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2018 Song and Tune Writing Awards Winners

“Apologies for the belated thank you for giving me the opportunity to hear and experience the wonderful music and songs at last Saturdays showcase concert for Mike Silverwood Memorial Song Writing Award.  And to contribute my little bit.

Some great songs and lovely performances. Congratulations to the winners, John and Floyd, and to the winner of the ‘tunes’ prize (whose name I didn’t quite catch).

Over-all a fantastic night with a beautifully supportive audience. Thank you to the David’s, Peter, Roger, “Elizabeth” (?) and all who contributed to making it happen. May it go from strength to strength.”

— Ian Paulin

The Folk Federation’s annual Song and Tune Writing Awards for 2018 are over.  The awards were announced at a wonderful concert on October 20th at Wesley Hall, with a wide range of acts and tunes and songs in a variety of styles and covering many and varied topics, including some important issues such as Nauru, gambling, race relations in Tasmania, social justice and the rights of working people. The concert included seasoned performers and composers as well as “newcomers” stepping up and producing high quality performances.  We hope they are all encouraged in their future endeavours.

The results for 2018 are:

  • Mike Silverwood Songwriting Award – John Hughes – “Only Weeds”
  • Tune Award – CC Thornley – “Sentimental Rag”
  • U-19 Award – Equal 1st – Floyd Taylor – “Wonder”
  • U-19 Award – Equal 1st – Eve Cooper and Rupert Bullard – “Glow”
  • People’s Choice Award – Floyd Taylor

Well done to all those who submitted entries and thank you for supporting this competition. Congratulations to the winners and thank you very much to those who make it all happen, particularly our Competition Co-ordinator, Peter Hicks, this year’s judges, Anna Graham and David Beniuk, Cathy Hutchinson, David Wanless and their team of helpers who organised and set up the hall for the concert and Roger Joseph for sound engineering and lights on the night.

Regency House & Garden Party – Activities

Regency House & Garden Party at Glen Derwent – a festival of delights

SUN 25th NOV 2018
10:30-4:00

 

 

Your ticket includes Glen Derwent’s lovely hospitality and all-day delicious period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks, as well as all the activities.

Activities – all included

See grid version here

Tours of the historic property: On the hour, 11-3

Roses from the Heart (Convict bonnets): All day. Christina Henri, of the Roses from the Heart project which remembers all of the 25,566 women who were transported to Australia and their children. Some of these women would have worked at Glen Derwent. The Cullens family who built Glen Derwent were originally convicts. Christina will be present with a display of bonnets and available to talk about the project.

Croquet – a quintessential English game:
‘Come and try’ anytime 11-11:30, 12-12:30, 1-1:30
‘Play a game’ 11:30, 12:30, 1:30

Photos with the horse and cart – any time

The game of Graces and other Regency outdoor games – available to play any time, with guidance provided by Masters Liam and Lachlan.  Special sessions: Graces or Quoits, on the hour; Skittles or Boules at half past the hour, 10:30-3:30.  The game of Graces is a Regency outdoor game for two or more people, designed to teach people gracefulness, however it is great fun whatever one’s level of dexterity.

Indoor games – with the friends you brought, or make some new ones (cards, backgammon, chess, draughts)

Maypole dancing for all – weave a creative pattern around the pole to the lively music of Fiddle and Squeeze, who will help you avoid getting tangled and have fun, 12:30, 1:30, 3pm

Birthday cake: 1:50pm. Celebrate Glen Derwent’s 200th birthday

Regency dance for all: 2-3pm.  No partner or dancing experience required.  Wonderful live period music by Van Diemen’s Angels.

Connoisseur’s Regency dance workshop: 11-12:30.  Onlookers welcome.  With Dancing Master Dr John Gardiner-Garden and wonderful live period music by Van Diemen’s Angels.  For those with some dancing experience or an adventurous spirit.  Some slightly more complicated dances, including a reprise of some from the ball the night before and some new adventures.  From 1803, comes the lively dance Elegance and Simplicity.  If fortune favours us we may then enjoy the Downfall of Paris and Allemande Suisse or even, if the numbers suit, the glorious Meditation Chinois.

