AUGUST

Official Programme NOW AVAILABLE 

Go to ®  Programme Page

28 August 2008

Irish Language at The Turning Wave 

This year we have Irish language classes running as part of the pre-weekend events at the Festival. Enda Ó Catháin will be teaching Irish in a variety of interesting and engaging ways. You'll learn some basic words and phrases, how to communicate, and even how to order a pint in the local pub. He'll also be focusing on music aspects of the language, especially the texts of songs with common tunes, making them easy for you to learn. There'll also be an excursion around the town to identify places, people and things in Irish.

Enda will run these sessions on Wed 17, Thurs 18 and Fri 19 from 10am-1pm Cost is $60 for the 3 days with pre-purchased weekend ticket ($25 per day) or $75 full price ($30 per day) Tel 02 9489 5786 to book or for more information

August 25 2008

Marcia Howard, Damian Howard and the Ploughboys 

This collective of some of Australia's premiere folk performers will appear at the Turning Wave Festival fresh from a highly successful tour of Ireland which included performances at the prestigious Boyle Arts Festival. Along with concert performances they will present a special theatre event titled Island to Ireland - from Waterholes to Holy Wells, featuring song, dance and stories all underpinned with their fabulous music. Don't miss this feature festival event 4.15pm Sat 20th Sept. and check the programme for other concerts times.

August 24 2008

Performer bios

Our 2008 performer bios are now available to view. Click here

August 18 2008

Corinne Fenton comes on board

Award-winning author Corinne Fenton joins the festival line-up. Corinne has written numerous children’s books and poems including her most recent picture book, The Dog on the Tuckerbox. She is the Victorian Coordinator of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and will present children's writing workshops and book readings at this year’s Festival as part of our Literary Youth programme.

August 17 2008

Programme Now on Web

It is only six short weeks until the "Wave" comes rolling into Gundagai bringing a "tsunami" of music, song, dance poetry, folklore and family entertainment. For five days the festival will showcase some of the country's most celebrated musicians, bands, singer/songwriters, poets, storytellers, raconteurs and dance troupes, in an exciting and diverse program.

But don't take our word for it. Take a look for yourself. And, there'll be a few more surprises before September comes around so come back and take another look soon.

Get TTWF Programme 2008®   Official Programme

ONE MIGHTY WEEKEND!       ONE BRILLIANT FESTIVAL!

August 7 2008

Get Your Map of Gundagai

Our easy to navigate Map of Gundagai is now available to help you find your way around the town and festival venues. Click here to view.

August 6 2008

JULY

Volunteer Form Now Available

Join The Turning Wave Volunteer Team and help make our 2008 Festival a great community event. We are keen to hear from people who can offer time to assist in the smooth running of our festival over the weekend. A 'ticket - for - work' exchange program is offered which normally involves an allocation of a minimum of six hours of festival duties to our participating volunteers.  Find out more - Volunteers

July 27 2008

Provisional Programme Now Available

To view the events we have lined up for you in 2008 provisional programs for the Weekend, Pre-weekend and Ticketed Events are now available. Take a look  - Programme

July 11 2008

Distinctive Sydney duo comes on Board

Springtide features the combined talents of Jackie Luke & Greg Wilson. For those who may not know, Jackie and Greg were the driving musical force behind the popular Fellowship of the Strings/Fourth Realm. Featuring Hammered Dulcimer,  Para-Celtic Harp, the sweetness of Jackie's vocals, and the lively sound of accordion and concertina this multi-instrumental team move with ease from a repertoire embracing many musical styles, from traditional Aussie tunes to the harp music of O'Carolan. Springtide will give one performance only at The Turning Wave Festival on Friday night 20th Sept.

July 11 2008

Turning Wave Receives Culture Ireland Grant

In a welcome boost for the Festival and its commitment to promoting the importance of the Irish contribution to the cultural ethos of Australia, the Turning Wave Festival has been successful in gaining funding support from Culture Ireland. This grant will assist the Festival in bringing traditional Irish musicians Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Eithne Ní Chatháin and Enda Ó Catháin to present master classes and concerts during the Festival week.

Read more - get media release

July 7 2008

New Festival Office

The Turning Wave has a new Festival Office. We'll still be located in the main street and you'll find us right next door to the old office in what was once the "Blue Heelers" backpackers. With its character verandah stretching right out over the footpath this area will become a festival hub at the top end of town for both performers and festival goers alike and you can look forward to some interesting activities around this area during festival week.

