of World War I. instead found his metier in research for the next decade, preparing many The only other of the students of Casino and analysis. He and Ann travelled to reviews and articles for journals and

8 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 magazines, and writing a regular did, and Waters, after impressing shelves in the stacks). column for The Australian on the folk Ken Inglis with his ideas for a history Though Waters continued to protest scene. course in the University of Papua New that he was not a collector, he recorded Though a critical success, Wattle Guinea,was offered a job teaching hundreds of hours of interviews and Records was not enough to support there. recordings for the collection, and helped Waters’ continued interest or make Waters developed courses which in the negotiation and acquisition of him a living, and as his Communist explained to the emerging independent many important collections. Party membership seemed to prohibit nation how an affluent Western society Just as importantly, and typical of employment at the State Library, he came into being, and described the his approach, he encouraged many other responded to the urgings of his wife value of oral traditions and local younger researchers, collectors and Ann, Bob Gollan and Ian Turner and culture. He undertook detailed research performers in their quest to understand undertook what is arguably the first to support his teaching. Michael Somare Australian culture and history. PhD in Australia to consider folklore as and John Kaputin were well known He shaped the nation’s folklore a subject. to him in the university environment, collection and influenced the way it has He lived in University House at the and Vincent Auali and John Waiko, been studied. Australian National University and the the latter the first PNG national PNG In April, Edgar Waters underwent difficult new subject was supervised to earn his doctorate, were among the heart surgery, and while it was first by Laurie Fitzharding and then students at UPNG. technically a success, he never really Manning Clark. In the mid-1980s Waters moved recovered from the operation and At the completion of his research, back to Canberra and was again passed away in Nowra Hospital, with Waters was approached by the National approached by the library, who by Ann and daughter Kate, daughter (by Library of Australia to prepare a that time had implemented most of another relationship), by his side, and report which eventually formed the his recommendations, and a bemused his much loved granddaughter, Ella basis of the Oral History and Folklore director-general, Warren Horton, met Moon, not far away. Collection, as it is now known. the librarian who years earlier had He died on May Day at the age of However, though the library been his supervisor when Horton was a 82; his funeral decorated by some of the eventually implemented virtually all ‘‘stackie’’ at the public library of NSW folk songs he loved and studied. of the recommendations of the Waters (a ‘‘stackie’’ is a colloquial term for the Kind permission of Kevin Bradley report, it was some time before they person who retrieves the books from the

The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 9 Looking Back - [Reprinted from The Cornstalk Gazette, made you take up the pen and why hadn’t and haven’t given up and settled down and November 1986, No. 160. The Editors you done that before? got a proper job. The Who and the Stones at that time were Roy Harbour and Bob MP: One of the reasons was probably that are older than us, but it’s the same syn- Buckley.] my father’s a writer, so I’d steered clear of drome. You weren’t supposed to carry on – and we’re the first generation in a way that ‘As anyone who attended either of Steeleye it. I just suddenly decided I’d do it. And has carried on. There’s no reason why one Span’s [1986] concerts in Sydney can tell I really enjoy writing. I write also with shouldn’t – one becomes a better musician! you, and as Phil Baker found when he went my husband Rick [Kemp, Steeleye’s bass It’s only this strange pop fashion world that to the Bomaderry concert [reviewed in the player] quite a lot nowadays and we’ve says you must be young. same issue], the band still has enormous done four albums. I enjoy that side of it. It’s energy and charisma. They’re more than very different from the traditional side of it. PD: Do you think it’s because there’s also just survivors, and they [had] just released If I could write a song as good as some of an inherent dignity in traditional music? a new album called Back in Line. PENNY the traditional music I’d be really pleased. MP: Yes, I think that’s true. There’s a couple of pieces I’m quite pleased DAVIES recorded this interview with PD: Dignified without being stuffy ... Steeleye’s during the Sydney with. Traditional music is a powerful source MP: Yes, that’s what we hope. Although I visit.’ to be inspired by and if you can get that level, well it’s good. wouldn’t necessarily call us all that digni- PD: Steeleye Span has spent 17 years mak- fied! ing albums and touring, yet this new album PD: I think you achieved that level with PD: The band members are all involved in is only the third Steeleye record released Long Shadows [on Woman in the Wings]. various other projects. I noticed that you since Rocket Cottage in 1976. Individual It’s a beautiful song ... Your 1976 al- and Rick wrote the music for the BBC se- members seem to have branched out into bum with June Tabor, Silly Sisters, is an rial Stooky and you’re doing lots of writing various other things and of course you now extremely popular record. Have there ever together. What about the other members? have two young children. How has the been any plans for a Silly Sisters II? band managed to keep going through all MP: Well we’ve tried to get it together, but MP: Well, Peter Knight’s involved in ‘free the changes? she’s more busy than I am. She runs a res- music’ – with lots of improvisation. It’s a very different area of music, and it brings MP: We basically enjoy what we’re doing. taurant and she shows dogs – so we never a lot of new ideas into the band, some of Steeleye isn’t like anything else we do. manage to get it together. I am going to do which we have difficulty in assimilating. I’ve had my own band and we’ve done some albums of traditional music, more in But we have a go at anything! four albums. That’s enjoyable in its own that vein, with a more acoustic approach ... way, but it’s not the same as Steeleye. But Silly Sisters was a complete one-off. PD: has his own studio. Is Steeleye is very special. Anything you’ve We did take it on tour, and the response was that where you’re recording now? done that long is. You get to know people amazing. MP: Yes, that’s where the latest album was in a different way. We’ve had basically the PD: My favourite vocal performance of done. And is running a restau- same lineup since 1971. We’ve had rows, yours is on The Black Freighter, on the rant as well, so he brings in food. we’ve said everything and there’s a special Storm Force 10 album. Is there a particular PD: The new album, Back in Line, is on relationship there. recorded track where you feel you reached your own Flutterby label ... the Everest of singing? PD: The band started originally with the MP: Yes, that’s rather nice, because we’d idea of electrifying traditional music and MP: I think that song is wonderful to sing. been with Chrysalis a long time and that had you’ve since become the best-known folk The thing about Brecht and Weill is that run down to a non-event, so I think we were rock band in the world. Have you taken the they have a dramatic quality which is quite pleased to be shot of each other in the end. original idea to the limit? And how do you different from traditional material (which PD: Has your approach to recording maintain a freshness in your approach? has a more low-key approach and doesn’t changed much in 17 years? MP: I don’t think there is a limit in that always suit a dramatic presentation), but MP: Not enormously. We have tended to sense. We’ve been looking recently at Brecht and Weill are wonderful to drama- work in much the standard way of putting some of the very early material we did as tise and I enjoyed singing that song enor- down a track and building it up. a band and we’ve rearranged it and it’s mously. One of the other songs I enjoyed totally different now to the way we did it doing – as a vocal – is Brown Girl [Rocket PD: So you don’t put down songs all play- 17 years ago. The great thing about tradi- Cottage]. That’s got a lot of spirit, I think. ing together? tional music is the songs are so powerful PD: One of the advantages of is MP: No we tried that, but it’s very difficult and the melody’s so strong you can actu- that a band like Steeleye (or Fairport) can for us, because we’ve found that our live ally sing them over and over again – and go on playing for years with no loss of gigs are something different from record- they sustain. They don’t date ... so they’re credibility. It’s a form where you can “grow ing and it’s difficult for us to get it down wonderful to work with. We’ve also started old gracefully”. on vinyl. We did try it but it didn’t work. writing our own material, which is quite a MP: We’re beginning to think this might be Although in Back in Line there is a track, new idea for us. true! We’ve all been brought up with bands Black Leg Miner, that was taken from a PD: Your solo album Woman in the Wings being young people, mainly, I think, be- live gig and it was recorded direct onto came out in 1978 and showed you had cause they seemed to die young, but there’s cassette – so that’s absolutely how we did enormous talent as a songwriter. What a whole generation of us who haven’t died it live.

