July 2021 Newsletter
- More acts for Mountaingrass 2021!
- What’s On: Upcoming events and regular picks and sessions.
Our program for Mountaingrass is coming together. Here are some more acts who will be performing in 2021:
Bluestone Junction
Brand-new Bluegrass … the old-fashioned way!
Bluestone Junction’s sound is traditional bluegrass, but their repertoire includes contemporary original compositions, tunes by modern bluegrass ‘traditionalists’ such as the Johnson Mountain Boys, and of course classic material from bluegrass pioneers such as Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, the Stanley Brothers and more.
Video:
Southern Flavour at the National Folk Festival 2009
Facebook
Crow Mountain
Hailing from the Blue Mountains of NSW, Megan Legg (mandolin, guitar and vocals) and Ben Thomas (banjo, guitar and vocals) blend old-time and bluegrass with honey-dipped harmonies. Their original songs are rich in the sound and story-telling of traditional country music – of growing up in isolation; jumping freight trains to get where you need to be; of getting out of town and returning beaten, with the past at your heals. Megan and Ben are joined by John Lee on fiddle and Paul Abrahams on bass.
Video:
The Higher We Go
Website
Backwater
Melbourne’s most traditional bluegrass band with a solid pedigree. Backwater plays the early traditional Bluegrass tunes made famous by Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Jimmy Martin and the Stanley brothers with a smattering of Carter Family.
Videos
Can’t you hear me calling
Just as soon as I get over you
Facebook
The Willing Ponies
The Willing Ponies in the chapel at the George Kerferd Hotel.
The Willing Ponies are a country and bluegrass / folk band from Sydney who play original songs of relatable life that are distinctly Australian in perspective. They combine acoustic bluegrass instruments with a fusion of diverse musical influences, including: Gram Parsons, Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Union Station, Bela Fleck and many others. The Willing Ponies. They are: Ricky Pannovitz, Paul Abrahams, Nigel Lever, Ben Thomas, Wen Tjen Lim and Quentin Fraser.
Videos
Live at the George Hotel, Waterloo compile
Live at the Dorrigo Bluegrass and Folk festival
Workshops at Mountaingrass 2021.
Our workshops have proven to be very popular over the years so this year we hope to offer a few more. In addition to tuition on fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin we will be offering a song writing workshop and another designed to help you promote your act to radio stations.
Upcoming events:
15-17 October, 2021. https://katoombaoldtimeyfolkfestival.com
Melbourne and Victoria:
Mountain Pickers Association last Tuesday of the month: Next on is Jul 27th at Ferntree Gully Bowls Club, 2a Glenfern Rd, Ferntree Gully with Dave Diprose & Hillbilly Radio. Ph 97535888 for bookings.
Phillip Island, Vic
2021 Phillip Island Jam Camp 24th – 26th July, 2021 – CANCELLED
Beechworth, Vic
Kelly Country Pick Bluegrass and Old-Timey music festival.
August 20-2, 2021. Old Priory, Beechworth.
The music camp will be held again this year from 17th-19th of August with camp tutors Andrew Clermont, Josh Bennett and Craig Woodward. Email Peter at admin@kellycountrypick.org if you interested in attending the music camp.
Yackandandah, Vic: Session every Wed Night 7:30 Star Hotel Yackandandah (Top Pub) Songs, Tunes and Irish
Melbourne: Jells Park, Wheeler’s Hill. Session every 2nd Saturday of the month at 12pm. Acoustic jams for fun. The Guide to Traditional Jamming available on the Jammalong in Melbourne facebook page is a great resource.
Sale: Wellington Bluegrass Jammers
Meet monthly and welcome audience members. Currently taking a break. Go to their facebook page for details.
Chewton: Old time jam 6-8pm last Friday of the month at the Red Hill Hotel.
Canberra: Old Time session every Wednesday afternoon from 4pm at Smith’s Alternative, Alinga St, City.
Jammalong in Canberra: 2nd Saturday of each month from 12 noon outdoors under the pergolas near Questacon. Beginners and emerging players are very welcome!
Note: Currently Covid restriction apply to the Greater Sydney region. Go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 for the most recent information.
Annandale:
Sydney Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Get-together. Annandale Community Centre, 79 Johnston St, Annandale, NSW. First Saturday of the month.St Peters. Pick in the Pub Old Time jam: Town & Country Hotel, 2 Unwin Bridge Rd: Every second Sunday of the month 12-7pm.
Katoomba. Oldtimey music Jam Thursdays at Plantbased Wholefoods cafe/restaurant, 97 Katoomba St, Katoomba. From 630pm.
The BTCMSA’s Sydney Bluegrass & Old Time music facebook site is a great site for details of picks jams, and events in Sydney and surrounds.
We hope to be able to announce ticket sales for Mountaingrass in the coming months. In the meantime, let’s hope the vaccination roll-out happens in earnest now and Covid19 restrictions do not affect any more upcoming events. We need live music now more than ever!
Before we go, we’d like to give a big shout-out to Greg McGrath at the Australian Bluegrass Blog who tirelessly delivers news about Australian and US bluegrass, old-time and country music and events directly to your inbox. Check it out!
From the team here at Mountaingrass.
ABOTMA Executive committee for 2021
President: Helen Ludellen, Vice President: Dave Diprose, Secretary: Susan Boothroyd, Treasurer: Karita Brokenshire.
Many thanks to our sponsors and supporters:
The George Kerferd Hotel; The Mayday Hills Art Society; Wangaratta Sound and Lighting and the Mayday Escape Rooms; Alexander Bell Studios; Evan Webb, John Boothroyd, George Fendyk; Cole Clark Guitars for supporting our raffle; Jan Dale and the Southern Style program on PBS 106.7FM in Melbourne; Grundy banjos; Gerald Pink picks; Chip Bragg leather straps; Madam PC and Comedy Hypnotist Gerard V for technical services; and the Australian Bluegrass (dot) com for the best bluegrass blog in Australia!
Contact us at:
Email: info@abotma.org.au