THE MELTING POT AT THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL 2023

 

FAMILY FOLKLORE AT THE NATIONAL FOLK FESTIV

THE FAMILY FOLKLORE SHOW

What is ‘a wig-wam for a goose’s bridle’?

 

Come and find out at the National Folk Festival in Canberra this easter. Join us for an interactive journey through the rich traditions of family life and children’s lore. Presented by:

 

Olya Willis, Christina Mimmocchi, Judy McKinty, Maureen Seal, Rob Willis and Graham Seal.

 

 

Saturday 8 April, 3.50-4.50pm, Trocadero

IRISH FIDDLE MUSIC IN NULLA NULLA CREEK

 Henry Kyle and Mary Ann with Eva Norman and George 1905

Historian Noelene Kyle has published an excellent article on Irish fiddle traditions in Nulla Nulla Creek, NSW. The musical melting pot of this area eventually produced the early brew of country music typified by Slim Dusty, among others, himself a son of the region.

 

Read all about it on Tinteán Magazine

DOROTHY HEWETT AND MERV LILLEY

Dorothy Hewett

Sandra Nixon of the Sydney Bush Music Club has recently rescued this valuable historical information from the clutches of the Google police. As well as  their involvement with the early folk revival, Dorothy Hewett and Merv Lilley were – and are - noted poets. 

Extracts from Singabout - the early songwriters - Dorothy Hewett (1923-2002) & Merv Lilley (1919-2016):

http://bushmusicclub.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/extracts-from-singabout-early.html

This post may also be of related interest:

Guide to BMC blog https://blog.bushmusic.org.au/p/guide-to-blog.html

Simon McDonald - Rare 1966 TV Clip

 

In 1996, the amazing traditional musician and storyteller, Simon McDonald, appeared on television with the Lumsden family. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AUIcT2uvdk&t=259s

More about Simon at https://www.neiladamandjudyturner.com/the-simmy-show

MAKING DO WITH THE OLD KERO TIN

(SLNSW)

This bloke has found yet another use for an empty kerosene tin, once the go-to container in city and bush. Read all-out it on Pauline Connolly's website at https://paulineconolly.com/2023/the-kero-tin/

And see our earlier post on making do at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2138391645827947224/6190375246880944865

Passing of the Concertina Man

Richard Evans had many talents and passions, from motorbikes to music of many genres and styles. He excelled at them all but is perhaps best remembered for his ability to craft, repair and play concertinas. Richard readily shared his knowledge and wisdom and was a friend and mentor to many, myself included. John Harpley and I (Rob Willis) recorded Richard for The National Library of Australia in November 2003 and also made a video of him playing and describing various instruments and also talking about building and maintaining the concertina. We have edited this video from the raw footage and on camera audio which is not the best, we normally mix hi res audio in post. I will do this when time permits. Richard has gone but his legacy remains. Rob Willis

https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fn1BJfkBimwk&data=05%7C01%7Cg.seal%40curtin.edu.au%7C6cb4e4dca09d4716e98208dafcd3c862%7C5a740cd757684d09ae13f706b09fa22c%7C0%7C0%7C638100283776315157%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3DPz%2BIg6R%2BeO1b1LpSvM9MyanbLz20uT3zTb14F1gaY%3D&reserved=0

THE DANCE AT MITCHELL’S ISLAND HALL

 

In 1990 John Meredith and I recorded the Murray Brothers, Bert and Bob, at Burrell Creek NSW along with their sister, Kit Taylor. All were well known musicians in the area. 
Early the next year (1991) Ollie and I along with our kids had an amazing musical session at Taree with them and local fiddle and concertina player, Ernie Wells. I videoed segments of this session and it is now in our NLA collection.
We also recorded Kit’s son Peter and his wife, Dorothy doing some local variations of dances.
The people we record are not just numbers on a Library catalogue, they often become friends and this was the case with Peter and Dorothy Taylor. 
About five years ago Peter lamented that the old (unique) local dances were being forgotten and suggested that he gather a few of his dancing friends, teach them the dances and we could video them. Of course, the answer was YES. Covid and a few health issues intervened but Peter contacted me again earlier this year and the result was the dance we recorded at Mitchell’s Island Hall in August 2022.
You certainly don’t see a dance programme like this very often these days.
There’s always a story and this one is a bit long to tell here so the resulting video and complete story are up on our Verandah Music YouTube site, here
Many thanks to Peter and Dorothy for facilitating the dance, Ollie Willis and John and Maree Harpley for helping us record it for posterity.

