Thank Folk It’s Friday – 6th February

February 6, 2015 at 16:01 (News, Week in Review)
Tags: alex hallahan, amistat, archer, bluegrass @ yulli's, calexico, clea, elbury, elwood myre, emmy the great, fairlight folk, festival of small halls, folk music, gordie mackeeman and his rhythm boys, heartstring quartet, hollow coves, hozier, inside llewyn davis, iron & wine, jose gonzalez, mackenzie shivers, pokey lafarge, rhiannon giddens, rowena wise, sam brittain, shakey graves, shovels & rope, siskin river, the leisure society, the shack, the timbers

TFIF

This Week in Folk

All the News From The Week That Was

– The original nu-folk band Calexico have announced plans to release a new album Edge of the Sun. Details here

– Adelaide’s Sam Brittain has headed out on an east coast tour with Amistat. Details here

– Brisbane duo Hollow Coves released their new single “The Woods”. Details here

– The Heartstring Quartet are definitely a band to watch when they make their way to Australia this month. Details here

– NSW based singer-songwriter Alex Hallahan released his new single “Tangle For Two”. Details here

– Old-time troubadour Archer released his new video “Garden”. Details here

– Hozier announced two headline dates when he’s here for Bluesfest in, you guessed it, Sydney and Melbourne. Details here

– Brisbane band Elbury are streaming their new EP Demasquerade. Details here

– American folk acts Shakey Graves and Shovels & Rope will be touring Australia in March. Details here

– The Timbers will be performing at The Jade Monkey in Adelaide tonight supported by … themselves? Details here

– New York based singer-songwriter MacKenzie Shivers released her new single “Orphan Song”. Details here

– Iconic Sydney folk venue The Shack turns 50 this weekend with a celebratory concert. Details here

– The Festival of Small Halls Australia is back again this Autumn taking Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys and Siskin River from the Port Fairy Folk Festival to the National Folk Festival via regional towns and centres. Details here

– Regular Sydney jam night Bluegrass @ Yulli’s returns for 2015 with performances from Stillhouse Union and The Plough. Details here

– American singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge has announced an Australian tour in April. Details here

– Iron & Wine and Rhiannon Giddens released a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”. Details here

– The very buzz worthy Rowena Wise has released a new single, “Words”, and added a bunch of tour dates. Details here

– Brisbane singer-songwriter Clea released her single “Polyester”. Details here

– UK chamber-folk band The Leisure Society have announced a new album The Fine Art of Hanging On. Details here

– Sydney duo Elwood Myre released their new video “California”. Details here

– Regular Sydney night Fairlight Folk has announced its February lineup including Shane Howard (Goanna) and Joe Flower & Harmony Breeze. Details here

– José González released his new video “Leaf Off / The Cave”. Details here

Reviews

Recordings

“Not to say this isn’t a great album – it certainly is. There are a lot of highlights throughout. But it’s not the kind of album I can enjoy from start to finish, not the way I can with Down from the Mountain or even the Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack (the intentionally terrible “Please Mr. Kennedy” aside). And I think it’s for a number of reasons” – Gareth Hugh Evans reviews the live album Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis. Review here

“Deep in the heart of the EP’s four tracks I can still hear the same singer-songwriter strumming away on her guitar that I fell in love with five years ago” – Gareth Hugh Evans reviews the new EP from Emmy The Great, S. Review here

Releases This Week

Sleeping Storm – The April Maze
iTunes

Elwood Myre – Elwood Myre
Bandcamp

I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty
iTunes

The Pigs’ Home Brew: 13 Aussie Classics – The Pigs
iTunes

Fear and Saturday Night – Ryan Bingham
iTunes

Timber and Steel Recommends – Go To This Gig

The Timbers

Tonight Adelaide folk stalwarts The Timbers will be putting on a very special gig supported by themselves. That’s right – each member of The Timbers – Joe Man Murphy, Simon Basey and Benjamin Roberts – will be performing a solo set before the band get on stage. Has to be seen to be believed.

Friday 6th February – The Jade Monkey, Adelaide, SA

Gigs Next Week

Alanna Eileen
Friday 13th February – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW

Angus and Julia Stone
Friday 6th February – Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Saturday 7th Fenruary – Entertainment Centre, Darwin, NT
Tuesday 10th February – Convention Centre, Cairns, QLD
Wednesday 11th February – Entertainment Centre, Townsville, QLD
Friday 13th February – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Ann Vriend
Friday 6th February – Mother’s Milk, Sawtell, NSW
Saturday 7th February – Sunset Studio, Newcastle, NSW
Sunday 8th February – Ellington Jazz Club, Perth, WA
Tuesday 10th February – House Concert, Fremantle, WA
Thursday 12th February – Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne, Vic
Friday 13th February – Dodges Ferry, Tas

April Maze
Wednesday 11th February – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT

CW Stoneking
Friday 6th February – Milton Theatre, Milton, NSW
Saturday 7th February – Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul, NSW
Sunday 8th February – Lizotte’s, Dee Why, NSW
Tuesday 10th February – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba, NSW
Wednesday 11th February – Clarendon Guest House, Katoomba, NSW
Friday 13th February – Sol Bar, Maroochydore, QLD

