All posts by David Wanless

Derwent Regency Festival 2020

Dancing, Music, Regency, , ,

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

Friday 27th November – Sunday 29th November, 2020

Hobart and New Norfolk, Tasmania

What a wonderful weekend it was. You can see some photos here and here.

The original details for the festival are below. Look out for us again in 2021.

Tickets: trybooking.com/BHQFT

Session, early bird and discounted weekend tickets are available.

Draft programme – subject to minor changes. Download printable version of the weekend’s programme here and the Regency House and Garden Party programme here.

ACTIVITYTIMEDESCRIPTIONLOCATIONPRICE
Friday 27th November
Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna Heritage Museum5-7:30pmRegency costume showings, exhibition, tours of Narryna house (1830s merchant house), convict women stories, refreshments in the garden, maypole dancing and live music, meet and greet other festival goersNarryna Heritage Museum, 103 Hampden Rd, Battery Point$20
Possible Communal Dinner7:30pm+Please let us know if you are interested, via the booking pageA restaurant in HobartPay the venue
Saturday 28th November
Regency Dance Workshop11:15 for 11:30am-1:30pm (time to visit Salamanca Markets beforehand)With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Learn or refresh the basics of Regency dancing for the evening ball, or just have fun with some easy Regency dances. No partner or dancing experience required. Note that you are welcome to attend the evening ball whether or not you have attended this workshop. BYO water bottle.North Hobart Uniting Church Hall (cnr Swan & Elizabeth Sts, opposite State Cinema, enter by downstairs left hand door)$12/$10
Intermediate Regency and Georgian Dances2:20 for 2:30-4:30pmWith live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Have fun with a variety of lively dances, some for the evening ball and some just because they’re exciting dances. No partner or dancing experience required but if you can make it to the earlier workshop first that would be good. Learn Mundy’s Quadrille for an informal display at the ball. BYO water bottle.North Hobart Uniting Church Hall, as above$12/$10
Grand Regency Ball7:15 for 7:30-11:30pmGrand Regency Ball – dance or enjoy the spectacle
Divine period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute)
Dancing Master David Wanless will lead you through an evening of fun and lively dances. No partner or dancing experience required, though attending the morning workshop would make it even more fun. Dress in something period or formal if you can.
BYO water bottle, cup and supper.
Entry conditions: folktas.org/coronavirus 		St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St (opposite Blue Gum, enter off Rupert St, behind church)$19/$17/$16/$10
Sunday 29th November
Regency House and Garden Party10:30am-4pmA day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat in the lovely Derwent valley. Your ticket includes delicious morning and afternoon tea and lunch of period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks, as well as Regency dancing, live music, croquet, historic tours, maypole dancing, roses, peacocks and heritage sheep to view in the gorgeous grounds and period games to play. Period attire admired but not required.
Detailed programme here.		Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk$47/$41/$30/$15
After Party4pm onwardsInformal party at Glen Derwent, for weekend or Sunday ticket holders, includes vegetarian dinner and refreshments.Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk$25 (for weekend or Sunday ticket holders)
Monday 30th November
Possible outingTBCDepending on interest, we may organise a promenade, a picnic, a museum visit or similar or an informal dance. Please let us know if interested, via the booking page or email to folkdancetas@gmail.com.TBCN/A
Tickets: trybooking.com/BHQFT

Discounted weekend and early bird tickets are available.

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv/

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania



2019 Song and Tune Writing Awards Winners

Music, Singing, Song and Tune Writing Awards

Tassie Composers Hit the Right Notes at Awards Night

(Article from the Folk Federation’s Drumbeat magazine, December 2019)

