Macleay ValleyArts Council Inc
Taylor Henderson supporters are in for a real treat. The multi-platinum selling artist will be hitting the road this January 2019 to continue his national “Love Somebody Tour.” Taylor will be serenading you with all the hits and the yet to be released music off his upcoming album. These shows are going to be intimate and very personal, which will see Taylor in his shining element.
BOOK TICKETS HERE!
The music of Fru Skagerrak takes you on a journey through Scandinavia; from lowlands to mountains, from slow airs to lively polkas, in major and in minor, and everything in between. Fru Skagerrak – ”Lady Skagerrak” – are three master musicians, one from each Scandinavian country: Maja Kjær Jacobsen from Denmark, Elise Wessel Hildrum from Norway and Anna Lindblad from Sweden.
In 2011, these three globetrotting musicians met for the first time at Tønder Festival, Denmark’s biggest Folk Festival, in a roaring session that had engulfed the backstage bar. Through the mayhem of tunes you could feel a certain Scandinavian groove, and in that moment the connection between these three fiddlers was clear. After meeting at Tønder Festival for three consecutive years, Fru Skagerrak finally saw the light of day in August 2014.
The trio brings together the diverse traditions from each of their homelands, which surround the Skagerrak strait. Through a repertoire of traditional tunes, new compositions, and songs in their respective languages, they express their kinship and love of their shared heritage. The result is an explosion of the sounds that exist in Scandinavian music today.
Steeped in blues and country music, Liam Gerner left the Adelaide Hills to try his luck in London. The young guitar slinger quickly made a strong impression and earned a crust opening for Paul Weller, Jason Isbell, Drive by Truckers, Paolo Nutini and many more. Liam then headed to the US, joined Texan country rocker Ryan Bingham’s band and experienced frontline American roots music. Returning to Australia in 2014, Liam released his debut album ‘Land Of No Roads’, a startling collection of original songs he composed while touring with Bingham and cut with some of LA’s finest players and his follow up ‘Liam Gerner and the Sunset Pushers’ (2017).
Since then Liam has been touring relentlessly throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Now based in Melbourne, Liam has developed his songwriting, collaborated with local musicians and formed The Sunset Pushers, a band as fluid and soulful as his songs. Liam tours extensively in Australia/New Zealand and is an in-demand guitarist working touring and recording with The Eurogliders, Pnau, Pnau & Elton John, records with Empire Of The Sun, and Vika and Linda Bull.
Dan Hopkins
Australian Blues|Roots|Gospel artist Dan Hopkins plays a punchy brand of modern roots that has a distinct delta flavour with gospel overtones. Dan creates an experience that could be described as Ash Grunwald, Eric Bibb and Paul Kelly meeting down at the crossroads. This culminates in an emotionally driven journey down a sweetly plucked but often dirty slide guitar borne road across the Southern blues idiom.
Dan's smooth rich vocal tone, his dynamic finger style blues and dexterity on the slide guitar mixed with poignant lyrics create a highly versatile performer not to be missed.
Bookings are direct with Woodfordia and tickets are $25, Under-12 free. MVAC Members get a special price of $20 per ticket!
CLAIRE will be launching her new album 'ALL THE WORDS' with her band at the Frederickton School of Arts Hall on SATURDAY, FEB 9.
Claire Anne Taylor grew up in Tasmania's ancient Tarkine rainforest, where she was born into her Father's hands in the family barn. Taylor and her five siblings were raised in a quaint bush home, rich with creativity and music. During her childhood, the Taylor barn was home to a family of Tasmanian Devils and some say that Taylor developed her unique, raspy singing style from nights spent listening to the devils growling beneath the floorboards.
Taylor crafts soulful folk songs that capture both the beautiful and dark elements of the human experience. Her music ranges from warm, mesmerising ballads to epic anthems. With vivid storytelling, colossal vocals and a powerfully captivating stage presence, her live shows leave the audience in no doubt that they have just witnessed something extraordinary.
Watch a video CLIP
BOOK NOW!
Wednesday Morning Group is a collective of volunteers who love to dress up and sing and dance to raise people’s spirits. They primarily perform at nursing homes across the Macleay Valley, for which they charge no fees, and residents can’t wait to see them return for another hilarious show.
Named because Wednesday morning was the only available time for rehearsals at the South West Rocks Country Club, the group holds an annual concert at the club, which always sells out, to raise enough money to keep performing for another year.
