Festival of Irish and Australian Music & the Related Arts

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 Latest News

Welcome to the Turning Wave Festival news page.

JUNE

Avoid Disappointment

If you pre-booked your accommodation last year NOW is the time to reconfirm your booking... to be sure, to be sure!!!

8 June 2009

Volunteer Applications now open

TWF has a limited number of tickets for work exchange on offer to people who are able to assist in the smooth running of our festival over the weekend. You need to be reliable, punctual and have good people skills. Previous volunteer experience at other festivals would be considered an advantage.  

View details Volunteers

 

5 June 2009

MAY
US/Oz combination Gundagai bound

Pigeonwing Strings features multi-instrumentalists Pria Schwall-Kearney (voice, fiddle, banjo, feet) and Greg Fair (voice, mandolin, guitar, banjo, percussion). Greg lives in the United States, and Pria, in Australia, but rather than let continents stand in the way of their music, they believe their different cultural backgrounds is part of what makes their music so fresh and exciting. They represent the novelty and organic nature of American old-time music from the 1920-30s and play the music of the Appalachian Mountains with creativity, passion and energy, drawing upon numerous influences for their sound. They incorporate styles as diverse as Québécois fiddle, close (brother-style) vocal harmonies, early bluegrass instrumentation, and modern song writing. Greg has toured the east coast of the U.S. with the old-time sting band, The Varnish Cooks, and has performed with the internationally renowned Crooked Jades. Pria has performed with various groups at most major Australian and New Zealand festivals, as well as touring North America in 2008.

27 May 2009

Festival Receives Special Grant

In news just to hand TWF has received a grant for a project titled Culture Connect, awarded under the 2009 Community Development Grants Programme of the Community Relations Commission (CRC).  This grants provides the Festival with the opportunity to celebrate lesser known ethnic groups that have impacted upon Gundagai's cultural history and compliments our 2009 festival theme A Many Coloured Land. More on this soon.

25 May 2009

Victorian band taking the track winding back in '09

Exciting Pop/Rock/Celtic band Dalriada will be joining the feature acts at TWF 2009. Featuring traditional instruments such as pipes, flute, whistles and bouzouki alongside electric guitars, bass and drums, the group have been regulars at many of Australia's major music festivals including multiple appearances at the Woodford Festival in Queensland and the Port Fairy Folk Festival. They have received rave reviews supporting English Folk Rock legends Steeleye Span and further critical acclaim supporting Irish legends 'Four Men and a Dog'. Their music is an exciting blend of traditional Celtic material and thought provoking but musically exciting original songs.

17 May 2009

2009 the Year of the Irish at Turning Wave

The excitement is building as the wider Australian Irish music community becomes aware of the wonderful line-up of Irish musicians heading downunder for this year's Festival. And we're excited to be welcoming such a talented bunch of musos to Oz. Our special guests this year are Aoife Granville and Michelle Mulcahy.

Hear Aoife and find out about her.

Click

Aoife Granville

Hear Michelle & Mick. More info..

Click

Michelle Mulcahy

 7 May 2009

Mick Mulcahy set to make the trip downunder

Mick Mulcahy is set to join daughter Michelle in Gundagai this September. Born in Brosna, north Kerry and now living in Abbeyfeale west Limerick Mick's music is inspired by the styles of older musicians and he is renowned for his unique traditional style of playing on the accordion and the melodeon. He is considered one of the living exponents and experts of the D/D# and C#/D accordions and his reputation as a box player is comparable to the likes of  Joe Cooley, Sonny Brogan and Tony MacMahon, all of whom have influenced him.      

 

 

7 May 2009

Banjo whiz joins Oz Odyssey

Mick O Connor, pictured here in one of the fabulous Tullamore street sessions at last year's Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann will be visiting the great south land with master fiddler Antóin Mac Gabhann. Expect some cracking sessions and brilliant traditional music this September when the Turning Wave cranks up again. The global community of Irish music is a wonderful thing. All it takes are sincerity, respect and commitment and you don't need to be a native of Ireland to go "native", musically speaking that is! Antóin and Mick will be joined in Gundagai by Melbourne based trad legend Tony O Rourke.

