This page is regularly updated with details of forthcoming folk music and dance events in Tasmania. This page is maintained as a free community service by the Folk Federation of Tasmania who accept no responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of information supplied to us for listing on this page.

Check our Regular Events Page for details of regular events (dances, clubs and sessions) across the state.

See our Venues Page for information about some venues around the state.

Sunday 5th Feb: Pan-Celtic Music and Dance Session

(Play, Dance or Listen)

 Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart

4:00–6:30pm

1^st Sunday of the month (except Jan)

New format: 4:00-4:30 tune exchange workshop

4:30-6:30 round robin session plays for dancing

Entry: $4.  Tea and coffee available free.  BYO anything else.

Focus on celtic music from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton, Sweden, the Shetland Isles, Brittany, Quebec, Galicia and more (even a few Balkan tunes).

Sheet music available, or learn by ear.

Contribute your own tunes (with dots).

Re-unite celtic dance music with the dance!

All dances taught.  No partner or dancing experience required.

www.folktas.org                  6297 8565

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc

The String Contingent

Thursday 16th February – 7:30pm

The Lark Distillery
enter via the back door – 14 Davey St, Hobart

New Acoustic Chamber Folk – performed with a twinkle in the eye

book online www.arelmedia.com.au/book.php
Tickets $20 online/$23 at the door conc $15 at the door only

New CD now out    www.thestringcontingent.com

The String Contingent

New Acoustic Chamber Folk – performed with a twinkle in the eye

Concert in the Supper Room

Sat 18th February – 7:30pm

Upstairs at the Town Hall – 14 Mary St, Cygnet

Supper provided

Tickets $20/$15 at the door

New CD now out

www.thestringcontingent.com

Matthew Brady – The Devil’s Own  CD launch

Peter Hicks, Annie Parsell and Mat Woolley

plus the Tasmanian Grassroots Union Choir

7.30pm Saturday 18th February at the Rosny Barn,

Rosny Farm Road
Rosny Park (adjacent to Eastlands Shopping Centre)

$13 online $15 at the door

book at www.arelmedia.com.au/book.php

Matthew Brady was a celebrated convict bushranger who lead a gang of bushrangers in the early colony of Van Dieman’s Land which challenged the power of the government authorities in the 1820s. He is Tasmania’s own “Robin Hood” character who “robbed from the rich to feed the poor” and was much admired by the women of the colony. He is also perhaps a major inspiration for Australia’s most notorious bushranger “Ned Kelly” who’s exploits in many ways parallel those of Brady half a century beforehand.

This 1 ½ hour presentation examines the life and times of Brady – from his period as a member of the Connaught Rangers, fighting for the empire in Flanders, to his return to the poverty of Industrial Manchester and the famous Peterloo Massacre and follows his career as a bushranger fleeing from incarceration in isolated and severe prison settlements in Tasmania to his becoming a folk legend.

Features: Peter Hicks, Annie Parsell and Mat Woolley all of whom are regular performers on the state and national folk festival circuit and backing vocal support and additional short skit performances by the Grassroots Union Choir of Tasmania recently returned from the Tolpuddle Festival in the UK.

A complete show, for the whole family.

Stefan Grossman (US)

fingerstyle guitar – from blues to ragtime and beyond

7.30pm Friday 2 March
7.30pm Saturday 3 March

Rosny Barn,
Rosny Farm Road
Rosny Park (adjacent to Eastlands Shopping Centre)

Stefan Grossman returns for his first tour since 1978. His laid back approach belies the fact that the man on stage is playing some of the most difficult pieces. Stefan Grossman has played with, learned from and taught the best in the world.

$45 online book via www.arelmedia.com.au/book.php

(Two day workshop on 3 & 4 March at the Barn. $405 includes lunch both days).

