Cap In Hand in October

Cap in Hand 

 ...is a talented folk duo comprising “Dave Spira” and “Nigel Walters” (also of Wheeze and Suck Band).  These guys have proven their popularity with festival audiences and demand exceeds supply, as they rarely travel outside of their area.  Their first CD is due for release soon and is well overdue.

Dave and Nigel both play exquisite finger style acoustic guitar in a range of open tunings. They write many of their own songs and tunes with a wide mix of light and shade as well as ensuring ample opportunity for rousing audience participation.

They are both fine musicians and entertainers. With influences including Nic Jones, Martin Simpson, Simon Fox and Bill Mize their music ranges from traditional to contemporary. Come along and enjoy the delightful interplay between Dave’s dexterous finger style guitar and Nigel’s fine singing and multi-instrumental (guitar, mandolin and cello mandolin) playing.

 Cap in Hand offer all the ingredients for a fine evening’s entertainment and will be at the Newcastle Folk Club on Saturday October 6th.

 The support act on that night is local award-winning songwriter Maureen O’Brien who has just released her 6^th album.  Her music – a hard-to-define blend of contemporary folk/blues/jazz -  is played by numerous community radio stations across Australia.  Every song has a story and many are wrapped in a giggle.   They’re warm, human, reflections on contemporary life.

Locked In With the ‘Lifers..’

One of the reasons I love this place is because as an ex-Sydney-sider -  where I was underwhelmed by the number of people who were actually involved in folk music - I found a thriving folk community here in the Hunter.   There is continuity that goes back to 1967 here in Newcastle which is worthy of recognition. 

And this is the main reason for our focus at the Folk Club in August on our Life Members  - we're calling it Locked in with the Lifers.
 

This will be quite a pleasant sentence to serve since our Life Members are made of the finest stuff, and are good company to boot.

This is their night when they get to sing, say or play, or get someone else to do it for them.  The Club has a reasonable accumulation of talented and dedicated members since we appoint two a year, and this is our way of saying “Thank you”.  The Folk Club has been serving the Newcastle Area since 1967, in one incarnation or another.

You can expect a fair degree of informality since these people know each other very well, and there will be no standing on ceremony.  Not all members become ‘Lifers’ and not necessarily because of their performance skills, so they are entitled to ask for someone else’s  voice to do it for them.  For newer members of the club, or members of the community who are keen to reflect on the last 55 years of local folk in Newcastle, here is an opportunity to travel down memory lane with members who have lived the journey.

As well as the concert, we will have a sticky bun tea for fun, and some photographs and memorabilia to ponder over.  This is the Newcastle area at its best, and the Club would not be here without the selfless dedication of these people.  Join us for a warm, friendly evening of songs, poems, stories and ‘craic’ – it will be one to remember. Oh, and I will be making a special cake - with a file in it!

 Catch the Lifers on:

4^th August 2012, at 7.30.

Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club, Inc.

Wesley Centre Hall, 150 Beaumont St.  Hamilton.

For more Information:  Carole Garland, Bookings and Publicity Officer, 02 4929 3912

Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club, Inc.

A Rare Home Town Concert

Like migrating birds flying home to roost, from Tasmania a few weeks ago & ACT last week, Master Fiddler Chris Duncan and his wife Catherine Strutt on piano are giving the residents of their home town a chance to hear their superb Scottish music in concert.

This captivating duo are in huge demand Internationally as well as across Australia.  Individually they have spent most of their lives on the stage with traditional music.  Catherine, with her family and sister Jennifer, were part of Coalbrook Ceilidh since she was just 14.  The family now have changed genre to playing Scandinavian music.  Chris was heard to say he would need another lifetime to do justice to that music.

Perhaps he was joking!  If you listen to his 2 CD’S released by ABC Classics – the earlier being   ‘Fyvie’s  Embrace’ and the second ‘Red House’ – you can not imagine anything being past this astonishingly talented man. To hear them together is to be in the presence of an intimate conversation, fiery one minute, gentle and flowing the next.

Chris Duncan is passionate about his art offstage as well as on and dedicates one evening a month [when he isn’t away touring] to helping local fiddlers achieve their best.   Tunes are learned in the old way without notation and with constant little repetitions until the tune is fully learned.  This commitment to the music of this city is already bearing fruit in the form of quality young musicians with great technique and high standards.

Chris Duncan and Catherine Strutt are not to be missed in this rare opportunity to hear them perform.

The duo will be appearing at the Wesley Hall centre, 150 Beaumont St Hamilton, on behalf of the Newcastle Hunter Valley Folk Club, 5^th May at 7.30pm. They will be ably supported by Paul Regan from Lakeside Folk Circle who always has a wealth of warm, funny songs to share with us.

Tastes Good to Me -

On Sunday 19th Feb. the Newcastle/Hunter Valley folk Club is featured in  TASTE OF HAMILTON FAIR in Beaumont St.and we are taking to the streets.
The happy cosmopolitan atmosphere of this renowned street fair will be the setting for 2 hours of local folk from 11.30am.  Stage and sound will be provided so it will be easy to find us.
We will soon be able to confirm which performers will be featured so watch this space.!!

COMING SOON!

 The Ukulele Orchestra of  Great Britain is making the journey to Newcastle on Wednesday 7th March at City Hall.

...also, Martin Pearson is playing at the Gallipoli Club in Hamilton on February 17th starting at 7.30pm.  Tickets $25/$15 contact Bev on 4962 2160 for details