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2010 Festival guests. |
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CHRIS SMITHER
On this his fourth tour of Australia he'll be bringing a brand
new recording 'Time Stands Still' to add to his 9 previous
brilliant offerings. His songs are among the most intelligent,
thoughtful, literary and uplifting of his genre, and his guitar
playing is simply inspiring. "His ability to take the
emotion at the heart of a song, make it transparent and pass
it on to the listener is unmatched. Smither's rich, deep,
emotion-charged voice and his exquisite guitar playing imbues
these simple thoughts with a profundity forged out of genuine
passion." Sydney Morning Herald. More
Information
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EMILY SMITH
Emily Smith has firmly established herself as a leading light
in the Scottish folk scene. Since winning the 2002 ‘BBC
Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award’ she has
released three critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively
with her band on the international folk circuit and is recognised
not only as one of Scotland’s finest interpreters of
traditional song but also as a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
In 2009 Emily is touring UK as sole support to the fabulous
Richard Thompson. She will be touring Australia and New Zealand
with Jamie McClennan a brilliant multi-instrumentalist who
has been a long time member of Emily's touring band. More
Information
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THE WHITETOP MOUNTAINEERS
For fans of American old time mountain music (and roots music
lovers alike), the Whitetop Mountaineers are a live act not
to be missed. From Virginia, USA, Martha Spencer and Jackson
Cunningham return to Australia by popular demand. At the 2008/09
Woodford Folk Festival, unknown and unheralded, the duo stunned
and delighted audiences with their performance of American
mountain music and song and dance – they are the ‘real
deal’. Both musicians are skilled multi-instrumentalists
– Jackson plays guitar, mandolin and clawhammer banjo,
while Martha plays fiddle, guitar and banjo. They are both
strong vocal performers and their close harmonies are indicative
of the old time and bluegrass traditions from which they draw
their repertoire. More
Information
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APODIMI COMPANIA
Originally formed at Melbourne University in the mid eighties,
Apodimi Compania has proved to be the most durable and exciting
in the Greek diaspora. Based in Athens since the mid nineties,
the Apodimi returns to Brunswick for the 2010 Brunswick Music
Festival: the band's 'home' festival. Apodimi Compania as
always, combine top class musicianship with an obvious love
and passion for their material, and will perform the music
from their new recording in addition to selections from a
huge repertoire of Rebetika, Demotika, music from the Greek
Islands and the Asia minor coast. More
Information
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UNCLE EARL
Uncle Earl (or the g'Earls) is an all-star, all-female, old-time
string band, with songs ranging from high-energy fiddle tunes
and dance numbers to haunting, ancient ballads. The five members
of Uncle Earl write and perform original songs in old-time styles,
utilising mandolin, guitar, claw-hammer banjo, harmonica, old-time
fiddle and bass. Named in honor of the band members' mutual
appreciation for Earl Scruggs and Steve Earle, Uncle Earl formed
in 2000. Uncle Earl's latest CD, Waterloo, Tennessee, draws
its sounds from the roots of string-band music, incorporating
sounds from Scotch-Irish ballads and Celtic fiddle tunes. The
disc, produced by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, is one of
the best old-time albums to come out in recent years. More
Information |
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JOHN McCUTCHEON
John McCutcheon is one of America’s most respected and
loved folksingers. As an instrumentalist he is a master of a
dozen different traditional instruments, most notably the rare
and beautiful hammer dulcimer. No less a figure than Johnny
Cash called him, “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve
ever heard. His twenty-seven recordings have garnered every
imaginable honour including an almost unprecedented five consecutive
Grammy nominations. It is in live performance that John feels
most at home. It is what has brought his music into the lives
and homes of one of the broadest audiences any folk musician
has ever enjoyed. Whether in print, on record, or on stage,
few people communicate with the versatility, charm, wit or pure
talent of John McCutcheon. More
Information |
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TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON
Katie Euliss learned guitar, piano and bucket bass in the streets
of New Orleans. She scammed enough money from tourists to buy
Lucky Strikes and smoked oysters for six years. Then she met
Mike West. Part entertainer, part snake oils salesman, Mike
lived by pickin' banjo and selling cds that he claimed were
a curative for hangovers and small mindedness. Together they
began a perpetual tour of North America, Europe and Australia.