Joel Barker
Saturday 7th February – The Bird, Northbridge, WA

John Flanagan
Friday 6th February – The Bluebee room, Adelaide, SA
Saturday 7th February – The Exeter, Adelaide, SA
Wednesday 11th February – The Yarra Hotel, Abbottsford, VIC
Thursday 12th February – Homestead Hotel, Hobart, TAS
Friday 13th February – Live At The Wharf, Gnomon Pavilion, Ulverstone, TAS

Kim Churchill
Friday 6th February – Amplifier Bar, Perth, WA
Saturday 7th February – City of Stirling Summerset Arts Festival, Scarborough WA
Friday 13th February – The Corner, Melbourne, VIC

Little Bastard
Friday 13th February – Dues Ex Machina, Sydney, NSW

Mandy Connell with Tom Ciccone
Wednesday 11th February – Bar Oussou, Melbourne, VIC

Passenger
Saturday 7th February – Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, WA

Sam Brittain and Amistat
Sunday 8th February – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Tuesday 10th February – Wood St House Concert, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 12th February – The Newsagency, Sydney, NSW
Friday 13th February – Beavs Bar, Geelong, VIC

The Melbourne Folk Club feat. The Mae Trio, The Once
Wednesday 11th February – Bella Union, Melbourne, VIC

The Shack 50th Anniversary feat. Dave Calandra, New York Public Library, Grimick, Jim Jarvis, The Original Myd Lyfe Crysys
Saturday 7th February – The Shack, Sydney, NSW

The Timbers
Friday 6th February – The Jade Monkey, Adelaide, SA

Friday Folk Flashback

“The Butterfly” and “Ships Are Sailing” – Nick Metcalf

“The Butterfly” is a standard in so many sessions and I’m trying to learn it. Which means watching a lot of videos on Youtube like this one.

The Shack Celebrates its 50th Birthday Party

February 4, 2015 at 08:29 (News)
Tags: dave calandra, folk music, grimick, jim jarvis, new york public library, the original mid lyfe crysis, the shack

Image Courtesy of Dave Calandra

Iconic Sydney venue The Shack has announced plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary this weekend. The Shack, located in Narrabeen, has been bringing the best in folk music to Sydney’s Northern Beaches for so long that it’s become an institution.

To celebrate it’s 50th birthday, The Shack has gathered together an amazing lineup of musicians for a very special gig on Saturday 7th February. The lineup includes iconic folk trio New York Public Library, energetic group Grimick, The Shack’s resident band The Original Mid Lyfe Crysis, amazing solo performer Jim Jarvis and singer-songwriter Dave Calandra.

For more information on the night check out the official Shack site here.

1 Comment

Northern Beaches Music Festival 2013 Pop-up Fundraiser

January 10, 2013 at 08:15 (Festival News, News)
Tags: ben palumbo, fairlight folk, folk music, humph hall, manly fig, northern beaches music festival, rapt trio, renny field, ryan collings, the shack

Image Courtesy of Ryan Collings

The Northern Beaches Music Festival is in its third year, just a touch later in 2013 than in previous years, running from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th May.

The festival is a collaboration of four music venues in Sydney’s northern beaches area: The Shack (Narrabeen), Humph Hall (Allambie), Fairlight Folk and Manly Fig.

2012’s festival was a wonderful showcase of local and interstate talent, with a heavy emphasis on supporting youth and emerging performers. Saturation coverage from Northern Beaches FM helped spread the word and the sounds over the airwaves.

While the festival brass are busying themselves sorting out the lineup for 2013, they’re holding a ‘Pop-up Fundraiser’ this Saturday 12th January at Fairlight Folk to support the festival, with RAPT trio feat. Ben Palumbo, Spasm Band, Renny Field and Ryan Collings (above).

The fundraiser kicks off at 7pm at William Street Studios, 3 William Street, Fairlight. Get along for an intimate night of music to support a superb up and coming Sydney festival.

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Northern Beaches Music Festival Announces Lineup

January 3, 2012 at 07:44 (Festival News, News)
Tags: doc jones and the lechery orchestra, fairlight folk, folk music, fred smith, green mohair suits, humph hall, luke escombe, northern beaches music festival, pat drummond, sal kimber and the rollin' wheel, sam buckingham, snugs, the april maze, the lurkers, the manly fig, the pigs, the shack

Image Courtesy of Sal Kimber and The Rollin’ Wheel

The northern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been quietly developing a wonderful little folk scene all of its very own over the last little while. While much of Sydney’s music scene is focused in and around the inner city, venues and groups like The Shack, Fairlight Folk, The Manly Fig and Humph Hall have been turning the Northern Beaches into one of the most exciting locations for contemporary and traditional folk, roots and acoustic music in the city. And these groups are pooling their collective folk resources and presenting the Northern Beaches Music Festival this February.

Held at the Berry Reserve in Narrabeen from the 17th to the 19th February, the Northern Beaches Music Festival has such an exciting lineup for only its second year. Headlining this year’s festival are Timber and Steel favourites The April Maze, Sal Kimber and The Rollin’ Wheel (above) and Luke Escombe along with the likes of Doc Jones and the Lechery Orchestra, Fred Smith, Green Mohair Suits, Pat Drummond, Sam Buckingham, SNUGs, The Lurkers, The Pigs and many many more.

Tickets for the festival are $60 online or $75 at the gate for the full three days (with a bunch of different ticketing options available). Check out the official Northern Beaches Music Festival website for more details.