Comprised mostly of sprightly seniors, the Wednesdays will delight young and old with their quirky takes on all-time favourite tunes, and their ever-popular and hilarious Fractured Fairy Tales.
Come along and watch the fun, and you never know, you might just want to join this group of active fun lovers!
Flickerfest returns to the Macleay Valley in 2019 at three locations!
Crescent Head. Kempsey. South West Rocks. Book your tickets now!
Scott Cook is now a regular and certainly a favourite performer at the Oddfellows Hall.
Scott Cook (www.scottcook.net) has been living out of a van or a backpack for the last eleven years, touring almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia and elsewhere, and distilling his experiences into straight-talking, keenly observant verse. Scott has already completed six tours of Australia, including talked-about performances at Woodford, Cobargo, Candelo, Cygnet, Newstead, Illawarra, the National, and Yackandandah folk festivals.
In 2019 he's returning with a new intercontinental string-band called The She'll Be Rights, consisting of fellow Canadian Bramwell Park on banjo and mandolin, and Aussie comrades Esther Henderson on fiddle and Liz Frencham on upright bass. Liz will also be opening the shows with short solo sets of her own material.
They're touring in support of Cook's sixth studio album, Further Down the Line, which earned him his second Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, and comes packaged in a 132-page book containing a look back, in words and pictures, on his last decade of constant travel. All the hard miles notwithstanding, he still believes that songs can change your life, and your life can change the world.
"Scott Cook has distilled his travels down into songs powered by a sharp eye for imagery, a healthy dose of humanity, and that unforgettable voice, that at the same time intones the rigors of the road and the most comfortable couch you have ever slept on." - David Francey, 3x Juno-winning Canadian songwriter
"As good a modern folkie as we have these days. A voice perfect for the genre. An understanding beyond the norm." - No Depression
"He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own... Truly one of Woody Guthrie's children." - RnR Magazine
Come on, grab a ticket and get ready for another thrilling ride with Scott!
Acclaimed singer songwriter and unique Australian performer William Crighton embarks on his first headline solo tour throughout April and May 2019. Combining traditional sounds with unexpected experimentation he has released two albums since 2016, the latest of which ‘Empire’ was labelled by Dave Faulkner of the Hoodoo Gurus as ‘The best album of 2018, local or international’. He has toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe, UK, Canada and the US over the last two years and is rapidly building a reputation as a must see artist.
On this tour he will be playing songs from both albums as well as new material on a variety of instruments.
https://youtu.be/0myaWOC9wpE
William Crighton will be joined by UK artist ‘Beans on Toast’ who is a leading torch in the new wave of UK folk artists. The pair met whilst playing at ‘Boomtown’ in the UK in 2018. These will be very memorable shows.
After more than 10 years in the game, English songwriter Beans on Toast has become something of a cult figure. He’s a hippy, a punk, a poet, a drunk, a die-hard romantic and an eternal optimist. Singing simple songs that tackle big issues. Political protest songs for the modern day, honest and open love songs. Songs that will make you laugh, but also make you think with no holds barred honest lyrics and quick wit.
https://youtu.be/tYQyKFud64w
Daniel's performances are simply put, astonishing. But don't just take our word for it. Read below what others have said. Then book a ticket. Do it. Now.
“Today I saw the future of Folk – festival goers flocking in their thousands towards the main stage to witness the young musical phenomenon from Australia dish out an absolute show-stopper at the evening’s end.” – Firefly Column, USA
“Watching Daniel Champagne perform is a once in a lifetime experience. He is a true prodigy that plays like no one else could possibly play unless they spent at least two lifetimes studying the art.” – BW Review, New Zealand
“The word prodigy seems to entirely fall short of this soft-spoken young man’s skills, he coaxes sounds and melodies out of his instrument that literally drop jaws.” – The Calgary Herald, Canada
“The superb talent of Daniel Champagne can’t be explained by mere words; it must be seen to be believed.” – FasterLouder, Australia
“There’s a reason Champagne has an amazing reputation as a live performer.” – Timber And Steel, Australia
“Within the boundaries of Folk, Champagne is an expert.” – Tone Deaf
“Champagne has proven that he’s a talent you can’t possibly ignore. His live shows have drawn rapturous responses from all corners.” – Rhythms Magazine
Watch a video clip!
