Kinda sad news in that the Harrietville National Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Convention is coming to an end. It's been the premier Aussie event for 24 years. There'll be other festivals. Old Time and Bluegrass don't die, they just keep on.
7 Comments |
 | pluckyfingers says:
2/13/2013 11:39:27 PM
How sad. I have been to the last five festivals. The first oldtime jam I had ever sat in on was here. It was a defining moment, I knew there and then I was destined to play oldtime banjo. I have been to workshops presented to many of the finest players from the states and enjoyed some of the best traditional country music one could ever hear. All this in a magical setting among the high country of North Eastern Victoria. Thankyou to all the the organisers and volunteers who worked tirelessy behind the scenes for the last 24 years to make this festival the major event it was. RIP.
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 | Richard says:
2/13/2013 11:57:20 PM
I was told that attending there would change my life, and it certainly did . Pluckyfingers, we'll have to find another place to catch up yearly, and RobMac I was hoping to meet you there one year also !
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 | peter somerville says:
2/14/2013 12:01:01 AM
i'm going for the first time this year to 'the great alpine pick'. it's at Harrietville as well. it's 26th- 28th April. i gather it's much smaller, less formal, with more of an emphasis on jamming. there'll be a 2 or 3 good australian bands performing, not sure how many workshops but i'm doing one. and a lot cheaper than the festival that is no more
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 | Gareth Banjoland says:
2/14/2013 5:29:56 PM
What a pity. Hopefully something will spring up to take it's place.
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| pluckyfingers says:
3/29/2013 9:11:28 PM
Seems a new festival has been set up for November using Feathertop Chalet as the main venue from what I can work out. It would be great to have a festival just for bluegrass and another just for old timey music.
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 | 5thString Nut says:
4/29/2013 12:11:00 AM
Believe it or not, there are quite a few bluegrass musicians who also play old time, and vice Versa. If you prefer a much more old time focus then the Annual Yarra Junction , held for the past 31 years is the place to go. There are large picking sessions, concert performances, workshops, a Saturday evening Cajun Dance followed by a great Mountain Square dance to old time string band music. In 2013 there was a Sunday afternoon Concert that consisted entirely of Old Time Traditional bands. Give them your support- they move back to the original February timeslot in 2014 (Feb 21-23). yarrajunctionfiddlersconvention.com
Rod Jones
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 | 5Wires says:
5/19/2013 11:41:57 PM
The rumours of the death of the Harrietville event are greatly exaggerated. I went to the Great Alpine Pick in April and was at the meeting discussed at this link:
mountaingrass.com.au/category/news/
You can also follow stuff at this link:
australianbluegrass.com/
And FWIW while I am associated with bluegrass banjo, I also play guitar and bass for both bluegrass and old time. You'll see the event is billed as both a bluegrass and old time event. And so it should be. Spread the word and see you in November.
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