Wirrina Bluegrass Festival

Old South Bluegrass Band; and Festival 2012 poster and logo.
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Festival Story:

We ask Ian Main why he is coordinating the inaugural Wirrina Bluegrass Festival

I’ve heard people saying Bluegrass is too country to be folk and others saying it’s too folk to be country. Well, I agree.
That’s how the idea of the Wirrina Bluegrass festival came about. There are a couple more good reasons why Bluegrass is the focal point of the Wirrina Festival. Of course one is that it just sounds so good but it’s also about how the music is physically created. Bluegrass music was born in front of a microphone but is played with totally acoustic instruments. I believe you can’t get a better combination for great live concerts.
Now don’t get me wrong I like both Country and folk music especially when traditional instruments are used. So just as you hear a bit of Bluegrass at any good Country or Folk festival you will be able to hear a mix of Bluegrass’s acoustic cousins at Wirrina.

The other thing that Bluegrass is famous for is its jam-sessions. These will be a big part of the Wirrina Bluegrass festival. We will have sessions that are lead by the festivals finest Bluegrass musicians. These we will program so you don’t miss out on your chance to play along with them. We have also created the spaces for those all important impromptu sessions to happen. If you play an acoustic instrument just bring it along. Just a little warning though, after you have played in a session or two you will want to play more Bluegrass music because it’s just so much fun. That’s what happened to me.

Festival Events:

Lineup 2012:

• September 7 — Not Strictly Bluegrass Friday Night Concert
  
  • The BordererS
  • Robert Bean
  • Own Sweet Time
  • Margie Russell
  • Goldstein
  • James Abberley
• September 8 — The Power of Bluegrass Saturday Night Concert
  
  • Old South Bluegrass Band
  • Tombstone String Band
  • The Cherry Pickers
  • Cripple Creek and special guest Taylor Pfeiffer
• September 8 — Saturday’s Evening Concert
  
  • Adelaide Olde Time String Band
  • Andy & Marta
  • Tush
  • Taylor Pfeiffer
  • Margie Russell
• September 8 — Saturday’s Lunchtime Concert
  
  • AP D’Antonio
  • Marcus Walsh
  • Courtney Robb
  • Own Sweet Time
  • Botherers
  • Dave Godfrey & Sarah McGuire
  • James Abberley
• September 9 — Sunday morning Bluegrass Gospel
  
  • Old South Bluegrass Band
• September 9 — Sunday’s Farwell Concert
  
  • Acoustic Highway
  • Andy & Marta
  • The Cherry Pickers
  • AP D’Antonio
  • All Star Bluegrass Finale
• Hosted Sessions all welcome to join in
  
  • Friday
    Not Strictly Bluegrass with Henk Groot & AP D’Antonio
  • Saturday
    Old Time Country with the Adelaide Olde Time String Band
    In True Bluegrass Style with Old South Bluegrass Band
    Tombstone String Band
    The Cherry Pickers

Artist features 2012:

• Old South Bluegrass Band
  Geoff Bridgland (banjo, fiddle), Phil Parker (guitar and lead vocals), Andrew Hook (mandolin and guitar) Dave Taylor (bass) and Leonard Cohen (resonator guitar)
  
  • The band joined forces in 2010 bringing together many years of experience in bluegrass music in SA, interstate and overseas. Old South focus on harmony singing and instrumental precision. Their soon to be released first CD will be followed by a second later this year. The songs reflect the band’s eclectic style, including bluegrass adaptations of songs from other genres as well as traditional music including gospel, a style deeply linked to the core of bluegrass. With most of their members having decades of experience, Old South like to provide encouragement and support to all interested in any aspect of bluegrass music. As they could see that the Wirrina Bluegrass Festival has common beliefs on support and encouragement they were the first to sign up. More information available at http://wirrinabluegrass.com/ and
    http://www.facebook.com/OldSouthBluegrassBand
• Adelaide Olde Time String Band (AOTSB)
  
  • With the inclusion of the Adelaide Olde Time String Band (AOTSB) the festival is not only the place to hear the best Bluegrass music in South Australia it will be a great place to join in the jam sessions with these friendly and inviting guys around. The AOTSB is a large group of folks keeping alive the Old Time Southern Mountain and Country music tradition which preceded Bluegrass. This “Old Timey” music is currently experiencing a worldwide revival. The Band has been playing at various gigs, square dances and festivals and provides an opportunity for players of different string instruments at all levels to get together and present a wide variety of old time fiddle tunes, hoedowns, reels, breakdowns, waltzes, country blues and ragtime as well as old time country songs. The Band has grown out of the Adelaide Olde Time Music Jam which now meets twice monthly at “Guthries” (The SA Folk Federation at Prospect Town Hall). Instruments played are all acoustic and include fiddles, banjos, mandolins, guitars, ukuleles, acoustic bass and related instruments. They will be leading one of the festivals special programed sessions as well as performing on the main stage.

Artist registration 2012:

• Wanted: Guitar, mandolin, bass, banjo, dobro & fiddle players and other acoustic musicians and friends, at SA’s NEWEST live music festival.
  
  • Our program might be full but there are still plenty of chances to play. We have kept the Heysen’s Restaurant stage available on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of September during the afternoons so that any musician at the festival can have the chance to perform. You will need to register by writing your name on the board at the festival. The board will be available Friday 7 of September after 6pm.
  • Bluegrass music is also famous for is its jam-sessions and these will be a big part of the Wirrina Bluegrass Festival. We will have sessions that are lead by the Festival’s finest Bluegrass musicians. These sessions will be in the program so you don’t miss out on your chance to play along with them.
  • We have also created the spaces for those all important impromptu sessions to happen. One venue, the Acoustic Session Lounge, is dedicated solely to this purpose. So if you play an acoustic instrument bring it along. Just a little warning though, after you have played in a session or two you will want to play more Bluegrass music because it’s so much fun. It’s a full weekend of Bluegrass, Old Time and other acoustic styles. 

Other Sources:

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Practical Info:

Venue:

• Wirrina Resort & Conference Centre
  Wirrina Cove, SA, Australia
  http://www.wirrinaresort.com/

Do you have an update or more information about this festival? Email us at updates@kadmusarts.com
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