Saturday November 2nd saw the Kunanyi Folk Club host the FFT’s Song & Tune Writing Awards Concert. The deadline for the Awards had been a month previous and the judges had been busily listening and cogitating. A last minute flurry of entrants from the Youth Songmaking Sessions meant that the Under 19s category was better represented than it had been in some years. All entrants to the Awards (as is always the case) were invited to perform at the concert. It was great to see the Under 19s performing in such an intimate venue. David Beniuk, a previous winner, current judge and also co-organiser of the Kunanyi Folk Club tells us more:
“Huon Valley singer/songwriter Anne Toner has taken out the prestigious Mike Silverwood Award at the Folk Federation of Tasmania’s 2019 Song and Tune Writing Awards.
Anne took out the top prize for her piano-driven, gospel-inspired composition Someday Soon. Performed with vocalist/guitarist Tiffany Eckhardt, the song of the year winner was among a host of highlights at this year’s awards.
The tune-writing award went to duo Yyan and Emily for their sophisticated and beautiful composition Brown Mountain.
But perhaps the most hotly contested category in 2019 was the under-19s award.
With a record number of entries in the youth category, the two prizes on offer were won by Alex Buktenica for Higher Ground, and Molly and Isaac for Falling.
To cap off a great night for the future of Tasmanian folk, the People’s Choice Award was won by another under-19 entry, Eve and Amelia for their astronomy-inspired song Kepler.
It was a fitting end to a night kicked off with the folk-rock rhythms and urgent lyrics of future stars The Unknown.
And after a host of stirring performances from this year’s entrants, the night was closed out with a set from internationally renowned North West blueswoman Chris O.
Prizemoney totalling $1000 was awarded across the four categories.
The songwriter of the year is each year awarded the prestigious Mike Silverwood Award, named after the legendary Deloraine accordionist when the competition was revived in 1996.
The awards night was hosted by the Kunanyi Folk Club, established in June this year in partnership with the FFT, for the first time.” — David Beniuk

The committee are very grateful to the organisers of the KFC for hosting the concert. We congratulate and thank all entrants for the time and talent they spent creating their entries. Once again the Peoples’ Choice category proved that the evening provided something for everyone with the voting being nicely spread across all entrants and categories.
The Song & Tune Writing Awards are an annual event open to all Tasmanian composers of original tunes or songs in a folk style. The spirit is one of encouragement rather than competition, so be brave in 2020 when the event comes around again!!

2018 FolkTas Grant Awarded

Music, Singing

2018 FolkTas Grant Award

The 2018 FolkTas grant was awarded to Wolfe and Thorn for their project on recording and promotion of maritime and other traditional Tasmanian music in collaboration with the Maritime Museum.

The project aims to

a) Create a recording of traditional Tasmanian music of various periods in the history of Hobart.  These would include a large selection of sea shanties and songs that would have been heard & sung by those who came to Hobart by sea.  We would also include songs written by residents of Hobart and Tasmania, including Alexander Laing and various indigenous groups that contributed to the body of heritage music we now enjoy.

b) Perform a concert in the stunning acoustics of the upstairs gallery of the Maritime Museum.

Derwent Regency Festival 2019

Dancing, Music, Regency

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

Friday 29th November – Sunday 1st December, 2019

Hobart and New Norfolk, Tasmania

Tickets: trybooking.com/BDTES

Session and discounted weekend tickets are available.

Draft programme – subject to minor changes. Download printable version of the weekend’s programme here and the Regency House and Garden Party programme here.

ACTIVITYTIMEDESCRIPTIONLOCATIONPRICE
Friday 29th November
Georgian and Regency Evening at Narryna Heritage Museum5-7:30pmRegency costume showings, botanical drawings exhibition, tours of Narryna house (1830s merchant house), refreshments in the garden, maypole dancing and live music, meet and greet other festival goersNarryna Heritage Museum, 103 Hampden Rd, Battery Point$15
Possible Communal Dinner7:30pm+Let us know if you are interestedA restaurant in Battery Point or SalamancaPay the venue
Saturday 30th November
Regency Dance Workshop11:30am-1:30pm (time to visit Salamanca Markets beforehand)With live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Learn or refresh the basics of Regency dancing for the evening ball, or just have fun with some easy Regency dances. No partner or dancing experience required. Note that you are welcome to attend the evening ball whether or not you have attended this workshop.St James Church Hall, 462 Elizabeth St, New Town (off Rupert Ave, opposite Blue Gum, behind church)$10/$8
Intermediate Regency and Georgian Dances2:30-4:30pmWith live period music and Dancing Master David Wanless. Have fun with a variety of lively dances, some for the evening ball and some just because they’re exciting dances. No partner or dancing experience required but if you can make it to the earlier workshop first that would be good. Learn Mundy’s Quadrille for an informal display at the ball.St James Church Hall, as above$10/$8
Grand Regency Ball7:30-11:30pmGrand Regency Ball – dance or enjoy the spectacle
Divine period music including many Tasmanian pieces, by Van Diemen’s Angels (harp, piano, fiddle and flute)
Dancing Master David Wanless will lead you through an evening of fun and lively dances. No partner or dancing experience required, though attending the morning workshop would make it even more fun. Dress in something period or formal if you can.		St James Church Hall, as above$18/$16/$15/$9
Sunday 1st December
Regency House and Garden Party10:30am-4pm, with possible after party A day of Regency activities, fine food and tea at the historic Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat in the lovely Derwent valley. Your ticket includes all-day delicious period sweet and savoury food and hot and cold drinks as well as Regency dancing, a new play by the Derwent Valley Players, live music, croquet, historic tours, maypole dancing, roses, peacocks and heritage sheep to view in the gorgeous grounds and period games to play. Period alcoholic drinks available at bar prices. Period attire admired but not required.
See detailed programme here.		Glen Derwent Heritage Retreat, 44 Hamilton Rd, New Norfolk$45/$39/$30/$15
Monday 2nd December
TasContra Dance7:30-9:30pmOur regular contra dance, which is not Regency dancing but is great fun, and we will do one or two “chestnut” contras which are versions of Regency dances.  Live music by Moonshine Whiskers and the Ragged Pony.St James Church Hall, as above$10/$8
Tickets: trybooking.com/BDTES

Discounted weekend and early bird tickets are available.

Information about finding the venues, and reducing our environmental impact in transport and at the events, is at folktas.org/venuesenv/

There are many other lovely things to do in Hobart and surrounds.  Some places to visit with some Regency relevance are Port Arthur, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery or simply wandering through Battery Point.

Cathy and David, 03 6273 2127, folkdancetas@gmail.com

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc, folktas.org/regency

Facebook/Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania



Roguery English Country Dance and Music Weekend

Concerts, Dancing, Music, Singing

Including the Rogue’s Ball

Fri 26th-Sun 28th April, 2019, Hobart Tasmania

Tickets: trybooking.com/BADSB

From the USA via the National Folk Festival, for the first time in Australia, the Roguery trio is composed of three highly versatile veteran musicians who have come together to enchant dancers and listeners alike. Their arrangements range from strictly traditional to soaring flights of imagination and improvisation. They have recorded 6 CDs, and have become favourites at events throughout the USA and England. The band’s varied influences include English, contra, early music, classical, Breton, Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Galician, French, Balkan, jazz-fusion, Greek, and a variety of song traditions.  See: rogueryband.com.

See (and hear) Roguery in concert, learn from them in singing or music workshops, or dance to their inspiring music and the calling of Brooke Friendly, an energetic and highly experienced dance teacher popular throughout North America and England.

Roguery in Concert

Friday 26th April, 7:15 for 7:30pm, Caledonian Society Hall, 31 Homer Ave, Moonah

The Roguery trio are: Dave Bartley, Shira Kammen and Jim Oakden

Dave Bartley (Seattle) plays mandolin, guitar, cittern, and numerous other plucked string instruments. He can provide a quiet foundation, inject a fiery driving rhythm, or pull wicked licks out of thin air. His odyssey from flashy rock guitarist to classical musician to eclectic sideman to tunesmith filters through his fingers, making you wonder what he’ll do next, playing the tune, then playing around, inside, and beyond it.

