A listing of upcoming mediated NSW folk events for you to enjoy during your isolation

Events 27 April - 3 May 2020

Although there are no 'live' folk events taking place, there are plenty of 'mediated' experiences for us to enjoy including community radio and more active Zoom on-line meetings/sing-alongs.  Do let me know of other such on-line meetings/sing-alongs that we should be telling people about. - Julie

Other Business

2021 Illawarra Folk Festival (14-17 January 2021). Performer applications are open but will be closing on Thursday - 30 April 2020.  Youth Artists should apply here.

Community Radio

1st Saturday every month - Focus on Folk, 5-6pm, Fine Music 102.5 FM, with presenters John Milce, Paul Jackson, Kate Delaney, Carole Garland, Gerry Myerson, Roger Fyfe.  These programs are pre-recorded.

Every Saturday - Worldwide Folk, 2-4pm, VOX FM 106.9, with presenters Russell Hannah, Roger Fyfe, Yvonne O’Grady, Rod Cork.

Every Sunday - Whirled Wide, 1pm, Fine Music 102.5 FM, with presenters Carole Garland, Ian Carswell, Linda Marr, Orli Zahava. These programs are pre-recorded.

Every Wednesday, 9-10pm, 2NURFM, Classic Folk program, with Phil Bates and Jane Klein.

Online Meetings/Sing-alongs/Sharing

SongsOnLine

In these difficult times I think it is REALLY important for people to connect with each other, and especially for singers, songwriters and musicians to have an opportunity to perform, and to see and hear others perform.  Zoom allows you to connect with people all around the world FOR FREE! If you don’t know how to use Zoom, or have any technical problems, please let me know. I am more than happy to have a 1 on 1 session with you to sort it out, any time that is convenient for you.  I worked on an IT HelpDesk for 9 years, so I am pretty good at problem solving, and pretty patient, too! - Russell Neal

Here is how to join the sessions on your computer or your phone/tablet using Zoom:

  • If using your computer, just click on the meeting link for the session (see below) and Zoom will automatically install the software.
  • If using your phone or tablet, go to your app store, search for Zoom and install it. Then click on the meeting link for the session (see below) to enter the meeting.

For more information or to book in to play contact Russell Neal.

World Music Singing for Mums & Bubs - Wednesdays & Fridays at 9am.  With Miriam Lieberman.  Carers & kids also welcome. Live streamed via Zoom, Launch week free!!  Email Miriam to register your interest. 

Massive Singlets - In a Massive Singlet, you'll join up to 500 participants worldwide in warmups, the learning and singing of a song (or two), a little drink break, and then a bit of sharing: thoughts, knitted things, flags, or snippets of music from you, possibly finishing with a dance track. You'll see everybody, but mostly you won't be able to hear everybody, due to latency (delay). but sometimes you will, for a moment, be able to hear everybody. Stephen Taberner will take you through all the things, the warmups and the main song. This is what he's been doing for 27 years, only usually in the same room as people! You have control over what you see, and whether people see you (though they will see your name). Bookings (& donations). (If we go really well with donations, we’ll end up assisting covid work in the third world.)

Alone Together Choir - Mondays 1-2pm.  Time to sing!  A wide range of songs, great harmonies, free your voice. Presented by Christina Mimmocchi.  All welcome - no previous experience necessary. Email to register.

Choir on a Wire @ NSCC - 7.30-8.30pm, Mondays. 9 weeks starting Monday 27th April.  No previous experience necessary. Course run through North Sydney Community Centre and conducted by Christina Mimmocchi.  Cost $180/$135

We celebrate the songs of the great songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen with the return of Choir on a Wire (a nod to his famous song "Bird on a Wire" which started here back in 2007).  

Part-choir, part joyous singalong, this course will bring together people from all walks of life who love to sing Cohen's wonderful songs that celebrate life and love and laughter.

Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club Virtual Floor Spot

We can’t have in-person “Come All Ye” but that doesn’t mean we can’t connect.

The idea is to do something as if you are performing for a “Come All Ye". We’re not looking for pre-recorded and edited videos, or videos done for promotional purposes. Just use your phone, video camera or laptop.