Rob Willis

NORFOLK WHALERS

 

The Last Wooden Whaleship, Mystic Port

A new book on the fascinating history of Norfolk Island offshore whaling has just been released. It is the product of years of in-depth research in Australia and the USA by Sue and Don Brian. As well as being well researched and illustrated, the book is FREE! If you’d like a copy of the digital edition of Offshore Whalers at Norfolk Island in the Days of Sail, just email donandsuebrian@gmail.com

REVIEW - MARTIN DOHERTY AND LEIGH BIRKETT 'BISCUITS ON BROADWAY'

Martin Doherty’s adopted grandson, Camillo, just loves to bake, especially biscuits. He takes them down to Sydney’s Broadway and distributes them to the homeless people who gather there. This story is told in the title track of the latest double album by Martin Doherty and Leigh Birkett, Biscuits on Broadway.

 

Here is Tony Smith’s review of the album. You can stream through Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, etc.

 

This double CD of 26 tracks provides fresh relief from the stasis of recent Covid lockdowns. The songs essentially fall into three categories: the need for understanding the plight of people who are less prosperous, Martin Doherty’s nostalgia for his homeland of Ireland and stories of historical interest. Some songs fit multiple categories. 

 

The title track concerns the hard city streets where ‘a little humanity goes a long, long way’. Indeed this is the album’s theme. ‘Man of the Earth’ by Bernie Parry tells of someone who worked hard for decades then has nothing but an ‘allotment’ in retirement. ‘Ordinary Man’ by Peter Hames concerns another battler, a factory worker laid off to become human waste. ‘Cry Like a Man’ by Jonnie Barnett, Dan Penn and Carson Whitsett and ‘Try a Little Kindness’ by Curt Sapaugh and Bobby Austin augment this theme as do some of Martin’s originals - ‘Never Be Forgotten’ and ‘Heart Reaching Out’. 

 

Some tracks are either written by someone in Ireland or else covered by an Irish singer. As Martin explains, some are lesser-known Irish tunes and songs and others give his own thoughts on his homeland. He penned both lyrics and music on ‘Dublin Today’, ‘Spike Island’ and ‘The Road to Doolin’. A feature of these tracks is the flute and whistle backing by nephew Alan Doherty, one of Ireland’s finest. 

 

Among lesser-known Irish songs, the lyrics to the traditional ‘Dark Island’ were learned from Martin’s great friend, the late Tom Minogue. ‘Sail On Jimmy’ by Albert Niland is a.k.a. ‘Irish Pagan Ritual’. The lively ‘Man from the Daily Mall’ satirises how the British press in 1920 saw rebels everywhere. This song by Peadar Mac Ghiolla Chearra is set to tune of ‘Girl from Clare’ by Percy French. Other covers include ‘Bridge over Troubled Water’ by Paul Simon and Canadian Glen Reid’s ‘My Green Valleys’ with fine strings backing. 

 

There are seven tracks with either words and music or just lyrics by Lyn Doherty: ‘Biscuits on Broadway’, ‘SacredGround’, ‘The Star of Taroon’, ‘The Birthing Tree’, ‘Mystic Mountain’, ‘The Cameliers’ and ‘Pelorus Jack’.  Lyn’s compassion for people of diverse backgrounds is plain from these songs, as is her profound respect for Australia’sIndigenous peoples. The four songs about Aboriginal relationships with the land are exceptional. ‘The Cameliers’ describes eight Afghan camel drivers who joined the Burke and Wills expedition with 26 camels. Spelling with an ‘i’ suggests they

are ‘cavaliers’. The song has a Middle Eastern sound at beginning. ‘Pelorus Jack’ is replete with nautical terminology. A pelorus is an instrument that keeps a ship on course. These tracks show something of the depth of Lyn Doherty’s research. Brass backing is suggestive of the seaman’s mission. 

 

Martin Doherty has an exceptionally clear voice and Leigh Birkett’s arrangements ensure that the instruments provide background but never overwhelm the lyrics. Vocal harmonies are subtle and supportive. Graham Seal’s ‘Tea and Sugar Train’ has very good guitar sounding like a train whistle while his ‘River Ran Like Murder’ has appropriate arrangement, including chorus and guitar interlude. The traditional ‘Ramble Away’ has beautiful mandolin backing. 

 

The musicians are Martin Doherty (lead vocal, guitar), Leigh Birkett (guitars, bouzouki, mandolins, bass, keyboard, orchestral arrangements, programming, backing vocals), Alan Doherty (flute, whistle), Rebecca Daniel (violin) and Ian MacKenzie (uilleann pipes). Nigel Davey and Kevin Shortall (accordions) and Tola Custy (violin and viola) join from Ireland. Gordon Hamilton is the whistler, Tara Gray and Lyn Doherty provide backing vocals. Five-year-old grandson Arthur with help from dad Matt sings ‘Black is the colour’. 

 

Production was at Brays Lane Studio and FolkLAB with additional recording in Dublin. Leigh oversaw the artwork.These songs are presented tastefully, provoke thought and compel further listening. Biscuits on Broadway is an exceptional album presented in true folk style.

© 2022 Tony Smith