July 2 2008

Experience a Taste of Ireland

Taste Ireland is coming to Gundagai for the festival week. We're setting up a little piece of Ireland right here in Gundagai, and you'll find it next door to the Criterion Hotel. You'll be able to find out all about the wonderful authentic Irish groceries and gifts available here in Oz and not only will you be able to experience some of these tastes of Ireland but, throughout the weekend our Irish guests will be popping in to chat and sign CDs.

July 2 2008

JUNE

Puppets for Gundagai

A Grant from Festivals Australia has enabled The Turning Wave Festival to bring the old, and often neglected, art form of puppetry to life in a variety of unique performances and presentations over the festival week through the Celtica Puppet Project.  Developed especially for the Festival by Keith Preston, co-ordinator of the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s Puppet Palace Project and the master puppeteer behind “Preston’s Historic Punch and Judy”, Celtica will be an all NEW show based around stories and legends of the heroes and kindred spirits which are an integral part of Celtic cultures.

In a unique collaboration Keith Preston will be joined by blind musician Tony Doyle who will accompany each performance with original arrangements of Celtic inspired music.  In a presentation which is sure to embrace and excite the whole community “Celtica” will encompass a range of artistic expression from performance art to making and participating.

Get media release

June 1 2008

MAY

2008 Performers

Our 2008 performer line-up is now listed. Take a look  - Performers

May 26 2008

Exciting Master Class Series

2008 sees a much expanded Master Class program with three instrumental classes, singing and Irish set dancing and, new for this year,  a special Pre-festival workshop series in two specialist fields of the Irish tradition, uillean pipes and sean-nós dancing. Bookings for master Classes and Workshops open on Monday 2nd June and will be limited so make sure you don't miss out.  For more information and to view the booking form click here.

May 14 2008

APRIL

Big Bush Orchestra tunes now available

If you want to be part of The Turning Wave's Big Bush Orchestra the sets of tunes are now available for you to download. Trish Barker is once again directing this popular festival event and has done a brilliant job putting together some great music. When you take a look you'll see that she's managed to reflect the festival theme in her selection. To get them click here.

Apr. 29 2008

Flood of Applications

The committee has been blown away by  the number and quality of the applications we've received from acts wanting to perform at this years' Festival. 2008 is going to be a brilliant year and just to give you a little sneaky peak at what we've got in store here's a taster.....

We'll have more for you by the end of April so bookmark the Festival web page and visit again soon.

Apr. 18 2008

(((Shhh!)))

The name on every ones lips and the latest addition to the Irish contingent for this year's Turning Wave Festival, (((Shhh!))) is an experimental, highly engaging Irish folk group combining traditional music, instruments and vocals with keyboard and loops. The result is amazing!

Apr. 9 2008

MARCH

Exciting New Trad Act for 2008

Rounders are Australia's hottest new traditional music act and they're coming to Gundagai this September. Blending the skills of some of this country's best Irish musicians performing Irish, Australian, and the little-heard music of Newfoundland, the group is: Cory Clark (button accordion & vocals); Bridie Burke (fiddle); Ben McAtamney (flute, whistle & bodhran); Ben Stephenson (guitar & bouzouki).

Rounders, based in Sydney, NSW débuted at this year's National Folk Festival in Canberra, performing at Colleen Z Burke's (Bridie's mum and co-editor of The Turning Wave from where our festival takes its name) book launch. With a wonderful balance and blend of instrumentation this group produces a slick, well crafted and exciting sound.

Mar. 26 2008

Guest musicians from Ireland announced

We are pleased and excited to announce that Eithne Ní Chatháin and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh will be the special guest musicians and Master Class presenters at this year's Turning Wave Festival. Both Eithne and Caoimhín have grown up with, and still draw on, the ‘pure drop’ in Irish traditional music.  While this remains very central to their music-making, it hasn’t stifled or stilted their individual expression as solo artists.  They explore, renew and build upon the tradition which has shaped themselves and their music. 

Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh is perhaps best known for playing Irish traditional music on the fiddle, holds an All-Ireland fiddle title and teaches every year at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Clare. He is also a very fine flute and whistle player, and uilleann piper and it is these latter skills on which we will be drawing for our Master Classes and Workshop series.