All-day delicious period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks

 

This is an all weather event.

Grid listing of activities here

Tickets: trybooking.com/YIMI

Details: folktas.org/regency

 

Grand Regency Ball and Harp Concert 2016

IMG_2346_Final_Sir_Roger_de_Coverley(trimmed)On the eve of Valentine’s Day, take that certain step towards falling in love …

Grand Regency Ball and Harp Concert
at the historic Hobart Town Hall (Macquarie St, Hobart, Tasmania)

SAT 13th FEB 2016
7:30-12:00

Fine period Tasmanian music by the Tasmanian Harp Ensemble

Dancing Master: David Wanless

Tickets:
$25/ $22/ $20/ $15 (student or u/14)
trybooking.com/JSFN
or at the door

All dances taught. No dancing experience or partner required.
All ages welcome.

Please bring a plate of supper befitting a ball. Bar available.

Period attire admired but not required.

Optional workshop at the Town Hall, 2:00-4:00pm
Including Mundy’s Quadrille
Learn some dances and steps before the ball if you wish. Amongst other dances, learn Mundy’s Quadrille and if you desire, be part of demonstrating it at the ball. It won’t be taught at the ball.
Live music, $8.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/922368291133156/
(you don’t need a Facebook account to view this page)

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc
Facebook: dance folk tasmania
www.folktas.org/regency
folkdancetas@gmail.com
6273 2127
Meetup: Folk Dance Tasmania

Spirited dancing to fine music. Come to dance or listen and watch.

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley’s heart were entertained” — Jane Austen

A fundraiser for the Tasmanian Harp Ensemble to perform Tasmanian music in France – raffle tickets for sale
Extra info:
The recently rediscovered Mundy’s Quadrilles will be performed at the ball. This suite of quadrille music was composed by colonial artist Henry Mundy.

The ball will feature music by 19th Century Tasmanian/Scottish convict, fiddler and composer Alexander Laing.

 

Derwent Regency Festival 2018

For the 2022 festival, click here. If you have landed here, from a later link, please try clearing your browser cache.

Saturday 24th Nov: Grand Regency Ball and Period Concert at the historic Hobart Town Hall

Sunday 25th Nov: Regency House & Garden Party, celebrating the 200th birthday of the historic convict-built mansion, Glen Derwent

Schedule of Activities at Glen Derwent

 

Grand Regency Ball and Period Concert

at the historic Hobart Town Hall (Macquarie St, Hobart, Tasmania)

SAT 24th NOV 2018
7:30-11:30

Fine period Tasmanian music by Van Diemen’s Angels

Dancing Master: David Wanless

Tickets:
$25/ $22/ $20/ $15 (student or u/14)
trybooking.com/YIMI
or at the door.  Booking advised.

All dances taught. No dancing experience or partner required.
All ages welcome.

Please bring a plate of supper befitting a ball.

Dress: Period or formal.

Optional workshop at the Town Hall, 2:00-4:00pm
Including Mundy’s Quadrille
Learn some dances and steps before the ball if you wish. Amongst other dances, learn Mundy’s Quadrille and if you desire, be part of demonstrating it at the ball. It won’t be taught at the ball.
$8.

Supported by the City of Hobart.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1321363047998983/

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc
Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania
www.folktas.org/regency
folkdancetas@gmail.com
6273 2127

Spirited dancing to fine music. Come to dance or listen and watch.

“Fine dancing, I believe like virtue, must be its own reward.” — Jane Austen

Extra info:
The recently rediscovered Mundy’s Quadrilles will be performed at the ball. This suite of quadrille music was composed by colonial artist Henry Mundy.

The ball will feature music by 19th Century Tasmanian/Scottish convict, fiddler and composer Alexander Laing.

 

Celebrate 200 years of Glen Derwent

Regency House & Garden Party

SUN 25th NOV 2018
10:30-4:00

A day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, built c. 1818, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk, glenderwent.com

Hidden behind hawthorn hedges and set in five hectares of park-like pasture and gardens overlooking the Derwent River, Glen Derwent is a 200-year-old, convict-built mansion, classified by The National Trust.