7 May 2009

APRIL

Market Stall Applications Now Open

A Celtic Market Place will be held over Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September in Carberry Park, adjacent to the Mirrabooka Neighbourhood Centre. With its outdoor stage this is one of the focal points of the festival. Stall sites are available for either the Saturday or Sunday with a generous discount for vendors booking in advance for both days. For more information and to download booking forms go to markets.

20 Apr. 2009

Popular Puppets back in 2009

Keith Preston and Tony Doyle will once again be bringing their Puppet Palace to Gundagai for the TWF. Last year they developed a whole new show based around Celtic themes just for our festival. Now, after a successful three week season at the Adelaide Fringe festival they will return with a new version of this show titled The Adventures of Mighty Milligan as well as their popular Punch and Judy family shows and late night gothic adult show.

19 Apr. 2009

2009 Ticket Prices Announced

Once again the Turning Wave Festival will deliver excellent value! While programme and artist details are still being finalised we are pleased to be able to list our ticket prices for 2009.

Weekend

ticket

Until COB 28 August

Adult: $65

Youth (12-18yrs): $25

From 29 August

Adult: $80

Youth (12-18yrs): $30

Children under 12 with paying adult FREE

Day ticket*

Adult: $35 & Youth: $15

Night ticket*

Adult: $25 & Youth: $10

Day/Night ticket

(Saturday Only)

Adult: $50

Youth (12-18yrs): $20

 

Early bird tickets go on sale from June 1 until COB 28 August

7 Apr. 2009

MARCH

Ceili Bands for Gundagai

Exciting news for set dancers! Both the Corner House and the Coast Ceili Bands will be back in Gundagai for this year's TWF. As in previous years dancing will be a festival feature with both classes and dances running from Wednesday through till Sunday.

                 Corner House Ceili Band                       The Coast Ceili Band

23 Mar. 2009

Antóin Mac Gabhann: Master Musician of Mullahoran

In 2009 we are pleased to welcome master fiddler Antóin Mac Gabhann to Gundagai as a guest of the Turning Wave Festival.  Antóin is a purist when it comes to traditional music, fiddle-playing, Irish language and culture. He has a tremendous respect for the old traditional musicians, whose music he says is much more distinctive than the fast style of music we hear today. The older musicians learned their music while growing up with it; thus it became inherent to them, a part of their very nature. Musicians today learn from a much wider variety of sources, and have a completely different style of playing.

Antóin is a continuously active promoter of fiddle-playing, traditional music, Irish language and culture. He is extremely keen to see it passed on to new generations, “ó glúin go glúin”. His attitude is traditional, yet refreshing; he is an ambassador of Irish culture and will teach master classes in fiddle at Gundagai. Festival patrons will also be able to hear him perform in both recitals and concerts. This will be an experience in traditional music not to be missed.

21 Mar. 2009 

Popular Ploughboys back in 09

Damian Howard and the Ploughboys were one of the standout acts at TWF 2008 and we're pleased to announce they'll be back with their unique and lively brand of Aussie music.

2008 Europe Tour

Damian Howard and Ploughboys deliver an unforgettable music and entertainment experience. Masters of their instruments and their trade as storytellers and performers, the Ploughboys are nothing short of marvellous. They’ve performed with some of the world’s best including Mary Black and Luka Bloom and combine nu-folk and traditional with blissful harmonies and beautiful musical arrangements.

21 Mar. 2009 

Folk Diva confirmed for TWF 2009

Ami Williamson will make a welcome return to Gundagai for the 2009 Festival. One of the most popular acts at TWF 2008 Ami will present three shows over the weekend as well as a very special ticketed event on the "Festival First Night", Wed 16th Sept.

Redefining Aussie Folk:

Ami Williamson is one of those rare female singers. While her roots are firmly in the tradition of singer/songwriter, her richly diverse upbringing had Ami taking the stage not only in opera and classical, but also touring with her father, country music artist John Williamson. Ami is now focused on her song-writing, performing one woman show at music venues throughout the country. A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, her repertoire spans diverse styles including jazz, pop, country, traditional folk, early music and classical.

Ami Williamson at North By Northwest!