10 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 Arlo. Guthrie with the release of “Alice’s Restaurant”, Johnny’s new release “Ex Tempore” are whose title song premiered at the Newport now available from the label. Folk Festival helped foster a new commit- Arlo is also heard on “This Land is ment among the ‘60s generation to social Your Land” alongside the voice of his consciousness and activism. Arlo went on father Woody Guthrie. The album has won to star in the 1969 Hollywood film version several awards including a 1997 Grammy of “Alice’s Restaurant”, directed by Arthur nomination as “Best Musical Album for Penn. Children”. With songs like “Alice’s Restaurant”, Arlo’s other wide-ranging activities too long for radio airplay; “Coming into have included acting roles on the ABC Los Angeles”, banned from many radio series “Byrds of Paradise” and on the stations (but a favorite at the 1969 Wood- USA network series “Renegade”. He has stock Festival); and the definitive rendition written and published The Rolling Blunder of Steve Goodman’s “City of New Or- Review, a popular newsletter, since 1986, leans”, Guthrie was no One-Hit-Wonder. and is the author of an award-winning An artist of international stature, he has children’s book “Mooses Come Walking” never had a hit in the usual sense. illustrated by Alice May Brock. Over the last four decades Guthrie has In 1991 Arlo purchased the old Trinity toured throughout North America, Europe, Church. It was Thanksgiving 1965 that Asia, Africa and Australia winning a events took place at the church which wide, popular following. In addition to his inspired Arlo to write the song “Alice’s accomplishments as a musician, playing Restaurant”. Named for his parents, The the piano, six and twelve-string , Guthrie Center is a not-for-profit interfaith harmonica and a dozen other instruments, church foundation dedicated to providing Arlo is a natural-born storyteller, whose a wide range of local and international Arlo Guthrie was born with a guitar tales and anecdotes figure prominently in services. Its outreach programs include in one hand and a harmonica in the other, his performances. everything from providing HIV/AIDS in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York in These days Arlo is embarked upon services to baking cookies with a local 1947. He is the eldest son of America’s a year-long road trip. The “Arlo Guthrie service organization; an HD walk-a-thon to most beloved singer/writer/philosopher Solo Reunion Tour- Together At Last” will raise awareness and money for a cure for Woody Guthrie and Marjorie Mazia run from June 2006 through May 2007. Huntington’s Disease, and offering a place Guthrie, a professional dancer with the For the first time since 1965, Guthrie will simply to meditate. The Guthrie Founda- Martha Graham Company and founder of be alone on stage for the entire tour, which tion is a separate not-for-profit educational The Committee to Combat Huntington’s will take him throughout the United States organization that addresses issues such as Disease. and overseas to Europe and Australia. the environment, health care, cultural pres- He grew up surrounded by dancers and Arlo recently created a program of ervation and educational exchange. musicians: Pete Seeger, Ronnie Gilbert, symphonic arrangements of his own Arlo Guthrie, Rising Son Records and Fred Hellerman and Lee Hays (The Weav- songs and other American classics, “An The Guthrie Center & Foundation are on ers), Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Ramblin’ American Scrapbook”. By the end of 2007 the World Wide Web at “www.risingsonre- Jack Elliott, Sonny Terry and Brownie Arlo will have performed over 40 concerts cords.com.” McGhee, all of whom were significant in- with 27 different symphony orchestras fluences on Arlo’s musical career. Guthrie throughout the US since 1998. The show gave his first public performance at age at Boston’s Symphony Hall, conducted by Arlo Guthrie Tour Dates 13 and quickly became involved in the Keith Lockhart, was recorded and aired 3rd June, The Clarendon, Katoomba music that was shaping the world during on PBS’ Evening at Pops. The 4th of July the 1960s. celebration in 2001 with the Pops attracted 4th June, The Clarendon, Katoomba Arlo practically lived in the most an audience of over 750,000 people and Friday 6th - Lismore Workers Club famous venues of the “Folk Boom” era. In was broadcast live by A&E. 12th June, Bruce Gordon Theatre, he hung out at Gerdes Folk Rising Son’s latest release is “In Times Wollongong City, The Gaslight and The Bitter End. In Like These.” Guthrie collaborated with Boston’s Club 47, and in Philadelphia he friends, John Nardolillo (musical director), 13th June Southern Cross, Canberra made places like The 2nd Fret and The and with famed engineer, George Massen- 14th June, The Seymour Centre, Sydney Main Point his home. He witnessed the burg to create the recording of Arlo with transition from an earlier generation of the University of Kentucky Symphony ballad singers like Richard Dyer-Bennet Orchestra. Recorded during the spring In Rememberence and blues-men like Mississippi John Hurt, of 2006 the live concert was released on Gordon Mc Intyre to a new era of singer-song writers such Arlo’s 60th birthday, July 10th 2007 to as Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, and wide critical acclaim. 3-10-’41 to 9-6-’99 Phil Ochs. He grooved with the beat poets like Allen Ginsburg and Lord Buckley, and Alongside his thriving performing ca- The snows of Greenland reer, Guthrie launched his own record label picked with players like Bill Monroe and shall glow red like roses Doc Watson. He learned something from Rising Son Records in 1983. In addition to everyone and developed his own style, be- Arlo’s complete catalogue of music, RSR before I can forget my love. includes recordings by Abe’s band, Xavier, coming a distinctive, expressive voice in a traditional Manx crowded community of singer-songwriters Sarah Lee’s debut album “Sarah Lee Guth- and political-social commentators. rie” and Johnny Irion’s recording of “Unity Lodge”. Their collaboration on “Entirely Kate Arlo Guthrie’s career exploded in 1967 Live” and “Exploration” (2004) as well as The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 11 informative and illuminating. St Albans Penelope Swales played in the main tent to appreciative audiences, as she mused over the conflicting priorities of studying law and politics while continuing to do her music. The crowd urged her to focus on the music. A new set of faces for this reviewer were Three Left Feet who seemed to be coping well with their cross-over status. “We’re a blues band at a folk festival, so the obvious choice is to do a reggae tune!” Which they did with spectacular energy, prompting a possibly only half-joking request at the end of the number: “Can we have some CPR up here?!” That was only a warm-up as the Wheeze and Suck Band took the stage for the last spot of the evening and ripped it up, ever-so slightly sneaking over the PA curfew time, as the crowd didn’t quite understand the concept of The St Albans Folk Festival the reference to the ‘bearded Jew’ until ‘just time for one encore’. organisers turned on an enjoyable it became clear the correct lyric was After some drizzly and misty weekend north-west of Sydney over ‘bid adieu’. beginnings, the weekend weather the Anzac Day long weekend in April. As one presenter at the Workshop was superb and Sunday morning was Despite the small size of the Cabin pointed out, the configuration of spectacular, prompting a good turnout village, tucked into a picturesque bend the venue (someone’s weekender) was for the Chorus Cup. The field was on the MacDonald River, the venues useful to maintain a healthy crowd for small-ish, but the quality was there. were spread out over a reasonable the duration: “We thought you were all area, and punters could kid themselves captivated – you just can’t get out!” Clap goes the audience, clap clap clap into believing that a hike up the hill to Mary Jane Field led a very We come here every year the Gallery or the Church could burn well-attended participative singing You can’t stop us coming back off some of that breakfast egg and workshop (including one or three of Winners of the open section, The bacon roll. Mary Jane’s Bright Star Singers) at OK Chorale, could yet need a trip to Like many small festivals, the set- the Gallery Café on chorus songs from the High Court to defend their title, up was such that any blow-in punter around the world. And we did indeed as they themselves admitted that the could be camping next to headline take a tour around England, Africa, ‘chorus’ in their song (to the tune of ‘I performers. It’s an attractive aspect Israel, and one Aboriginal language Was Only 19’) was, well, non-existent of smaller festivals that evening tune group.” at worst, and at best consisted of three and/or singing sessions in the camping Later, the ever-popular (and always words (‘God help me’). Apart from the grounds can be such a mix of punters at St Albans) Wheeze and Suck Band pseudo-chorus, however, there were and performers. graced the verandah of the Gallery some absolute defining moments in For the author, it was the first folk with their very popular sea shanties lyricism: festival (ever) that I’d bought a ticket workshop. The Wheezers urged the Then Vic Jeffries yelled out “Poet’s for, i.e. no volunteering, no MC-ing, crowd to patronise the Gallery Café Breakfast!” no choirs. So my code-word for St liberally so they could afford a wider And the bloke behind me swore Albans 2008 was ‘workshops’. verandah at the 2009 festival – the A boring man recited “How McDougal And they got a hammering. 2008 crowd was spilling back into the Topped the Score” Beeswing gave a few insights for gallery, around the corner, and down Breath-taking. the uninitiated into coal-mining songs, the stairs. Chorus Cup judge Fred Smith was including an overhead projector for a A workshop highlight for me was a big hit with the St Albans crowds visual presentation of the content of Maureen O’Brien’s ‘Borderless’, and after the cup winners had been their songs, and more importantly for an hour of songs and stories from crowned, he treated the audience to an some, the lyrics to sing along with. For Maureen and friends about the eclectic set of humour, emotion and the overflow of participants out the experiences of women in the diaspora yes, a little light Sunday afternoon side door, the group even read some from , both convict and ‘free devil worshipping arm movements. lyrics out, which was just as well. At settlers’, the latter group not always Fred sprinkled in a few numbers from least one punter was wondering about finding themselves so free. Very 12 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 his new ‘Texas’ album and was joined on stage by Penelope Swales to a great reception as proceedings started to Where star power isn’t wind down. As the sun started to toy with the necessary idea of heading further westwards After years dancing and down a little, it was time to head uncomfortably between the worlds the wagons south. The line-up at the of folk and pop, the Newport Folk ferry did give a few Festival is reinventing itself as a of us the chance to have an end-of- full-tilt rock and pop show this festival de-brief. One of those leaning summer. If New England’s most on bonnets and boots was Michael- stellar and storied folk event is John Azzopardi, who had performed abandoning folk, you’d think the his ever-popular blend of acoustic region’s folksier and less-stellar wizardry on the main stage over the festivals must be faring even weekend, the last set including some worse. back-up from Chris Gillespie and one Think again. Falcon Ridge, the Northeast’s premier songwriter festival, of his Wandering Hands. had a total attendance of 32,000 last year, up one-third from 2006. Last year’s Big raps to all the organisers, Lowell Folk Festival drew 200,000, according to city estimates, down from coordinators, and volunteers for a great 220,000 in 2006. But food sales, often a better barometer at a free festival, little festival. were up 10 percent. The annual attendance for New Bedford’s Summerfest has Bill Quinn averaged 20,000 for the past four years. Examining why these low-key, non-star-driven festivals do well, when the Karifolkie at St pop industry is in historic decline, reveals how completely folk music exists Albans 2008 within its own economy, with vastly different business models for presenters Karifolkie is becoming an and career models for performers. extremely popular feature at all Uber-fan Doug Ashford, a manager at Sun Life Financial who attends festivals. around 120 shows a year, has been to Newport six times but goes to Never have a festival without one Summerfest and Lowell nearly every year. I say! ‘For an event like Newport, it’s all dependent on who’s playing,’ he It’s been growing in popularity says. ‘But Summerfest and Lowell have really developed reputations for with Mothers of Intention providing interesting,eclectic lineups; so you attend almost out of habit, knowing you’re the accompaniment. They have been going to see something new and surprising. They’re very well designed, set in doing it at quite a few festivals now as small, friendly, walkable cities, offering a fun experience for a wide range of they have that unique skill of backing people.’ performers of all abilities in the key of your choice while all you have to do is When Summerfest organizers say ‘the more the merrier,’ they mean people, stand up there at the microphone and not ticket prices. They charge $10 a day, $15 for the weekend (with children sing your favourite song and if it’s a under 12 admitted free), and make up the balance through a combination of really popular song you’ll probably be civic and business support. The emphasis on affordability creates an entirely drowned out by the audience joining in different vibe, according to artistic director Alan Korolenko. on the chorus! By Scott Alarik Lainie does a fantastic job of rounding up the singers from the audience, harmonies from Rosie and Penny would melt your heart and Tony has the devil in him when he attacks that fiddle! Margaret Bradford

Alison Boyd gives Jim Stubbs Margaret Bradford with some encouragement for the the kids at St Albans Chorus Cup photo courtesy Bill Quinn The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 13 cd reviews

In Love + Light Tree of Patience Heidi Talbot Omar Faruk Tekbilek COMPASS 744692 (Planet Co.) Alif Records AR00011 (thru The Planet Company) Solo albums naturally explore and push boundaries Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s recent concert in Sydney was that exist by default within the context of a group. But a testament to his wonderful sense of outward-looking the audience may change along the way. Heidi Talbot, musicality and spirituality. With a crack line-up of talented plaintively sweet vocalist from traditional band musicians, the flow of melody and rhythm was breathtaking, Cherish The Ladies, has released a second solo album, and the invitation of digeridoo player William Barton for the produced by , that like her debut Distant rousing finale added another dimension both musically and Future, has around 25% traditional and 75% contemporary spiritually. To coincide with the tour Tekbilek’s 2005 CD songs by songwriters like Tom Waits, Tim O’Brien and Boo “Tree Of Patience” has been released in Australia. Hewerdine. It sounds a little more worldly than usual, with a number Heidi reminds me of Cara Dillon who made a transition, of international guests, although even his regular ensemble not a successful one in my opinion, from traditional to derives from all over Europe. However the essential stirring contemporary. Heidi’s Distant Future tended to retain sounds and rhythms from his Turkish roots that distinguish a Celtic folk feel throughout, whether traditional or previous albums once again provide the focal point. Ara contemporary. On In Love + Light she is edging a little Dinkjian on oud, Brian Keane on guitar and synthesisers, further into pop, and the difference between the traditional Hasan Isakkut on kanun (zither) and percussionist and contemporary numbers this time is perhaps more extraordinaire Arto Tuncboyaciyan are back again, and they obvious. Traditionalists will savour Bedlam Boys, are sometimes augmented by a string ensemble, along with Glenlogie and Blackest Crow, all plainly reminiscent of Flamenco singer Enrique Morente, accordionist Nabawy, Heidi’s work with Cherish The Ladies – one is easily keyboards whiz Steve Roach, Eric Weissberg on banjo, John drawn into the narrative by the seductive singing, and Villa on didgeridoo and even a children’s choir. on Blackest Crow the addition of ’s voice is Fans need not fear that Tekbilek might have strayed pure delight. The other songs are amiable enough, but from the atmospheric Sufi-inspired grooves they have come mostly not as powerful or memorable. Simon Bruce to enjoy and expect. Except for one traditional number the and Tim Schumacher’s If You Stay is a sweet light love core band has written all the tunes, and it drives the overall song, J. Clifford’s Cathedrals rolls along and along, Tom sound. You know you’re on to a good thing right from the Waits’ Time is a