5th Guildford Banjo Jamboree, 19th, 20th and 21st September 2008

PROGRAMME*

Please note that the timetable here is provided as a guide only and is subject to change, particularly with respect to the times of particular events. The timetable will be updated as details are confirmed, however the final timetable will be provided with your ticket to the Jamboree.

(Click on a 'Highlighted Link' for additional details)

Further Information !

The Bands & Performers most have either thier own web sites or pages on www.myspace.com or www.youtube.com - give them a Google for more information.

The workshops are being presented as an introduction to the various forms and genres of banjo techniques. Beginners are welcome. Bring your instrument along. Special thanks to all the instrumentalists giving their time and energy to present these workshops.

Banjo Mandolin:	The tomahawk of the banjo family !! Yes, they can contribute to your music. Find out how from Neil Barre.
Banjo Ukulele:	The Slightly Eclectic Guildford Ukulele Ensemble will involve participants in their own interpretations of diverse musics - Strummed, fingerpicked and more !! There'll be a couple of spare banjoUkes available for loan at the workshops.
Bluegrass:	Peter Scholtz (Scruggs Style) and Jim Golding take the honours here. How do they get that drive? For the beginner: What to practice, improvising and more.
Elementary Banjo:	Peter Somerville assisted by Bruce Sedawie will kick off this years workshops with a session entitled WORKING TUNES OUT ON THE BANJO. These days there's plenty of arrangements available for songs and tunes on the banjo, but to become a versatile player how do you survive a jam session or be part of a band without your tableture? In this workshop Peter will explain how to get from reading tab to working tunes out for yourself. How to find the right chords, melody and to embellish them. He will be using the song 'Oh Susannah' as an example. This will be a hands on workshop so Pete says he hopes everyone will bring their banjos along.
Frailing, Old Timey:	Richard MacEwan and Ian Alexander - yet more of that bare fisted yet subtle approach, With a claw hammer here and a double thumb there; That's what it's all about, learn to play the way the hillbillys do. See you there.
Jazz Banjo:	Exploring it's early beginnings in blues ragtime and jug through the traditional New Orleans stylists, to the elaborate BIG BANDS of the 30's, Dr Brent Davie will elaborate on the colour and rhythms a player of the G tuned standard or tenor banjo can draw from these instruments.
Long Neck 5 String Banjo:	Most comfortably played by tall folk, no key is out of reach with a longneck banjo. Almost infinitely adaptable with educated use of a capo this instrument is designed to go below and beyond the range of standard banjos.
Plectrum Banjo:	Presented by Kevin Bell,If the twenties is your scene the plectrum banjo is for you!! Mellower than the tenor and sweeter than guitar, for the adventurous picker this style can incorporate Irish music too!!
Tenor and Irish:	G tuning, C tuning, Irish or Jazz - Tony O 'Rourke will reveal the secrets of the Tenor ably - take your pick with this genre hopping versatile member of the banjo clan. Quite frankly, there are no rules when it comes to playing one of these contrivances !!
Tuning and set-up:	Chris Ryan would've shown how to get the best sound from your Shamisan. Intonation? Harmonics? Skin tension !!, Dynamics, and more ! Interested parties will be shown the direction to Kyoto, Japan.
Special presentation:	Greg Deering - In this workshop the playing, dismantling, inspection, diagnosis and re assembly of a banjo will take place !!!!! It will also sound better after it has been re assembled, And why not when the hands of Greg Deering, co founder of Deering Banjos have just put it back together !!

The Guildford Banjo Jamboree welcomes Greg Deering of Deering Banjos USA. Catch up with him at the 'Long Neck 5 String Banjo' workshop or at the 'Instrument Display' on Saturday.

Instrument Display: Dont miss the exhibition of rare, fine and vintage instruments being held at "London House" - just up the road from the Guildford Family Hotel & Music Hall - between 9:00am and 5:00pm on Saturday 20th September ONLY, with a display of fine instruments from Greg Deering.

Robbie Watts Pick-off event: A feature of the Saturday concert, Contestants will vie for the prestigious Perpetual Trophy by performing a version of foggy mountain breakdown or duelling banjos plus a tune of their choice.