Shira Kammen (Berkeley), a multi-instrumentalist (primarily violin and vielle) and vocalist, has spent most of her life exploring early and traditional music. She is one of a rare class of musicians that elevate the musicianship of those around her with her astonishing virtuosity and imagination. A favorite at dance and music camps and a member of many bands and ensembles, she is constantly performing and teaching nationally and internationally with the elite of the music world. She has appeared on 60-ish recordings in a variety of styles of music, and is considered a demi-goddess in early music circles.

Jim Oakden (Santa Cruz) started playing piano and clarinet at an early age and stumbled into early music from the classical music scene, from whence he discovered the world of traditional and ethnic music. Having diverse tastes (or a short attention span), he performs on an absurd number of instruments, from accordion to zurna (to name a few).

Together, their arrangements range from strictly traditional to soaring flights of imagination and improvisation. They have recorded 6 CDs, and have become favourites at events throughout the USA and England. The band’s varied influences include English, contra, early music, classical, Breton, Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Galician, French, Balkan, jazz-fusion, Greek, and a variety of song traditions.

Tickets: https://trybooking.com/BADSB or cash at the door: $25/ $22 concession. Limited seats. Booking advised. Discounted weekend and online tickets available.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/483805548832713/

Rogue’s Ball

Saturday 27th April, 7:30-11:30pm

Venue: the magnificent Hobart Town Hall ballroom, 50 Macquarie St, Hobart

Raucous to serene trad-inspired music by Roguery (USA). A dance party with English country dance, contra, and ceilidh style dances. All dances taught by Brooke Friendly (USA). No dancing experience or partner required.

Tickets: https://trybooking.com/BADSB or cash at the door: $25/ $22 concession/ $20 member/ $15 f/t student. Discounted weekend tickets and online tickets available.

Please bring a plate of supper and dress as your favourite rogue

Supported by City of Hobart

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/338717230190143/

Singing and Music Workshops

Sunday 28th April, 2019

WorkshopTimeArtistDescription
Singing in a Circle10:00
–
11:30		Shira KammenSing rounds, canons, catches, and other forms using musical imitation from the 12th to 17th centuries. The pieces will range from the simple and sweet to the complex and rich. For anyone who likes to sing, experienced and otherwise.  Shira is one of a rare class of musicians that elevate the musicianship of those around her with her astonishing virtuosity and imagination.  She is constantly performing and teaching nationally and internationally with the elite of the music world.
Beyond Boom Chuck: Accompaniment10:00
–
11:30		Dave BartleyExpanding the kinds of backup done by rhythm players, for dances and other settings.  It is difficult to count the number of bands of which Dave Bartley is a member.  He plays mandolin, guitar, cittern, and numerous other plucked string instruments.  He can provide a quiet foundation, inject a fiery driving rhythm, or pull wicked licks out of thin air
Galician and Breton music10:00
–
11:30		Jim OakdenLearn some wonderful tunes from Celtic Spain and France with some cultural background, including some commentary on playing them for dances.  Jim is a master multi-instrumentalist.
Popular Music of the English Renaissance12:00
–
1:30		Shira KammenExplore the wit, humour and melancholy of the High Renaissance in England. We’ll look at dance melodies, ballads, madrigals, rounds, drinking, love, and newsworthy songs from a number of different sources: ‘Pills to Purge Melancholy’, Ravenscroft, Playford, Shakespeare’s plays, among others.
The Broad Church of Contra Music12:00
–
1:30		Dave BartleyTo its Celtic base, modern contra dance music adds inspiration from all sorts of genres – Quebecois, Cape Breton, rock and roll, jazz, techno and even TV theme songs and symphonic music.  Dave Bartley has written hundreds of tunes and played with numerous bands in various genres.  He’ll use this workshop as an excuse to indulge in an eclectic menu of tunes and influences.  All musicians welcome, with no intent to play for dances required.
Not Everything in 3 is a Waltz12:00
–
1:30		Jim OakdenExplore the mysterious world of mazurkas, hambos, bourees and more.  Jim started playing piano and clarinet at an early age and stumbled into early music from the classical music scene, from whence he discovered the world of traditional and ethnic music. Having diverse tastes (or a short attention span), he performs on an absurd number of instruments, from accordion to zurna (to name a few). A dancer himself, he specialises in playing for dancers in a bunch of bands and genres.  This workshop is best for music readers.

