Being an important day for Aussies and Kiwis, ANZAC day represents courage and that special mateship that formed an integral part of the forces that landed on Gallipoli. Alot of ordinary blokes doing an extraordinary job - my link to trad is this. I would like to mention an unsung trad player who has done an extraordinary job.
The bodhran player in The Barleyshakes (whom I play with) went down with me for a special gig down at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. I play a Jil Lehart flute with an Arie De Keyser Eb head, which also plays in D reasonably well. The head has been going in some transisition since I bought it back from Ireland, and it developed two rather large cracks that began to widen considerably. I did the temporary measure thing, and gaffa taped the barrell up. Those members of this list that were at the Nash will remember the gaffa-barrell quite well - you really had to force the sound, and at that stage, I had lost my low D.
My bodhran player offered to fix it up. Being a jeweller, and impeccable eye for detail, I asked him if he could do anything. After rehearsal at Noosa, we went back to his place. Only stopping for dins and occasional CD change, he spent 6pm-2am Saturday night fixing it. He epoxy-resined the cracks, holding it with a string torniquet he devised. From absolute scratch he made two sterling silver rings (which look funky as - hand beaten look) to go around the barrell. He refused any re-imbursement for it - and I have my low D back!!!! Those that remember Adrian Barker calling me 'Flutewaffe' - well, what you heard in Canberra was nothing compared to the sound I get now.
I just want to thank Erin so much - you're a legend mate, and I'm glad I have such awesome and caring band mates in this band.
What a Nice you are! well now you wont be grumpy after sets or throwing said instrument in disgust at brown-eyed-girl-requesting audience members.
next time don't use it for taking the caps off the stubbies (just jokes kids). onward FLUTEWAFFE!
Heh - I didnt realise you were on this site as well! I have to watch what I say from now on - I have a feeling there are many people from the music scene in Oz who read but dont post that often
Did you two recover from the National ok?
Bridie
the national was a hoot. and the session bar was cranking till the wee daylight hours.
recovery was not swift .i had shows to play when i got back but i "slept for queensland" after that.
i hadn't been to the nash since '96 and all i remembered from that experience was being FROZEN stupid. the weather was well behaved this time round and the guiness flowed like...wine. definately more folks there this year too.
oh yeah ,i've only just discovered this site Bridie (and liking it) but that don't mean hold back!
Geoff - the National was the best I've ever been to - and I've been to about 20 now. The music was the best its ever been and we had the snug pretty much to ourselves the whole time. The really hard core tunes started around 2am and continued to 7:30- 8am - but Erin and Bel wouldnt know this cause they were in bed early every night! There were 4 musicians over from Ireland and 4 from NZ Plus all the crew from Melboure, sydney, bris etc, so lots of new blood and new tunes. It really was fantastic. And it wasnt cold at all - usually scraping Ice of the cars - this year half the session was inside and the other half was outide one night!
hey bridie just coz you didn't see me dont mean i wernt there!
those german wursts outside were calling my name with xtra mustard ooooh yeah.
i do wish i played a little more tho.
there was some really fine (and suprisingly young) players there this year ripping it up no end. great to play w/ the crew speshly to meet the NZ contingent. wicked Brendyn.
bb - i rememeber a brilliant session up there a couple of years back - outside in the freezing cold in the wee hours of the Canberra morning. The likes of Don Lunny and Tony McManus out in the chill with the rest of us. Unforgetable!
The "likes of Tony McManus". He's mixed with "the rest of us" loads of times back home. Most of these people tend to be quite friendly and down to earth, even although they're outstanding musicians.
I know where Geoff is coming from - it is a huge deal to get any famous trad musicians out to australia cause it costs so much and they dont make their money back, they can make 10 times the amount in one gig in USA than they can in a whole tour in australia - we can go years without acts touring and then all of a sudden, there is three in one year. Its not like overseas where you can pick and choose which act you feel like going to. Geoff - that was one of the few Nationals I missed - I was in Ireland at that stage, heard it was good - but everyone does say that this was the best national ever
i hope to get back up there next year. had a lot of friends from Melbourne and Geelong who got up there this year and my brother who are all still raving!! sounds like you're right!
ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
Being an important day for Aussies and Kiwis, ANZAC day represents courage and that special mateship that formed an integral part of the forces that landed on Gallipoli. Alot of ordinary blokes doing an extraordinary job - my link to trad is this. I would like to mention an unsung trad player who has done an extraordinary job.
The bodhran player in The Barleyshakes (whom I play with) went down with me for a special gig down at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. I play a Jil Lehart flute with an Arie De Keyser Eb head, which also plays in D reasonably well. The head has been going in some transisition since I bought it back from Ireland, and it developed two rather large cracks that began to widen considerably. I did the temporary measure thing, and gaffa taped the barrell up. Those members of this list that were at the Nash will remember the gaffa-barrell quite well - you really had to force the sound, and at that stage, I had lost my low D.
