Tag Archives: Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival

PETER ROWAN Bluegrass Band featuring Chris Henry (USA) – 2016 Australian Tour at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Sat 2nd April 2016

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band featuring Chris Henry (USA)
2016 Australian Tour
+ Special Guests Mike, Tinker & Ged

Sat 2nd April 2016
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780.

Legendary US Bluegrass singer-songwriter and Grammy award winner, Peter Rowan, “the voice of Bluegrass”, returns to Australia with his Bluegrass Band, featuring Chris Henry on mandolin, Patrick Sauber on banjo, and Paul Knight on double bass.

Chris Henry is one of the most highly regarded young musicians on the American Bluegrass scene today, “the premier Monroe-style mandolinist of his generation”, while Patrick Sauber has recorded or performed with many artists, including Doc Watson, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Fogerty, Richard Greene and Laurie Lewis, and was the banjo-player in the movie, ‘A Mighty Wind’. Paul Knight has been playing with Peter Rowan in various configurations for about 20 years. His driving acoustic bass has been part of recordings and live performances with the likes of Jim Lauderdale and Laurie Lewis, as well as being integral to the sound of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.

Peter Rowan is a true legend of American Bluegrass, with a history dating from 1964 and his role as lead-singer/guitarist with the father of Bluegrass, the late Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. Rowan then went on to form the revolutionary Folk/Rock band, Seatrain, which recorded two albums in the UK, produced by Beatles producer, George Martin. He left Seatrain to team up with David Grisman, Richard Greene, Bill Keith, & Clarence White (from The Byrds) in bluegrass supergroup, Muleskinner. He and Grisman moved on to form Old & In The Way with Jerry Garcia and Vassar Clements. Since then Rowan has released numerous albums of mostly original songs, is a Grammy Award winner and six-time Grammy nominee, and has performed and recorded with the likes of Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Gillian Welch, Tim O’Brien, Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, Del McCoury, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Flaco Jimenez, and Peter Tosh.

Today at the age of 73, he is still touring constantly, writing new songs, making new recordings, including the highly-acclaimed 2013 release on Compass Records, ‘The Old School’, featuring 10 new original songs, and two more recent albums, “Dharma Blues” and “Peter Rowan’s Twang An’ Groove Vol 1”.

Rowan has demonstrated himself to be an artist of unusual depth and imagination, experimenting with other influences, while never losing track of the deep roots and musical purity that are integral to his presence. He is a singer and songwriter without equal, a multi-instrumentalist and accomplished guitarist. His beautiful singing is of the classic “high-lonesome”, borrowed by Monroe from the Appalachian ballad singers, and which became the defining style of all bluegrass vocalists. The spirit of Bill Monroe lives on in the old and new music he and his band will bring to Australian audiences on this tour.

“Rowan is one of the greatest and most important of all the bluegrass players. He understands what he calls “the joy” of bluegrass and acoustic music, and, with wonderful artlessness, he insists that he is coming to Australia to do nothing more than “be a singer of songs and a player of tunes”. His admirers know he will be much, much more than that.” – Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald

Website: www.peter-rowan.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeterRowanMusic

Videos that give some idea of the variety of his material (all are his original songs except for the Merlefest 2015 video):
Peter Rowan, with Chris Henry on mandolin: Keepin’ It Between The Lines (The Old School):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GWBrePNRGs
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band: Land of The Navajo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UC5F8O3slg
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band Merlefest 2015: Righteous Pathway & Goodbye Old Pal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0gFsmWVHL0
Peter Rowan, with Chris Henry on mandolin: Midnight Moonlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIhIlRJtco
Peter Rowan: Doc Watson Morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS_8JutSUOQ
Peter Rowan: The Free Mexican Airforce, with introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dlFMKmE7pg
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Special Guests Mike, Tinker & Ged

Mike, Tinker & Ged are an eclectic band of misfits with diverse backgrounds in rock, Irish, bluegrass, old timey and everything in between. Comprising of virtuoso fiddler (Slim Dusty’s favourite), sultry singer and all-round musical genius Mike Kerin, Blue Mountains dweller Tinker Duffy, who plays fiery accordion and sings with husky vocals, and Ged Corben who holds the band together with his powerhouse rhythm guitar and delicate slide and mandolin work.