lovely bittersweet song on reminiscing, opening track “Common Spirit”, where a lovely melody is Boo Hewerdine’s Invisible and the evergreen Ink Spots announced by oud and guitar, soon to be accompanied by hit Whispering Grass are cute and jazzy while both the ney (flute) and percussion. The tempo then steps up a Hewerdine’s up-tempo Everything and Tim O’Brien’s little on “Elation”, driven along by rolling percussion, ney, bouncy Music Tree are warm and catchy. oud and . And so on through a variety of moods, The list of session musos is larger this time. John Doyle colours and foot-tapping rhythms. The Spanish-tinged Ole is back again briefly, and there’s Neil MacColl, Ewen Aman is a delight. Vernal, John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick, Donald Shaw Omar Faruk Tekbilek’s music is always elegant and and among others – quite a stellar cast really, fascinating, and this album demonstrates his willingness to McCusker’s fiddle is a huge bonus. Arrangements still be inclusive rather than exclusive in creating it. remain fairly sparse and uncluttered so that Heidi’s voice is Julius Timmerman always at the forefront. In the end it’s a matter of personal taste. Some will listen to Heidi’s gorgeous voice no matter what she sings, others like me will yearn for a little more of the traditional Attention: Performers stuff they’re used to with Cherish The Ladies. I wish the Musicians, Singers, Dancers who are interested in perform- album as a whole could have been more raw, less neatly ing at the 2008 Fleadh Nua, please send a CD or tape or creden- ironed but whatever the case, the sultry homespun material tials toKevin Doyle (Phone 9181 3365 or 0401 827 460)or here is easy to digest, especially nice for a rainy day. Email: [email protected]

14 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220 The Folk Federation ONLINE - jam.org.au The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 15 folk trax focus on folk Hi All 2MBS-FM 102.5MHz 6PM Saturday Once in a while a series of CDs lands on my desk and I wonder Focus on Folk will come to you at 6PM on 2nd and if listeners to my programs would like them. Not only would they 4th Saturdays on 2MBS-FM, 102.5MHz for 1 hour of like them but would they purchase them? This was the case only last month. Free Reed are celebrating excellent folk music. thirty years and to do that they released all their early LPs on a series of 18 CDs The final six will be released this month. Why Saturday, 14 June Gerry Myerson you may wonder do I bring this up since you cannot buy Free Reed Saturday, 28 June Kate Delaney here in Australia. True, but talking with Free Reed, they indicated that maybe Folk Trax could look after sales in Australia. Now I Anyone with a CD that you would like to add to the library collection have no intention of having stock on hand here at this stage, I am for consideration for airway please forward to willing to order stock in if there is a demand for this early English Focus on Folk, Post Office Box A182, Sydney South 1235. and Irish folk. Here are some of the names: John Kirkpatrick, Les Barker, Tony Hall, The Old Swan Band, Peter Bellamy, Bees Sunday 9-10am 2HHH 100.1 FM on Horseback, Robin and Barry Dransfield. The series is called Northside Folk members produce a program of Revival re: Masters Series. folk music. (Details Barry Parks 9807 9497 or Now what else is new at Folk Trax. [email protected]) Another new young singer has arrived on the scene . 18 year old Ruth Notman released “Threads”, There are three Karine Polwart CDs available also re-releases from Kevin Burke, Sean Smyth and Gerry O’Connor. Another great compilation is from Proper Records called “That’s Proper Folk!!” With names like Eliza Carthy, Lau, Marin Simpson Luka Bloom, The Waifs and many more coupled with a budget price of $14.95, even less if you are a member of a participating Folk Federation, it is not to be missed! Any questions regarding Free Reed and all other matters can be asked via [email protected]. The 10% discount still applies to all members of the participating Folk Federations and Readers of the Folk Rag. And that’s the lot for this month. Next month we are already half way through the year. Keep on Folking, Henk and Jan de Weerd

16 The CORNSTALK Gazette JUNE 2008 mpd printing the news everyday Ph 02 8898 1200 Fax 02 8898 1220