My bodhran player offered to fix it up. Being a jeweller, and impeccable eye for detail, I asked him if he could do anything. After rehearsal at Noosa, we went back to his place. Only stopping for dins and occasional CD change, he spent 6pm-2am Saturday night fixing it. He epoxy-resined the cracks, holding it with a string torniquet he devised. From absolute scratch he made two sterling silver rings (which look funky as - hand beaten look) to go around the barrell. He refused any re-imbursement for it - and I have my low D back!!!! Those that remember Adrian Barker calling me 'Flutewaffe' - well, what you heard in Canberra was nothing compared to the sound I get now.
I just want to thank Erin so much - you're a legend mate, and I'm glad I have such awesome and caring band mates in this band.
# Posted on April 25th 2004 by b2jay
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
God Bel - you are soooo nice - I hope Erin is reading this!
# Posted on April 25th 2004 by bb
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
What a Nice you are! well now you wont be grumpy after sets or throwing said instrument in disgust at brown-eyed-girl-requesting audience members.
next time don't use it for taking the caps off the stubbies (just jokes kids). onward FLUTEWAFFE!
# Posted on April 25th 2004 by bodherin
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
Heh - I didnt realise you were on this site as well! I have to watch what I say from now on - I have a feeling there are many people from the music scene in Oz who read but dont post that often
Did you two recover from the National ok?
Bridie
# Posted on April 25th 2004 by bb
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
I didn't get up to Canberra this year. How was the session bar? (i dread to ask!)
# Posted on April 25th 2004 by geoffmc
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
the national was a hoot. and the session bar was cranking till the wee daylight hours.
recovery was not swift .i had shows to play when i got back but i "slept for queensland" after that.
i hadn't been to the nash since '96 and all i remembered from that experience was being FROZEN stupid. the weather was well behaved this time round and the guiness flowed like...wine. definately more folks there this year too.
oh yeah ,i've only just discovered this site Bridie (and liking it) but that don't mean hold back!
# Posted on April 26th 2004 by bodherin
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
Geoff - the National was the best I've ever been to - and I've been to about 20 now. The music was the best its ever been and we had the snug pretty much to ourselves the whole time. The really hard core tunes started around 2am and continued to 7:30- 8am - but Erin and Bel wouldnt know this cause they were in bed early every night! There were 4 musicians over from Ireland and 4 from NZ Plus all the crew from Melboure, sydney, bris etc, so lots of new blood and new tunes. It really was fantastic. And it wasnt cold at all - usually scraping Ice of the cars - this year half the session was inside and the other half was outide one night!
# Posted on April 26th 2004 by bb
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
hey bridie just coz you didn't see me dont mean i wernt there!
those german wursts outside were calling my name with xtra mustard ooooh yeah.
i do wish i played a little more tho.
there was some really fine (and suprisingly young) players there this year ripping it up no end. great to play w/ the crew speshly to meet the NZ contingent. wicked Brendyn.
# Posted on April 27th 2004 by bodherin
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
bb - i rememeber a brilliant session up there a couple of years back - outside in the freezing cold in the wee hours of the Canberra morning. The likes of Don Lunny and Tony McManus out in the chill with the rest of us. Unforgetable!
# Posted on April 27th 2004 by geoffmc
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
The "likes of Tony McManus". He's mixed with "the rest of us" loads of times back home. Most of these people tend to be quite friendly and down to earth, even although they're outstanding musicians.
John
# Posted on April 27th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
I know where Geoff is coming from - it is a huge deal to get any famous trad musicians out to australia cause it costs so much and they dont make their money back, they can make 10 times the amount in one gig in USA than they can in a whole tour in australia - we can go years without acts touring and then all of a sudden, there is three in one year. Its not like overseas where you can pick and choose which act you feel like going to. Geoff - that was one of the few Nationals I missed - I was in Ireland at that stage, heard it was good - but everyone does say that this was the best national ever
# Posted on April 28th 2004 by bb
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
I know, BB. It was just a friendly comment. No harm meant.
# Posted on April 28th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
Oh - I didnt mean it like that...just trying to tell Geoff he missed the *best* national ever ..hehehehe - I'm so mean
Just kidding Geoff
# Posted on April 28th 2004 by bb
Re: ANZAC Day - Unsung Heroes of Trad
i hope to get back up there next year. had a lot of friends from Melbourne and Geelong who got up there this year and my brother who are all still raving!! sounds like you're right!
# Posted on April 28th 2004 by geoffmc