Winner of no less than 6 Golden Guitars, Mike Kerin leads this lineup of long time collaborators & stalwarts of the Oz Folk & Bluegrass scene. Apart from producing, arranging, recording & playing on many fine albums, Mike played for 10 years with 80‘s Country fave’s The Flying Emus, for more than 20 years with Slim Dusty in his Travelling Country Band, and currently tours with Anne Kirkpatrick & numerous national & international acts. Mike was the featured artist on the recently released ABC Fiddle Album “The Devil’s Instrument”. He has also played as a featured artist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, touring Australia & Slovenia.
Tinker Duffy is no stranger to the NSW Folk scene. Hailing originally from Armidale, she has dazzled audiences with her fiery accordion playing from Newtown to Gulgong, & Yeppoon to Port Fairy over the last 20 years. She has had a lifelong involvement in the traditional music, song and dance of Ireland as well as in bush bands, dance bands, choirs and sessions.
Mike & Tinker are joined by co-hort Ged Corben on guitar, mandolin & resonator. Ged has at one time or another played with the original Cruel Sea, is lead guitarist with The Lime Spiders & moonlights with Rebecca Hancock & The Prison Wives, amongst others.
All three were members of the now defunct Wheelers & Dealers, winners of numerous National Folk Awards, who toured NSW, VIC and QLD extensively over the last 15 years.

The band play an eclectic up tempo mix of Celtic & American Folk, with a touch of Western Swing & Roots thrown in. They feature material from Mike & Tinker’s latest album “For Good Measure”, & Mike’s solo album “ The Dining Room Sessions”.

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Doors Open 8:30pm. Support Starts 9pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of cabaret seating and standing/dancing.

Tickets $25 DISCOUNT pre-sale available from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only)
Or the Hotel front bar.

Or DISCOUNT Early Bird pre-sale online $26.50 (Including booking fees):
www.trybooking.com/JZRP

Or $30 on the Door from 8:30pm (Unless Sold Out)

CONTACT DETAILS:

ONE UP, TWO DOWN EP Launch at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba Blue Mountains, Fri 29th Jan 2016

One Up, Two Down Blue Mountains EP Launch
+ Special Guests:
Catgut + The Plough

Fri 29th Jan 2016
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780.

One Up, Two Down return to Australia fresh from a busy year that’s seen them embark on their first tour in America and join forces with Chris Henry for tours across the USA and Australia.

They will be releasing their brand new EP ‘A Day On The Quay’ to the Blue Mountains audience, a recording that captures their live performance energy and follows up on their 2014 self titled release.

One Up, Two Down hail from three countries joined by the Pacific Ocean. Fiddler George Jackson and guitarist Daniel Watkins, from New Zealand and Australia respectively, are back to back winners of the Australian Bluegrass Scholarship (’12, ’13) and veteran touring musicians in the Australian bluegrass scene. Together with North Carolinian, Yale School of Music trained (MM ’13) double bassist Andrew Small, they bring together raw old-time groove, bluegrass dexterity, and folk storytelling.

“The self-titled EP from George Jackson, Andrew Small and Daniel Watkins is a piece of pure folk gold. It’s a shame that Small lives in the states as the opportunities to see One Up, Two Down are limited, but if you do get a chance to see them grab it with both hands. On the surface this is a bluegrass release but these guys are so well versed in the folk traditions that you can feel celtic, blues and country influences creeping in to make a wonderful, folky mess.” – Timber and Steel

www.oneuptwodown.com
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Catgut can usually be found in leafy parks and cosy bars around Sydney’s inner west, picking away at dance-inducing old time tunes, singing in three-part harmony and venturing into improvisatory spacegrass. Members build on their respective histories as part of subversive bluegrass outfit The Lurkers and stalwarts of Sydney’s bluegrass scene, the Owens Family Band.
Armed with a repertoire of original songs, country ballads, old-time standards and twin-fiddle tunes, Miriam Jones (fiddle), Nick Street (guitar) and Kieran Owens (banjo) will play ’til the cows come home. Inspired by the reimagining of old tunes and the telling of new stories, Catgut will move you to dance, think, laugh or cry.

www.catgutband.com
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The Plough are an Old Time String Band that play high-energy Appalachian style Old Time, Gospel and Bluegrass music.
Their debut CD, ‘Reap What You Sow’, has been described as “harking back to those authentic field recordings of the 1940’s” (Judith Jones, Bluegrass Bulletin).