They spent their wedding night in the Tiger Truck Stop, somewhere
between Lafayette and the Atchafalya Swamp. Truckstop Honeymoon
was born. They play banjos and wash tubs. They sing about adultery
and oil refineries. It's break-neck breakdowns or heart-break
waltzes. Like a Dodge with a burnt out clutch, their music has
two speeds and no reverse. More
Information |
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GENTICORUM
Genticorum has become one of the most soughtafter proponents
of Québécois musical culture, having performed
and toured in over 15 countries in North America, Europe, Asia
and Oceania. Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land,
the energetic and original traditional ‘power trio’
also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American
and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise
and intricate fiddle and flute work, gorgeous vocal harmonies,
energetic foot percussion and guitar and bass accompaniment
into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound,
sense of humour and stage presence make them a supreme crowd
pleaser. More
Information |
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EDDI READER
Born into a working class Glasgow family, Eddi Reader traveled
the well trodden road south to London and eventual fame with
the highly popular band Fairground Attraction. Her vocal abilities
quickly transcended the norm for factory, big studio pop as
she moved on to a solo career. She has effortlessly developed
into one of popular music's most thrilling and affecting performers.
Whilst the perfection of her technique is widely acknowledged,
what sets Reader apart is the depth and quality of the emotional
performance; her ability not only to move the listener but to
connect her experience to that of her audience. More
Information |
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DOUGIE MacLEAN
Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland's most successful, respected
and popular musicians. Singer-Songwriter, Composer and 'magical'
Performer, he is also a fine guitarist and fiddle player. From
his home base in Butterstone near Dunkeld in the beautiful Tay
Valley in Perthshire Scotland, MacLean tours the world with
his unique blend of lyrical, 'roots based' songwriting and instrumental
composition. His moving song Caledonia and melody The Gael (used
in The Last of the Mohicans) have been recorded by hundreds
of artists and enjoyed by millions worldwide.
"...a Scottish phenomenon...with his exquisite guitar style,
expressive voice and honest performance, his songs conjure up
remarkably vivid imagery of our world" (The Performing
Songwriter, USA) More
Information |
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VIN GARBUTT
Powerful, hugely moving, warm, humane, inspired, funny and gut
wrenchingly honest. These are just some of the superlatives
used to describe Vin's performance this year. This international,
award winning, singer songwriter is about to embark on his 40th
year on the road. He is for ever in demand and his shows are
continually sell outs, so get your tickets early! Several
years ago Vin was voted Britain's best live performer, a coveted
award indeed, and years later he's still a force to be reckoned
with, still pulling no punches and still pulling crowds wherever
he plays around the world. More
Information |
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MAIRTIN
O'CONNOR TRIO
Mairtin O’Connor (Accordion), Cathal Hayden (Fiddle, Banjo),
Seamie O'Dowd (Guitar, Vocals) first performed live together
at a gig in Sligo town organised in memory of Dervish soundman
Fin Corrigan. The rapport with each other and the audience was
immediate and since then, the three have successfully played
gigs in Ireland, Britain, mainland Europe and Australia. They
have just released a long awaited album entitled 'Crossroads'
that has already received critical acclaim. The Irish Echo in
New York has placed it in their top three Irish CD releases.
The album captures the live essence of three musicians that
have built both a personal and professional rapport with each
other as well as with an ever increasing audience. More
Information |
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PADDY KEENAN
Generally acknowledged as the most accomplished uilleann piper
performing today, Paddy is certainly one of the most brilliant
musicians of his generation. He can rightfully claim his place
alongside such open-style legends as pipers John Cash and Johnny
Doran. Paddy Keenan was born in Trim, Co. Meath, to John Keenan,
Sr. of Westmeath and the former Mary Bravender of Co. Cavan.
The Keenans were a Travelling family steeped in traditional
music; both Paddy's father and grandfather were uilleann pipers.
He was a founding member of The Bothy Band: one of the most
influential bands of the 1970s. His virtuosity on the pipes
combined with the ferocity of his playing made him, in the opinion
of many, its driving force. More
Information |
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EARLY BIRD NEWS
To make sure you receive early-bird news of the concert
program and concert dates, sign up for the Festival email newsletter
if you are not already on our email list. The booking office
will open on Monday 1st February 2010, and if you receive our
email newsletter you will be first to see the 2010 program.
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