The Country Blues Guitar will be focusing on a wide variety of styles and techniques. We will explore delta blues, bottleneck slide playing, the playing of Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, Skip James, Blind Boy Fuller, Mance Lipscomb and other legendary bluesmen. Right and left hand techniques will be discussed as well as understanding the fingerboard. The music will span from blues to rags.
Students should know first position chords and feel comfortable playing an alternating bass (bum-chick!! similar to Miss. John Hurt or Chet Atkins). This is usually classified as an advanced beginner!
I will supply written tab/music as well as a CDR of the material to be studied.
You are encouraged to bring recording devices to record the sessions (audio and/or video). I will be teaching the group as well as each student individually. The Workshop is being limited to 15 students.

CONTRA & CEILIDH DANCE

with the HOT String Band

and guest caller Alistair Brown (UK)

FRI. 9th MARCH ’12
7:30-11:30

Wesley Hall, 58 Melville St, Hobart
5 mins walk from city centre

Tickets at the door:
$15/ $13/ $11/ $5

All dances taught.  No dancing experience or partner required.
All ages welcome.
Dress and attitude: casual.
Please bring a plate of supper.

English Ceilidh dancing is the equivalent of bush dancing — lively, easy, great fun dances.

Contra dance is a beginner-friendly form of social dance that is non-competitive, moderately aerobic and highly addictive.  It’s a  lively, swingy dance style from the New England region of the USA.  Done to a simple walking step, it features flowing movements, lots of swings and a chance to dance with everyone.

Alistair Brown is much in demand as a caller for barn dances and ceilidhs where he now lives in south west England. He has called and led workshops on various aspects of dance numerous times in North America – in Ontario, Massachussetts, Virginia, and California. He has been programme director for English Dance Week several times at Pinewoods music camp for the Country Dance and Song Society of America and has been on staff at music camps in Mendocino, Monte Toyon, Ashokan, Buffalo Gap and Lady of the Lake.  He gave us a great night of dancing when he first visited Hobart in 2010.

“This dancer, teacher, folk singer and raconteur radiates dynamism…” Buffalo Gap Music Camp

“He has the ability to engage those attending at all levels from absolute beginners to experienced dancers with a good sense of humour and a feeling for the occasion.” Bernard Evans, Newlyn Reelers

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc.
www.folktas.org         folkdancetas@gmail.com        6273 2127

See also www.hotstringband.org and www.alistairbrown.com

Jez Lowe (UK)

7.30pm Friday 23 March
Brookfield Margate

1640 Channel Highway
Margate

$30 online/$33 door $25 conc at the door only
www.arelmedia.com.au/book.php

Jez Lowe’s legion of fans have waited nearly ten years for this Tasmanian concert.

Jez Lowe has built an enviable reputation as a songwriter and performer in the world of acoustic music, and as a recognised musical ambassador for his native North East England, with more than a dozen albums and countless live performances around the world over the last twenty years.
Among those who have recorded their own versions of Lowe’s songs, are Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Tannahill Weavers, Cherish The Ladies, Gordon Bok, The McCalmans, The Black Brothers, Liam Clancy, Bob Fox and literally hundreds of others. Songs like BACK IN DURHAM GAOL, THE BERGEN, GREEK LIGHTNING and THESE COAL TOWN DAYS have generated scores of cover versions around the globe, and are now classics of their kind.

Pierre Bensusan (Fra/Alg)

7.30pm Friday 30 March

Brookfield Margate
1640 Channel Highway
Margate

If “World Music” is music that pays tribute to the spirit of a collection of human beings through distinct rhythms, traditional instruments and harmonic colors, French-Algerian guitarist, singer and composer Pierre Bensusan can be recognized as one of the most eloquent and diverse world musicians of our time.

$30 online $33 door $25 conc at the door only
www.arelmedia.com.au/book.php

Major Annual Festivals and Events

Cygnet Folk Festival, second weekend of January each year.   See www.cygnetfolkfestival.org for programme, including details of over 100 Tasmanian, interstate and international performers, as well as ticketing and other information.

Tamar Valley Festival, Georgetown, third weekend of January each year. See http://www.tamarvalleyfolkfestival.com/ for details.

Celtic Summer School Presented by Celtic Southern Cross

Music Under the Southern Cross, is on the week between Cygnet and Tamar Folk Festivals each year. The next Summer School is at Campaspe Downs, Victoria, Jan 15th – 20th 2012