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.

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.

Sunday 4th March: 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

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

Alistair Brown in concert, Brookfield, Margate, Sat 10th March, 8pm

Alistair Brown has been singing the old songs, and new songs written by people who like the old songs, since he was fifteen years old. He began his career helping out in the folk clubs of his native Scotland during what Utah Phillips called the great folk scare of the 60s, opening bottles (and occasionally concerts) for many of the great names in folk music.

From 1972 to 2002, he lived in Canada, where he was active in many aspects of folk song and dance, as a recording artist, radio broadcaster, columnist, festival director, dance teacher, university lecturer, and program director at folk music and dance camps. With several visits each year, he continues to make regular appearances in Canadian and US folk clubs and festivals, performing solo, or with the Friends of Fiddler’s Green, with whom he has played for over 40 years.

In 2002, he returned to the UK, to live in Cornwall, on England’s Mediterranean coast, where he calls dances and performs regularly in folk clubs, festivals, pub sessions and several ancient seasonal rituals that require the presence of accordions.

Audiences at concerts and festivals across North America, Australia, New Zealand and the UK have responded enthusiastically to his performances, covering the field from big ballads, comic ditties, songs of struggles (usually unsuccessful) against temptation, odes to conviviality and songs of unashamed sentimentality, to outrageously funny stories from a master of the art – all this accompanied by anglo concertina and button accordion.

“He held our discerning audience in the palm of his hand whilst singing two sets of songs from the folk club tradition, beautifully accompanied on concertina and introduced with humour and authority.  He would be welcome back here anytime.”

… Roger Giles, Devonport Folk Music Club, NZ 

“I have heard nothing but praise and many chuckles as people have recounted their enjoyment of your songs and stories- it was just wonderful.”

… John Menzies, Wuurong concert series, Camperdown, Victoria, Australia

alistair@alistairbrown.com    www.alistairbrown.com

Sat. 17th March: Irish Family Ceili

Scoil Rince Ni Kelly

Live Irish Band: Dancers’ Delight

Live Ceili Dance Caller: David Wanless

Irish Dancing Display

Bring a plate to share for supper

Bar with beer, wine and soft drink

Please join us in celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a traditional family ceili.

Saturday 17th March, 6:30-10:30pm

Adult $18, concession $15, child 5-15 years $9, under 5 free, family $50

Citywide Function Centre, 400 Cambridge Road  Mornington TAS 7018

Shooglenifty (Scotland, including Tasmania’s Luke Plumb), Thursday 22nd March

Tickets: $28 | Concession: $25      *Over 18 Event (Includes Booking Fee) 

Wrest Point Show Room.  Doors open at 7:30pm, Show starts at 8:00pm

The mighty SHOOGLENIFTY will be landing on our shores straight from Edinburgh to perform at the Wrest Point Showroom

They are touring their recently released Songlines Music Awards, Album of the Year Nominated MURMICHAN, a double album much of which was written by Tasmanian Mandolin maestro, Luke Plumb.

The tour of Australia is a bit of an anniversary bash to mark 10 years since Luke joined the band, leaving Tassie for the fabled “unmissable gig” – playing in Hyde Park London for the Queens Jubilee celebrations.

Here’s the link for tickets at Wrest Point 
http://tixtas.com.au/Home.aspx

See you there!

“…still the original and best.” The Scotsman
“This virtuoso band started building crescendos from the start, each one
higher than the last, until the final, shuddering chord left the roaring
crowd breathless and cheering wildly”

www.shoogle.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.

Fri. 23rd March: Heritage Fiddle Ensemble 12th Birthday Concert & Bush Dance

Tierney Law in conjunction with

‘Focus on Franklin Festival’

invite you to celebrate the historic 12th birthday of

The Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble

Including:

As the Crow Flies

The Blue Mosquitoes

Dancers from the Folk Federation of Tasmania

Friends and former members of the THFE

Concert & Bush Dance at the

Palais Theatre, Main Rd, Franklin

Friday 23rd March 2012 from 7pm

All tickets $15 available from

Huon Jet Boats & Franklin Post Office

Come and held us celebrate!

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