May and beyond

May is almost over and the rest of the year is filling up.  We are currently putting together a small tour of Folk Clubs in Scotland for our trip home in November to January 2015.  We are looking forward to that and details can be found on our Gigs page.  However, there are plenty of events on the lead up to November.  We will be playing Mark Cryle as the Civil Union at the Redhill Folk Clubs “Kitchen-Aid Concert” on the 25th May.  Then on the weekend of June 7th we will be in Townsville for the Palm Creek Festival, where we will not only be performing as our duo but with The Jiggles and no doubt appearing as special guests with our friends The Wish List and Cloudstreet.  Further on in the year we will be at the BUG, The Maleny Celtic Winterschool, Folk Redlands and the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival.  Lots to look forward to, so please keep tuned.

Tannahill Rose

Wintermoon 2014

We are just returned from another wonderful Wintermoon Festival.  This year we attended the festival as volunteers, however, this did not  prevent us from  being musically busy.  We were in high demand on stage as guest artists with various friends (old and new) including: David Flower, Jodi Martin, Nadia Sunde, Round Mountain Girls and Sunas, to name just a few.

When we weren’t on stage we were enjoying socialising with friends around the site, at the creek and in the Chai House; where the music flowed around the fireside each evening untill the wee small hours of the morning.  It was once again a most beautiful and uplifting experience.  A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who made it possible.

Tannahill Thistle

‘National’ Wrap-up

We had a wonderful time at the National Folk Festival over Easter, where we had the great privilege of performing at “Festival Folk Sing Judy Small” – a concert and CD launch celebrating the songs of the “grande dame of Australian folk music”, Judy Small.  We sung our rendition of Sky of the Southern Cross to a packed venue and enjoyed everyone else’s fabulous interpretations and were joined by Judy herself for the finale.  Rebecca was also very excited to be invited by Judy to play cello and sing with her at her concert on Sunday night.  Those of you who have been following Rebecca for many years may recall that Judy has been hugely influential and inspirational to her, both personally and professionally, so having the opportunity to play with Judy was definitely a career highlight!
On stage during the "Festival Folk Sing Judy Small" concert;   Photo by Dave McBadger

On stage during the “Festival Folk Sing Judy Small” concert; Photo by Dave McBadger

For more information about “Festival Folk Sing” visit www.facebook.com/Festivalfolk.  All proceeds from the album go to the Troubadour Foundation, an organisation set up to provide assistance and encouragement for the sustainability of Australian folk culture.

We also did a couple of blackboard sets at the National and met some lovely new friends in doing so.  (G’day!)  We had great fun playing and singing with our dear friends The Wish List and Donald made an impact with his be-kilted hip wiggles and tambourine skills during the  Infinite Bee Gees competition.  Donald also enjoyed his cameo role as a Scottish side-drummer during a Fred Smith and The Spooky Men’s Chorale concert, at the Budawang.  Rebecca enjoyed the last minute challenge of joining Frencham Smith on cello and vocals for three of their sets, including a special presentation of Fred Smith’s landmark album, “Bagarap Empires”.

National Folk Festival

Festival Folk sing Judy SmalIt’s not long now till we head on south to our Nation’s capital to celebrate all things folk at the National Folk Festival, held over the Easter weekend in Canberra.  Although we are not “officially” listed in this years’ program, we will no doubt be seen on and off the plethora of stages over the five days.  We are particularly excited to be playing at Festival Folk Sing Judy Small, a CD launch concert celebrating the songs of Judy Small, sung as the name would suggest, by all manner of festival folk including One Step Forward, Tangled Web, Penelope Swales, Enda Kenny and The Fagans.  We have been privileged not only to be invited to play at this wonderful event, but to open it with our rendition of Sky of the Southern Cross.  The concert is on at 10am on Monday, 1st April at the Scrumpy stage.  Make sure you get there early to get a seat!

We will also be performing a set of our own material at the Flute and Fiddle – 8.00pm, Thursday 28th March.

Be sure to also keep an eye out for us playing with The Wish List, a wonderful new fiddle-singing duo comprised of Emma Nixon & Nicole Murray.  Rebecca will also be playing some cello with Judy Small on Sunday night at the Terrace, from 8pm, and with Frencham Smith at the Trocodero at 3pm on Monday afternoon.  And we’ll no doubt see you in the session bar!  Happy Easter!