Your ticket includes all-day delicious period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks as well as Regency dancing, live music, croquet, historic tours, maypole dancing, horses and cart and period games. Details: folktas.org/regency. All weather event.

Period attire admired but not required.

Glen Derwent also offers heritage accommodation.

Tickets: $20-$49 trybooking.com/YIMI or at the gate. Booking helps us plan and cater.

See Regency House & Garden Party – Activities

glenderwent.com
stay@glenderwent.com
0427 480 057
folktas.org/regency

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/571646729958722/

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania
Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc

Also: Sat 24th: Grand Regency Ball and Period Concert at Hobart Town Hall

Steampunk Ball, 2018

For the 2021 ball, click here. Time travel is so confusing!

Set the dodgy controls of your favourite time travelling vehicle and whirl your way back in time to the Victorian era, but with a difference.

Destination: Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart
Date and time: Saturday, 27th October 2018 (or should that be 1868?), 7:30pm
What: Steampunk Ball

Fun and lively period dances with simply thrilling music by the Black Swans of Trespass.
Dancing master: David “Oddsocks” Wanless

Tea duelling under the masterful direction of our Tiffenmaster, Sir Nicholas Hewenn.
Hat and glove elimination cotillon. Bring hat or gloves to participate.

You are most definitely encouraged to dress in your finest steampunk, Victoriana or formal attire. Dress to impress. (For ideas, search the web for make steampunk outfit, dress like a victorian or make victorian outfit, or look at the event page below.  You can do a lot with opp shop clothes and trinkets.)

All dances taught. No dancing experience or partner required. All ages welcome.
Please bring a plate of supper.

Tickets $17/$15/$14/$8 at trybooking.com/YJUI or at the door. Bookings advised.
Optional dance workshop, 2-4pm, Wesley Hall, $8. Feel free to attend just the ball, but if you’d like to learn or brush up on some dances, or just want another two hours of dancing, come to the workshop.

folktas.org/steampunk
Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2086374238282705/
folkdancetas@gmail.com
03 6273 2127
Facebook/Meetup: dance folk tasmania
#hobartfolkdances

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc

Time travel can be a little disorienting. If you’d like to get your bearings before arriving at the Steampunk Ball, arrive a few hours early and get some hints about blending in with the locals on the dance floor.

Optional dance workshop, 2-4pm, Wesley Hall, $8. Feel free to attend just the ball, but if you’d like to learn or brush up on some dances, or just want another two hours of dancing, come to the workshop.

Also, we will be practising the Chess Dance, where we all take on the roles of chess pieces on our giant chess board. All being well, we’ll be doing the dance during the evening at the ball.

2017 Song and Tune Writing Awards Winners

The Folk Federation’s annual Song and Tune Writing Awards for 2017 have concluded with a fine concert on October 21st at Wesley Hall, with a great range of acts and standard of performance. This included seasoned performers and composers as well as “newcomers” to the genre stepping up and producing high quality performances.  We hope they are all encouraged in their future endeavours.

The results for 2017 are:

  • Tune Award – CC Thornley – “Doin’ Stuff”
  • Song Award – Jackie Gregory – “Hammett”
  • U-19 Award – Callum Roberts – “Out of Time”
  • People’s Choice Award equal 1st – Callum Roberts and Jane Palfreyman

Well done to all those who submitted entries and thank you for supporting this competition. Congratulations to the winners and thank you very much to those who make it all happen, particularly our Competition Co-ordinator, Peter Hicks, this year’s judges, Anna Graham and David Beniuk, Cathy Hutchinson and her team of helpers who organised and set up the hall for the concert and Graeme Beer for sound engineering on the night.

2017 FolkTas Grant Awarded

2017 FolkTas Grant Award

The 2017 FolkTas grant was awarded to Rachel Meyers for her project “A Jew in Tasmania: diaspora to home” which is a deeply personal musical project considering the experience of diaspora, emigration and Jewish culture as the basis for Rachel’s own musical practice.