Sponsoring the 'Pick-off' event is 'InstrAmental Music Centre' of Caslemaine.

Saturday Night Dance "The Maree Murrell Caper": Will feature the Guildford String Band with, by popular demand, a BAN on improvised percussion devices.

Saturday Chalkboard Concert - 1pm 'til 4pm at the Loddon Tea Rooms and then again from 7:30pm onwards at the Guildford Music Hall: Three songs per performance format will be used with some flexibility at the discretion of the MC Teana Amor. Instruments may be amplified using microphones provided. Interest in chalk board performance slots can be registered at the reception desk.

Sunday Morning Gospel Sing: To the background sound of the Loddon's tranquil babble, join in chorus with Bruce Sedawie and the Turnarounds for this traditional, solemn but awesome Sunday morning rendition of gospel music. Lyrics will be available from the CFA in limited numbers so get them early, or just download your own from the Turnarounds web page. See you down at the river reserve !

Saturday Arvo Concert - 'Guildford Public Hall': To be held in the Guildford music hall. Scintillating performances by a diverse range of performers - Not to be missed !

Sunday Arvo Concert - 'Guildford Beer Garden': To be held in the Guildford music hall. Scintillating performances by a diverse range of performers - Not to be missed !

Band bios Jambo 08

Appalacian Heaven: Maybe a place where banjo is god and all old time string bands end up one day. No angels here ,just an all star lineup of virtuoso veterans for sure !!

Guildford String Band: The acronym says it all - their specialty; Recycling, old time tunes, well matured musicians and everything in between. You won't miss this populous group of up to nine (9!) fiddlers plus rhythm section.

Guildford Trio: actually a sextet, this six piece local outfits specialises in crooning their way through long forgotten Jazzy gems. Their audiences may cry or laugh but are never left unmoved !!!

Hardrive Bluegrass Band: Victorias prize winning traditional bluegrass band, back again by popular request this year. Thanks guys!! Expect yet another true blue BlueGrass bonaza from this Quintet of inspired pickers.

Horny Toads: Berwick folk clubs bio of this band; They describe themselves as a WESTERN STRING BAND and a not so subtle blend of country bluegrass and old time. They say they take songs from the 20's to the 90's and make them all sound the same. That's right guys All Good !!!

High Times String Band: Yes it's high time this group of well seasoned and cured performers did their thing at the Jambo. Fiddles, Guitar, Bass, dulcimers hammered, banjos claw hammered !!!! Their name naturally says it all !!!

Noriko Tadano: Tsugaro shamisen player Shamisen,a three string double skinned fretless traditional Japanese banjo !! A Melbourne based dedicated instrumentalist who performs regularly around Oz and internationally.From the smooth sound of silk to the beating of the bachi in Norico's hands the shamisen shines !!!

Ricketty Ridge: A cross over band ,spanning the genre's of Klezma , Gypsy celtic and old time,and all done with a banjo for the bass !!! AMAZING !!!

CROSSWIND: Local band and a welcome return to the Banjo Jambo after a couple of years absence. Banjo bass vocals guitars, What more doe you need? Of course a washboardist in the lineup too !!!

SEGUE: Slightly Eclectic Guildford Ukulele Ensemble. Strumming and picking a myriad of ukes, while whistling singing and soaring, this group will escort you through a medley of music like no other. Not to be missed 'no, they simply can't be missed !!!!

String Beans: A bluegrass band amongst whose members is the reigning pickoff champion. A line up I'm sure string bean himself would have been proud of !!!

Swamplands: Three piece trio featuring flat picked five string banjo !! Good Ol'e guitar and B double. Guaranteed to inundate the senses of the listeners every time they play.

The Turnarounds: A trio specialising in bluegrass gospel music with a special mystery guest banjo artiste. Join with them in Gospel Song down by the river on Sunday.

Want Me A Mule: Two banjos in this outfit and a fiddle from Texas, no it's a cello! Mandolin, Guitar and Bass.This six piece group proves the future of the string band genre is here today !!!

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Banjo Jamboree

Further info:
email: banjojamboree@bigpond.com.au
Ph: (03) 5473 4544
P.O. Box 145
Guildford
Vic. 3451