 

11 Mar. 2009

 

New CD from 2008 Winning Busker

Cameron Mather, winner of TWF 2008 Busking Competition, has just released his first solo CD Keepin it Lit. Cameron used his prize of  studio time to record  the CD in January. He impressed the judges with his musicianship and talent and if what this young man has to offer is any indication for the future, the tradition is in good hands. Cameron will be performing at Turning Wave in 2009.

11 Mar. 2009

 

Flood of Applications Clogs System

On Friday 27th February we were totally unprepared for, and overwhelmed by the flood of applications that came rolling in on the last two days before closing. So much so that we had to clear the system three times forcing us to keep applications open for another three days. We finally managed to deal with it all and any applications received after midnight Wednesday will not be accepted. Once again we have been totally blown away by the number and quality of acts wanting to perform at Turning Wave and by all accounts this year will be a cracker! Stay tuned as we are working hard to process applications and should start to post performer information very soon.

5 Mar. 2009

NOVEMBER

Performer Applications for 2009 open

Applications for TWF 2009 are open. Forms are now available from the link below but please read all the information carefully before you complete your form and also note that  this year we are only accepting applications via email.

30 Nov. 2008

More Praise for 2008 Festival

Two recent reviews have given another big "thumbs up" for the 2008 Festival.  Jane Harding wrote... "Turning Wave 2008 was a really fantastic week and I'm looking forward to heading down to Gundagai in September 2009 for the next instalment. Congratulations and thanks to all the organisers and to the community of Gundagai for making us all feel so welcome and putting on such a great show!" Read Jane's full review p. 6 Cornstalk Gazette, Issue 401, November  2008.

And in Trad&Now Issue 34, November 2008 Anne Browne wrote p. 41/42 "The 2008 Turning Wave Festival of Irish and Australian music and the related arts did not disappoint.... One of the words I heard used to describe this festival was 'awesome'.... It is wonderful to see an event such as this which not only brings people together from all over the place, but which brings so much joy and celebration to all involved".

24 Nov. 2008

2009 Festival Theme

For 2009 A Many Coloured Land is the special theme through which we will celebrate the unique, distinctive and cherished aspects of our Australian identity. A Many Coloured Land embraces the diversity of Australia from a physical, psychic and cultural sense and, with the Irish firmly at the helm, acknowledges the significance not only of peoples and cultures in the rich tapestry of Australian life but of the impact of the physical environment both now and in the past. The Festival will welcome performers who can express this theme in interesting and engaging ways through song, dance, spoken word and theatre presentations.

17 Nov. 2008

OCTOBER

Irish Ambassador full of praise

The Irish Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mairtín Ó Fainín opened the 2008 festival before a huge crowd in Carberry park after Wiradjuri elder Margaret Berg gave the traditional Welcome to Country. The Ambassador congratulated the organising committee of the Turning Wave Festival for their work in developing an event which he said is sure will keep on growing.

12 Oct. 2008

Spectacular Turning Wave '08 gets thumbs up!

The 2008 Turning Wave Festival received a big thumbs up from the local Gundagai community and visitors alike as the town's population swelled to record numbers for the five day event in September that is now firmly established on the Gundagai calendar. Ticket sales were again up this year by 20% and festival manager, Bob Gilholme described it as a "fantastic five days.... a great boost to the town's economy.  ...the carnival atmosphere seems to have lifted the community's spirits".

Read reviews & see pix

 11 Oct. 2008

SEPTEMBER

Turning Wave Festival in the Top 10

The Turning Wave Festival has been named by NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Awards as one of the Top 10 in the Events and Tourism category for 2008. This is a huge achievement for a Festival which has been up and running for just three short years and a credit to the Festival Committee, its Artistic Director and the Gundagai community.

22 Sept. 2008

2009 Festival Theme

A Many Coloured Land

September 2009

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Turning Wave Festival

Ph: 61 2 9489 5786

Email: info@turningwave.org.au

The Turning Wave is  taken from a poem by Colleen Z Burke and an anthology of the same name compiled and edited by Colleen and Vincent Woods, and is used with the kind permission of the authors.

The Turning Wave Festival is organised under the auspices of the Gundagai Regional Enhancement Group Inc.

 

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