As well as playing at many festivals in Australia, such as The National Folk Festival, Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Yass Turning Wave, they have also featured on Tamworth’s Country Music Festival ‘Toyota Festival FM 106.1.
The Plough have also this year toured to Sweden to play at Torsåker Bluegrass Festival and Ireland to play at Athy Bluegrass Festival.

Blue Mountains based, The Plough originates out of the Sydney Old Time and Bluegrass society and are passionate about keeping the old music alive and relevant.

“Recreating “olde timey string” sounds, this four piece boasts talents in mandolin, fiddle, banjo and acoustic guitar. Their sound is authentic and when listening, I felt like it was in a sepia film from the American Deep South” – Regi Su, www.getshotmagazine.com

www.facebook.com/theploughband
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Doors Open 8pm. First support Starts 8:30pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of cabaret seating and standing/dancing.

Tickets DISCOUNT $15 pre-sale available NOW from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only)

Or online $16.50 (Including booking fees):
www.stickytickets.com.au/32679

Or $20 on the Door from 8pm (Unless Sold Out)

CONTACT DETAILS:

THE MORRISONS Single Launch at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba Blue Mountains, Sat 5th Dec 2015

The Morrisons (Single Launch)
Special Guests Lime & Steel

Sat 5th Dec 2015
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780.

Winners of the 2014 folk/acoustic song of the year at the Australian Song Writers Association Awards, The Morrisons fuse Australian stories and sounds with the spirit and intensity of old time American bluegrass, country and folk. With high, lonesome singing, fast picking and original songs inspired by folklore, family and their lives as young Australians, they are a modern day string band like no other.

Featuring banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, washboard, harmonica, and 4 part harmonies, they deliver a live show full of raw energy and emotion. They have performed at major festivals around the country including The National Folk Festival, Out On The Weekend, Secret Garden, and supported highly acclaimed international artists Lindi Ortega (CAN) and Lake Street Dive (US). In 2014/15 they co-presented a bi-monthly night of country music in Sydney with Lost Highway (Universal Music’s country label), where they hosted artists like Shane Nicholson, Catherine Britt and Emma Swift. Their show, ‘Man of constant sorrow’: A tribute to the music of Oh Brother Where Art Thou, has sold out three years in a row, with a cast featuring Ngaiire, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Luke Escombe, Brian Campeau & Tommy Dean. They have appeared regularly on ABC and FBI radio and recently performed Paul Kelly’s two highly acclaimed bluegrass albums Smoke and Foggy Highway at Sydney’s iconic venue the Basement (March 2015).

Their debut single ‘Wild Eleanor’ (ASA folk/acoustic song of 2014) is due for official release in October 2015, with a full-length album to follow in 2016.

The Morrisons play big band folk, like a mash up of both Inside Llewyn Davies and Oh Brother Where Art Thou’s T-Bone Burnett” – Concrete Playground

“Gathered centre-stage around a single microphone, performing a consummate set of bluegrass music. Solos were aplenty and all band members showed their ability to shine in the spotlight before pulling their instrument back into the cohesive and brisk pluck and strum of their collective sound” – The Music

“An incredible bluegrass/country/folk 7 piece” – AU Review

“The Morrisons prove that Sydney bands can pick with the best of the them” – Timber & Steel

www.facebook.com/TheMorrisonsAustralia
www.themorrisonsband.com

Lime and Steel’s roots-down banjo fiddle grooves, dust kicking hoe-downs and original folk noir convict murder ballads brush on just enough paint to catch the darker side of the Australian soul: All cut with equal parts charm and cheap wine.

www.facebook.com/LimeAndSteel

Doors Open 8:30pm. Support Starts 9pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of cabaret seating and standing/dancing.

Tickets DISCOUNT $10 pre-sale available NOW from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only)

Or online $11.50 (Including booking fees):
www.trybooking.com/JEKX

Or $15 on the Door from 8:30pm (Unless Sold Out)

CONTACT DETAILS:

CHRIS HENRY & THE HARDCORE GRASS at Hotel Gearin, Katoomba Blue Mountains, Sat 31st Oct 2015

Chris Henry & The Hardcore Grass (USA)
Special Guests The Prannies

Sat 31st Oct 2015
Venue: HOTEL GEARIN, 273 Great Western Hwy, Katoomba, Blue Mountains NSW 2780.

