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Latest News
Welcome to
the Turning Wave Festival news page.
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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 |
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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
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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.
7
May 2009 |
Mick
Mulcahy set to make the trip downunder
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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.
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7 May 2009 |
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Banjo whiz joins Oz Odyssey
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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 |
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APRIL
Market
Stall Applications Now Open
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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. |
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20 Apr. 2009
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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.
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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 |
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Day ticket* |
Adult:
$35
& Youth:
$15 |
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Night ticket* |
Adult:
$25
& Youth:
$10 |
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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 |
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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. |
 
11 Mar. 2009 |
New CD from
2008 Winning Busker
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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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!
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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". |
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Read reviews & see pix
11 Oct. 2008
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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
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2009 Festival Theme
A
Many
Coloured
Land
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