We want to make it as easy as possible for people to participate and we’re looking for genuine performances.

  1. Go to our Facebook page and click on the photo/video icon under the "Create Post" button. Select your video to upload.
  2. Write a short description in the space about your video. Use the heading ”Come All Ye"
  3. Your floor spot should appear soon after it has finished uploading.
  4. Press "Post". That's it!
  5. "Follow" this Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club Inc. Facebook page so that it appears in your own Facebook news feed.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in a Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club Virtual Floor Spot.

Covideo Folk Club

The idea is to post self-filmed smart phone videos of folk club-going folkies singing the songs they usually sing at their local folk club - no studio produced videos or videos of gigs or live streaming you have previously recorded.  Hopefully this will create an online club which gives some of the feel of those real world folk clubs. Your video should include you providing the title and name of writer (just as you would have done in a real folk club). 

If you'd like to participate, go to our Facebook page and join the group.

Linda Marr has been making videos for her choirs to keep enjoying singing at home. Here is a link to ChoirVid 1 which will teach you how to sing a beautiful Maori lullaby in four part harmony.  The 4th one will be up on her YouTube channel soon. Feel free to share them with anyone who likes to sing!

Monday 27 April

Alone Together Choir - 1-2pm. With Christina Mimmocchi.

SongsOnLine - 7-10.30pm. SongsAlive! Australia Showcase hosted by Russell Neal.  Acts so far: John Maddox, Jill Riddiford, Monica & the Explosion, Kenneth D'Aran, Russell Neal (host).  Contact Russell for more information or to book in to play!  Everyone is welcome to play, you don't have to be a member of SongsAlive! Australia. It's a good opportunity to play your original songs, if you have them!

Choir on a Wire - 7-10.30pm. Week 2 of a 9 week course. With Christina Mimmocchi.

Tuesday 28 April

Massive Singlet - 8pm. Bookings (& donations). Song suggestions, photo or video shares, at Facebook.

Wednesday 29 April

SongsOnLine - 7-10.30pm. Songwriters/OpenMic with Russell Neal.  Acts so far: John Maddox, Kenneth D'Aran, Russell Neal (host).

World Music Singing for Mums & Bubs, 9am.  Presented by Miriam Lieberman 

Classic Folk, 9-10pm, 2NURFM, with Phil Bates and Jane Klein. 

Thursday 30 April

SongsOnLine - 2-5pm. Mayday-Eve Songwriters/OpenMic with Russell Neal.  Acts so far: Russell Neal, John Chesher (host).  Everyone is welcome to play. Russell is calling it 'Mayday-Eve' because the following morning is Mayday, a significant date in the Folk calendar - he plans to be up before dawn, to help the Sun come up!

Massive Kid’s Singlet - 7pm. We’d love you to pass this on to friends with musical or bored kids, we have settled into a very nice rhythm with this one . . .the ideal age group seems to be 7-13, & the kids will also get a chance to show their skills on various musical instruments! Bookings (& donations).

Miriam Lieberman Live Streaming Solo Concert - 8.15pm. Access via Miriam's Facebook page

Massive Singlet (ukelele version) - 9pm. Taberner dares to show his own particular ideas about ukelele strumming & non conventional but entirely logical nomenclature. We will SING SONGS. So you’re welcome to come for that. Ukelele wise, it’d be handy if you already knew 6 or 7 chords - this is not really a beginner’s class. Bookings.

Friday 1 May

World Music Singing for Mums & Bubs, 9am.  Presented by Miriam Lieberman 

Saturday 2 May

Worldwide Folk, 2-4pm, VOX FM 106.9, with Russell Hannah.

Focus on Folk, 5-6pm, Fine Music 102.5 FM, with Paul Jackson.  This program is pre-recorded.

Massive Lazy Singlet - 10pm. Feels very much like the time to sink into a sofa or a bed, & sing such things as such furniture demands. it shall be grandiose, massive, comfortableBookings (& donations).

Sunday 3 May

Whirled Wide, 1pm, Fine Music 102.5 FM, with Linda Marr.

SongsOnLine - 2-5pm. Songwriters/OpenMic with Russell Neal.  Acts so far: Kenneth D'Aran, Russell Neal (host)

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