Chris Henry & The Hardcore Grass is a must-see band for all lovers of roots-based and bluegrass music!

Chris Henry grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, USA, the son of veteran bluegrass musicians, Red and Murphy Henry. He moved to Nashville about ten years ago, and has been making quite a name for himself as one of the most highly regarded and sought-after young musicians on the American bluegrass scene. He received an International Bluegrass Music Association nomination for Song of the Year in 2011 for writing “Walking West to Memphis.” He was in Shawn Camp’s band, and in the last few years he has been playing with his own band, The Hardcore Grass, and with the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band.

Chris comes from a traditional bluegrass background and blends his appreciation for the classic sound with his own creativity to stretch out into wide open spaces that have audiences riveted to hear and see what happens next.

He impressed Australian audiences when he toured here early 2014 as a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Trio. As a result of that tour, he was invited back to Australia to headline the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival later that year.
Chris Henry & The Hardcore Grass was so well-received at the festivals that he played last year, that he has now been invited back as a headline act at the Dorrigo and MountainGrass bluegrass festivals, and the Healesville Music Festival.
This year he is touring with a new 5-piece version of his band.

“Chris Henry is the premier Monroe-style mandolinist of his generation” – International Bluegrass Music Association

“A bright young star in the bluegrass world.” – Peter Rowan

“Bluegrass visionary” – Bluegrass Today

https://youtu.be/ZktzUbpFyiw
https://youtu.be/7gfQ5Mbt4gM

www.christopherhenry.net
www.facebook.com/hardcoregrass

The Prannies are an eclectic band of misfits with diverse backgrounds in rock, Irish, bluegrass, old timey and everything in between. Comprising of virtuoso fiddler (Slim Dusty’s favourite), sultry singer and all-round musical genius Mike Kerin, Blue Mountains dweller Tinker Duffy, who plays fiery accordion and sings with husky vocals, and Ged Corben who holds the band together with his powerhouse rhythm guitar and delicate slide and mandolin work.

Winner of no less than 6 Golden Guitars, Mike Kerin leads this lineup of long time collaborators & stalwarts of the Oz Folk & Bluegrass scene. Apart from producing, arranging, recording & playing on many fine albums, Mike played for 10 years with 80‘s Country fave’s The Flying Emus, for more than 20 years with Slim Dusty in his Travelling Country Band, and currently tours with Anne Kirkpatrick & numerous national & international acts. Mike was the featured artist on the recently released ABC Fiddle Album “The Devil’s Instrument”. He has also played as a featured artist with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, touring Australia & Slovenia.
Tinker Duffy is no stranger to the NSW Folk scene. Hailing originally from Armidale, she has dazzled audiences with her fiery accordion playing from Newtown to Gulgong, & Yeppoon to Port Fairy over the last 20 years. She has had a lifelong involvement in the traditional music, song and dance of Ireland as well as in bush bands, dance bands, choirs and sessions.
Mike & Tinker are joined by co-hort Ged Corben on guitar, mandolin & resonator. Ged has at one time or another played with the original Cruel Sea, is lead guitarist with The Lime Spiders & moonlights with Rebecca Hancock & The Prison Wives, amongst others.
All three were members of the now defunct Wheelers & Dealers, winners of numerous National Folk Awards, who toured NSW, VIC and QLD extensively over the last 15 years.

The band play an eclectic up tempo mix of Celtic & American Folk, with a touch of Western Swing & Roots thrown in. They feature material from Mike & Tinker’s latest album “For Good Measure”, & Mike’s solo album “ The Dining Room Sessions”.

Doors Open 8:30pm. Support Starts 9pm.
General Admission. Room configuration is a mix of cabaret seating and standing/dancing.

Tickets $20 pre-sale available NOW from:
KATOOMBA MUSIC, 140 Katoomba St, Katoomba, NSW 2780 (Tues-Sat. Cash Only)

Or online $21.50 (Including booking fees):
www.trybooking.com/ICSG

Or $25 on the Door from 8:30pm (Unless Sold Out)

CONTACT DETAILS: