This will be my first year at the festival. Just wondering where is the best place to hang out for sessions. Also - does anything happen (in the way of ITM) during the previous (set-up) week?
check out the website, there's plenty of classes in the week before. Paddy Keenan is one of the teachers, so that's an indication of the quality of the classes, really good.
The session bar will have numerous sessions going on, also usually a really good Scottish session, lots of Irish music, and just about every other genre you can think of. Don't miss out on seeing the concerts on at the various venues, they are really top class, but you'll be hard pressed to tear yourself away from sessions. There's just too much to do!!!!
Unforgettable. Have fun. http://www.folkfestival.asn.au/
You'll have a great time Taminka,the National is an excellent festival and this year will be our 10th visit....
Like Duij says,the Session Bar is the place to meet people and play...Wall to wall sessions of every type of Music....Irish,Scottish,Aussie,Bluegrass......occasionally Classical,Jazz and I'm hoping ..some Gypsy Jazz this year....
To be in the Session Bar at about 1:00 am,and onwards, is a great place to be...
Like you, I play a Terry McGee Flute,but I tend not to play in the Session Bar much at night...Dont know enough tunes,cant play 'em fast enough..So I go and listen...and nurse mugs of Guinness !!
I've had some really nice afternoons there playing Music ..The afternoons are quieter..........less cacaphony !!!
As for Music during the set up week....a lot of campers get there early to get a good spot (we do) and there is a bit Music played around the camp sites...I dont know if there is any organised ITM though...
I'm looking forward to this years festival.....see yer there.....
Wish I was going again this year but at least I am not going to miss out on Paddy Keenan. He arrives here (Perth) this afternoon for two concerts.
You should really enjoy it all and yes it is hard to tear yourself away from the session bar!
friday is always deadly for a lot of people...it's their first day and they rip into the music and get langered and stay up all night...the rest of the weekend is hard work, but excellent fun. Everyone's absolutely knackered by the end of four or five days...or more!
Brilliant weather as well, Australiana at it's very best. Long live the Nash.
The hottest sessions tend to happen in the back of the bar in
the 2 exit alcoves and sometimes outside in the open air if the weather's nice. I don't have much to contribute at that level but it's great just to soak up the excellent playing and learn from it.
Also don't forget the smokers' tent adjoining the building. There is a noisy and slow but good trad session there. The smokers'
tent session usually has loads of standard tunes that everybody knows - but you do have to put up with the smoke, shouting, bad singing etc. It's good fun.
The problem with trying to have a high quality session in the
Session Bar is the incredible noise level. That's why people
hide in those alcoves or escape outside or just don't participate.
I've seen good players shake their heads and walk out.
Kevin Burke was a bit taken aback I think when he saw the session bar. It's certainly all-in. There need to be some other venues for sessions really, but hey, it's pretty much "market-force" geographics.
"Smokers' tent"? What do they smoke in there then?
Thanks everyone. I think I'll be mostly listening as I can't play too fast either. Are the slow sessions 9 - 10 in the morning good for slowies like me?
Also, Zoukboy, I've been looking at the site map trying to figure out where to camp - any suggestions? I'm actually going tomorrow, as I can get in early as an interstate volunteer.
If you see my greeny/bluey Lancer come say hi.
Cheers
Hey there Taminka,
Anywhere in the camping area is OK,near the amentities block maybe..it does'nt really make much difference..If you need a powered site,you'll have to get there on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the festival starts...We're aiming to get there on Monday arvo.
As we travel from the Mid North Coast towing a caravan,its a real bummer to come all that way and not get power for the caravan...
I'll keep my eye open for the Lancer....We'll be in a van with a khaki canvas annexe ....the car is a silver 4wd thingy....
Also....if you have a push bike and the room to carry it....its a great idea...Sometimes you might want to travel back and forth from the camp site to the festival several times in a day and a pushy is a great way to do it.....There's a shuttle bus as well that runs for most of the day and night...
I think that the morning sessions are pretty good but if you're in between beginner and intermediate level,the tunes might be a bit TOO slow....Certainly nothing to lose by attending though....
see yer.........
The National, Canberra
The National, Canberra
This will be my first year at the festival. Just wondering where is the best place to hang out for sessions. Also - does anything happen (in the way of ITM) during the previous (set-up) week?
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Taminka
Re: The National, Canberra
check out the website, there's plenty of classes in the week before. Paddy Keenan is one of the teachers, so that's an indication of the quality of the classes, really good.
The session bar will have numerous sessions going on, also usually a really good Scottish session, lots of Irish music, and just about every other genre you can think of. Don't miss out on seeing the concerts on at the various venues, they are really top class, but you'll be hard pressed to tear yourself away from sessions. There's just too much to do!!!!
Unforgettable. Have fun.
http://www.folkfestival.asn.au/
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: The National, Canberra
You'll have a great time Taminka,the National is an excellent festival and this year will be our 10th visit....
Like Duij says,the Session Bar is the place to meet people and play...Wall to wall sessions of every type of Music....Irish,Scottish,Aussie,Bluegrass......occasionally Classical,Jazz and I'm hoping ..some Gypsy Jazz this year....
To be in the Session Bar at about 1:00 am,and onwards, is a great place to be...
Like you, I play a Terry McGee Flute,but I tend not to play in the Session Bar much at night...Dont know enough tunes,cant play 'em fast enough..So I go and listen...and nurse mugs of Guinness !!
I've had some really nice afternoons there playing Music ..The afternoons are quieter..........less cacaphony !!!
As for Music during the set up week....a lot of campers get there early to get a good spot (we do) and there is a bit Music played around the camp sites...I dont know if there is any organised ITM though...
I'm looking forward to this years festival.....see yer there.....
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by zoukboy
Re: The National, Canberra
Wish I was going again this year but at least I am not going to miss out on Paddy Keenan. He arrives here (Perth) this afternoon for two concerts.
You should really enjoy it all and yes it is hard to tear yourself away from the session bar!
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Donough
Re: The National, Canberra
friday is always deadly for a lot of people...it's their first day and they rip into the music and get langered and stay up all night...the rest of the weekend is hard work, but excellent fun. Everyone's absolutely knackered by the end of four or five days...or more!
Brilliant weather as well, Australiana at it's very best. Long live the Nash.
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: The National, Canberra
The hottest sessions tend to happen in the back of the bar in
the 2 exit alcoves and sometimes outside in the open air if the weather's nice. I don't have much to contribute at that level but it's great just to soak up the excellent playing and learn from it.
Also don't forget the smokers' tent adjoining the building. There is a noisy and slow but good trad session there. The smokers'
tent session usually has loads of standard tunes that everybody knows - but you do have to put up with the smoke, shouting, bad singing etc. It's good fun.
The problem with trying to have a high quality session in the
Session Bar is the incredible noise level. That's why people
hide in those alcoves or escape outside or just don't participate.
I've seen good players shake their heads and walk out.
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Hup
Re: The National, Canberra
Kevin Burke was a bit taken aback I think when he saw the session bar. It's certainly all-in. There need to be some other venues for sessions really, but hey, it's pretty much "market-force" geographics.
"Smokers' tent"? What do they smoke in there then?
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: The National, Canberra
Thanks everyone. I think I'll be mostly listening as I can't play too fast either. Are the slow sessions 9 - 10 in the morning good for slowies like me?
Also, Zoukboy, I've been looking at the site map trying to figure out where to camp - any suggestions? I'm actually going tomorrow, as I can get in early as an interstate volunteer.
If you see my greeny/bluey Lancer come say hi.
Cheers
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by Taminka
Re: The National, Canberra
Hey there Taminka,
Anywhere in the camping area is OK,near the amentities block maybe..it does'nt really make much difference..If you need a powered site,you'll have to get there on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the festival starts...We're aiming to get there on Monday arvo.
As we travel from the Mid North Coast towing a caravan,its a real bummer to come all that way and not get power for the caravan...
I'll keep my eye open for the Lancer....We'll be in a van with a khaki canvas annexe ....the car is a silver 4wd thingy....
Also....if you have a push bike and the room to carry it....its a great idea...Sometimes you might want to travel back and forth from the camp site to the festival several times in a day and a pushy is a great way to do it.....There's a shuttle bus as well that runs for most of the day and night...
I think that the morning sessions are pretty good but if you're in between beginner and intermediate level,the tunes might be a bit TOO slow....Certainly nothing to lose by attending though....
see yer.........
# Posted on March 26th 2010 by zoukboy