Rachel is an accomplished musician herself and performs as an experimental Klezmer duo with Dave McNamara as “Meyers & McNamara” who are currently working towards their debut album. They have performed with several bands, such as The Tinderbox Collective, The Counterfeit Gypsies and Duo Swango. Rachel has also completed a postgraduate research degree in musicology and worked on various other research projects.

The Folk Federation of Tasmania’s committee wishes Rachel well with her ambitious CD and performance project and looks forward to the full lecture/ recital and accompanying album launch at Hobart’s historic Synagogue in 2018.  Benefits will flow to the folk community and beyond with Rachel’s themes and musical collaborations, beginning with an early presentation at the Cygnet Folk Festival 2018.

2016 FolkTas Grant Awarded

The 2016 FolkTas grant was awarded to Theresa Young for her series of three bushdances, to be held at the Orford Town Hall (later changed to Buckland).  The purpose of this proposal, Theresa wrote, was to give some more community dancing opportunities to those living on the South East Coast of Tasmania. It would be an opportunity for everyone to meet new people, be active and be joyful!

After the events, Theresa wrote in Drumbeat, the Folk Federation’s regular magazine:

The town of Buckland played host to three sweet and lively bushdances in the months of August, September and October. People of all ages filled the dance-floor of the charming Buckland Hall at each dance, travelling from all over the South-Eastcoast, Midlands, and
Hobart areas.  

We were privileged to have stages full of musos playing and singing celtic, Tasmanian and American tunes on banjos, mandolins, accordians, guitars and fiddles. The first dance was played and called by Moonshine Whiskers and the Ragged Pony; the second, by Tasmania’s Devil’s Own; and the third was played by the enormous and delightful Hobart Old Time String Band, called by David Wanless and sound engineered by Glenn Warland.

We danced traditional dances like the beloved heel-and-toe, and were thrown into some wild and beautiful newer ones too. On the final night,  we even learnt some lovely dances
of David Wanless’ own creation. Suppertimes were also a mix of tradition and novelty, with tables filled with old favourites like savoury toast, as well as innovative creations like
falafel and bocconcini kebabs.

Thank you to the Folk Federation of Tasmania for supporting the dances with their annual FolkTas grant, as well as to the local Glamorgan Spring Bay Council for a community grant. These wonderful events would not have been possible without this backing.

Theresa Young

2016 Song and Tune Writing Awards Winners

Once again 2016 saw a wonderful batch of entries for our Song and Tune Writing Awards. Thank you to all who participated by writing and submitting songs and tunes. The Awards Concert was held on Saturday the 22nd October to feature all those who were able to come and perform. The outcome of the competition was as follows:

  •  Song Winner: Teresa Young with Melton Mowbray

  • Tune Winner: Michael Horton with Sliding Down Mt Amos

  • Under 19s Winner: Celeste Meincke with Underneath

  • People’s Choice Winner: Teresa Young

Well done to all those who submitted entries and thank you for supporting this competition, please keep those creative cogs turning for the 2017 competition. Congratulations to the winners and thank you very much to those who make it all happen, particularly our Competition Co-ordinator, Peter Hicks and also this year’s judges, Helen Morrison and David Beniuk.

2016 Song and Tune Writing Awards

“for an original song or tune in traditional or contemporary folk style”

  • See entry form: Folk Federation of Tas Song Writing award entry form 2016
  • These awards are made to encourage creative music writing in Tasmania.
  • An independent panel of judges will announce the major awards at a concert on Saturday 22nd October
  • The concert will feature the finalists. The judge’s decision will be made before the night but not announced until during the concert. A People’s Choice award will be decided on the night.

There are three categories, plus a Peoples’ Choice on the night of the concert 

  • Mike Silverwood Memorial Song Writing Award 1st $150
  • Instrumental Award 1st $150
  • Under 19 Song or Instrumental Award 1st $150
  • People’s Choice Award 1st $50

Entries to be submitted by Friday 30th September 2016

Further information: ring Peter on 0409 216 752

Further details are on the entry form: Folk Federation of Tas Song Writing award entry form 2016