|
The sweet bluegrass of home |
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Friday, 07 December 2007 |
There'll be a congregation of fiery fiddles and blistering banjos at Woodford Folk Festival this Dec 27 to Jan 1. Welcoming home its sons and daughters from across the seas, the festival will see a fantastic collection of bluegrass musicians and some inspired country folk. What better place to host this little bit of country than the Woodford festival site nestled in green hills of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland.
Blue Grassy Knoll's strong partnership with American silent film genius Buster Keaton has inspired applause and standing ovations around the world. From Broadway to Beijing, they've received rave revues for their high-energy gypsy bluegrass and creative sound effects.
Vicariously related to the Blue Grassy Knoll are bluegrass fiends the Devil Goat Family String Band. These five musicians are proud to have created what they describe as a "hilly-billy Frankenstien", with original bluegrass style tunes that are not afraid to venture into the swampy badlands of Country, Folk, and Gypsy.
The Davidson Brothers are described by Australian bluegrass pioneer Trevor Warner as "nothing short of sensational". Now in their early 20s, these young lads from rural Victorian started playing banjo, fiddle, mandolin when they were children. With awards and accolades too numerous to mention (see their website), their album Raised On The Road was recorded in Nashville and won Australian Independent Country album of 2007.
Australian country artists are forming a well-trodden path to the renowned and legendary studios of Nashville Tennessee, with other festival guests The Waifs also recently recording there, and The Greencards having first met there in a recording studio.
When UK bluegrass fiddle maestro Eamon McLoughlin met Australians Carol Young and Kym Warner they had in common a love of American roots music. The Greencards friendly bluegrass jams soon blossomed into a fresh hybrid of folk balladry and rock and roll which has seen them headline major festivals, win awards, and tour the US with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Combining a respect for tradition and a passion for innovative songwriting, they are flourishing in Nashville.
The Waifs recorded their album, sundirtwater, in Nashville earlier this year, in a studio famous for the recordings of Waylon Jennings. Like the trio themselves, who first met in the west Australian desert, their new songs travel across wide spaces, maintaining connection through distances and diverse styles. Their homegrown and independent music from the heart has won them awards, platinum albums, and the love of fans around the world.
With music from the roots of America and the heart of Australia, artists at the Woodford Folk Festival offer more than old-fashioned country and bluegrass. These living traditions find new life and expression in their young and enthusiastic exponents. For a taste of the big heart of country and the nourishing soul of bluegrass, head on down to the Woodford Folk Festival this December.
For Woodford Folk Festival information and tickets got to www.woodfordfolkfestival.com or call the festival office on 07 5496 1066. Buy tickets on line and save!
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 07 December 2007 )
|
Range News 2005 - ON 