Eithne Ní Chatháin, as well as writing and singing her own songs in Irish and English, continues to perform, and add to, her treasure-throve store of sean-nós and traditional songs. She is an All-Ireland sean-nós singing champion with fiddle, piano and guitar being her other main instruments. She is also a very accomplished sean-nós dancer.  Eithne will be presenting a Master Class in vocal styles and also a Workshop series on sean-nós dancing.

Mar. 1 2008

FEBRUARY

Top Australian Irish Band heads list of local talent

Popular Brisbane based Irish Band Tulca Mór will headline a brilliant showcase of local talent at this year's Turning Wave Festival. Regarded as one of Australia’s top Irish bands Tulca Mór presents traditional Irish music at its best – full of vitality, lilting rhythms and lyrical melodies.

Tulca mór’s outstanding line-up features Fred Graham on fiddle, Steve Cook on bouzouki, Andrew Heath on guitar and Kevin Higgins on flute, whistles and uilleann pipes.

Feb. 15 2008

No Price Rises for 2008

The Turning Wave Festival is pleased to announce that there will be no price rises in the cost of Festival Tickets or Master Classes for 2008. Patrons can look forward to the same exceptional value and quality performances and events enjoyed in previous years. NEW for 2008 will be a discounted seniors' weekend ticket on the gate price. However, the most economical way to purchase your festival pass will be by advance purchase and these tickets will go on sale on 2nd June 2008.

Feb. 12 2008

JANUARY

Star Hotel Sold

Ann Field, proprietor of the Star Hotel in Mount St South Gundagai has finally called it a day and the hotel has been sold. The Star has been one of the Fringe Festival venues for the past two years and also where we traditionally hold our Volunteers' recovery party. Festival organisers will be looking to speak with the new publican when the Star officially changes hands and we're confident that the Star will once again shine bright as part of TWF 2008.

Jan. 31 2008

DECEMBER

Performer Applications Already Rolling In

Turning Wave Applications 2008 only opened last Friday (30/11) and we have already had lots of expressions of interest. If you want to be part of the "3rd Wave" when it rolls into Gundagai next September go to Performers to download an application form. 

Dec. 3 2007

NOVEMBER

Reviews Just Keep on Coming

Two months after Turning Wave 2007 and the reviews are still coming in.  If you want to read the latest by Bill Quinn in the Cornstalk (page 7) Click Here though tune heads might prefer to read what Kate Burke said on thesession.org.

By the way, I just had an email from Kate who I caught up with at Majors Creek fest. Kate said,  "It was a nice surprise to see you at Major's Creek - what a lovely festival that was! I'm sad that I can't make it to the Turning Wave next year, because it keeps getting better and better". Kate will be touring overseas with Ruth Hazleton.

Nov. 27 2007
 

New Venue for 2008

Historic Gundagai Railway Station will host  some very special events as part of the 2008 festival program. The Gundagai Railway Station was restored to its original 1886 glory in the 1990's and currently houses displays recalling the travelling past, when trains ran regularly on the now defunct Cootamundra-Tumut branch line. The site also features the only slate roofed goods shed In New South Wales

It is our intention to use this site for pre-festival ticketed events as well as selected workshops during the festival weekend to tie in with our Spirit of Place theme.

Nov. 25 2007

2008 Festival Theme Announced

Spirit of Place has been chosen as our Festival theme for 2008 and through this we will celebrate the unique, distinctive and cherished aspects of an Australian identity, especially its links to Ireland and the Celtic nations and to our indigenous people. 

Our theme embraces stories, art, memories, beliefs and histories as well as the  tangible physical aspects of place such as  monuments, boundaries, rivers and the like, to the presence of relatives, friends and kindred spirits or the supernatural guardians of places such as faeries, ghosts and other beings which are such an integral part of the Celtic and indigenous cultures.

Nov.1 2007

OCTOBER

New Festival Manager Appointed

The Gundagai Regional Enhancement Group Inc has appointed Bob Gilholme as the 2008 Turning Wave Festival Manager. Bob takes over from Lisa Faulkner who did a brilliant job in 2007 and both the GREG Committee and the Festival's Artistic Director would like to acknowledge and thank her for a sterling effort.

Bob is no stranger to the job. He was Festival Manager for the inaugural Turning Wave in 2006. He is pictured below in the 2007 Festival office with Ruth Boylan, our guest and, concertina player extraordinaire from Ireland and her friend Annika.

Annika, Bob and Ruth

21 Oct. 2007

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