See rogueryband.com for bios for the band members. See also individual web sites, Shira Kammen, Dave Bartley and Brooke Friendly.

Tickets: https://trybooking.com/BADSB or cash at the door if available: $35/ $30 concession for two different workshops. Limited space. Booking advised. Discounted weekend tickets and online tickets available.

Workshops will be held at the Lenah Valley Community Hall, Creek Rd, Lenah Valley, or adjacent buildings. Please be at the venues 15 minutes before the workshops for registration.

Dances and Dance Workshops

DanceTimeArtistsDescription
Saturday 27th April
English Country Dancing: Lyrical to Boisterous, Silly to Sublime11:00
–
1:00		Brooke Friendly and RogueryExperience the variety of texture and mood as well as the qualities of movement and phrasing distinct to English country dances old and new.  No dancing experience or partner required.
Impropriety – the dances of Brooke Friendly and Chris Sackett2:30
–
5:00		Brooke Friendly and RogueryEnjoy a whole session focusing on the dances of Brooke Friendly and Chris Sackett, published in Impropriety volumes 1-6, and perhaps some new, unpublished dances. Come dance to the great tunes—old and new—that have inspired the figures, phrasing, progressions, and nuances that are the signature of this duo’s work.  No dancing experience or partner required.
Rogue’s Ball – English Country Dance + Contra7:30
–
11:30		Brooke Friendly and RogueryRaucous to serene trad-inspired music by Roguery (USA).  A dance party with English country dance, contra, and ceilidh style dances.  All dances taught.  No dancing experience or partner required. 
Sunday 28th April
Dancing the Whole Dance10:00
–
11:30		Brooke Friendly and  Deanna DeversExperience dancing all roles in a dance. Enjoy a variety of fun, accessible English country dances while we play with global/positional terminology — a great way to build community and learn (and dance) the whole dance.   No dancing experience or partner required.
Dance Here Now12:00
–
1:30		Brooke Friendly and Deanna DeversDance, laugh, and experiment as we focus on dancing rather than dances. Build learning, helping, and partnering skills.  Be ready to accept mistakes as an opportunity to get better at recovering. Dance more, worry less. No dancing experience or partner required.
Rogue’s Farewell3:00
–
5:00		Brooke Friendly and RogueryA final chance to dance to the raucous to sublime music of Roguery, featuring the English / American connection – exploring the blurred area between what is defined as English Country Dance and Contra (American) dance (and a little dash of Scottish) — figures and styling that have crossed genres.  No dancing experience or partner required.

Tickets: https://trybooking.com/BADSB or cash at the door if available: $15/$13 concession for each Saturday day time and Sunday afternoon dance. See above for ball. $35/$30 for the pair of Sunday dance workshops. Discounted weekend tickets and online tickets available.

Our caller, Brooke Friendly (USA) is known for her warm yet commanding personality, her clear and concise teaching, her creativity, her sense of humour and whimsy, and her attention to community. Brooke teaches throughout North America and England. A dance choreographer, she and Chris Sackett are publishing their sixth book of dances (Impropriety 6). See Brooke Friendly.

All Saturday dances will be held in the magnificent Hobart Town Hall, 50 Macquarie St, Hobart. All Sunday dances and dance workshops will be held at the Lenah Valley Community Hall, Creek Rd, Lenah Valley. Please be at the venues 15 minutes beforehand if you have a tickets for an individual dance (rather than a weekend or day ticket).

Weekend Schedule

FD20190426-28_Roguery Weekend – schedule v6Download

Tickets and Info

Tickets: trybooking.com/BADSB

Info: folktas.org/roguery, 03 6273 2127 or folkdancetas@gmail.com

Facebook: Dance Folk Tasmania or Folk Federation of Tasmania

Meetup: Dance Folk Tasmania

#hobartfolkdances

Folk Federation of Tasmania Inc