Gordie Tentrees came to town last night and brought a blast of Northern Canada tales to our world. He told stories of heartbreak and triumph, loves and breakups, growing up and being grown up, often with a wry sense of humour. The audience were enthralled with his melodies, his accomplished acoustic and dobro playing, his folk/country blues style, his poetry and his often funny in between song banter. Showing his tomato sunburned legs, "Does it snow here?" he asked. "There's sure a lot of sun!" No it doesn't snow here, Gordie.
We live in a marvellous world where a country boy from the Yukon can come to a small wooden hall in countryside Australia and give so much pleasure and cultural enrichment. Gordie, thank you so much. Gordie is hoping to make it back this way next year with his band, so keep a look out for him. You will not be disappointed. Check his website here. Young local up and comer, Bradley Stone kicked the evening off with his gorgeous swooping falsetto, and finely wrought songs. His Jeff Buckleyesque rendition of Hallelujah was spine chilling, and his innovative use of layering his voice with a loop pedal added to a superb performance. We had a great crowd for a Wednesday night. Thanks to all those who came. Pics in the gallery. Sunday March 29 sees, also from Canada, The Bombadils. Check details here.
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Tintenbar Up Front is renowned as a "night of surprise", but to have the whole hall spontaneously pack up their chairs and start dancing, THAT was a surprise.
We started the evening with a new concept, a dinner music busker. Ebony Quinlivan filled the bill deliciously with voice, uke and kalimba. Gregory Pimm kicked off the regular part of the evening with his unique guitar and vocal versions of favourites, Creedence's "Who'll Stop The Rain?" Tracy Chapman's "Talking About A Revolution," and "It's A Wonderful World." Lee Kingston continued the popular songs with The Waifs "Bridal Train," Sarah Blasko's "We Won't Run" and finished with an original about the freedom felt after the family has departed. Strummed guitar beautifully complemented her evocative voice. Tony Koellner demonstrated why he should be nominated for a living national treasure award by having the audience convulsed with laughter from one hilarious poem to the next about holidays, what it means to be Australian, nature's beauty and one about a pokie-addicted wife who pulls the wrong handle in her sleep. My face was sore! Wendy and Nick Simpson did jazzy versions of two Bach pieces and Bela Fleck's "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo." The interplay of piano and 6 string bass was superb, each soloing in turn. In Prelude #1, the quick trills of the piano at one point went into double time. It was quite a virtuosic performance, well applauded by the appreciative audience. After tea, coffee and socialising, Bronny and the Bishops did four satirical parodies: advice for Tony in "Run Abbott Run," a tribute to Tony's vision for the future in "My Sweet Coal," a plea from Chris in "Christopher Pyne Is Saying His Prayers," and finishing with a tribute to the beauty of capitalism: "I love to live in an economy, society reduced to graphs and numbers..." Humorous dialogue interwove with the songs performed on piano, guitar, kazoo and percussion. Rod Sims performed a delicate set. Finger picked guitar and gentle vocals were well suited to Peter, Paul and Mary's "Down a Down," a Calvin Russell number, Neil Young's "Have You Ever Been Lost," and the standout original song "I Never Got No Photograph." The Disreputables, consisting of guitar players Helen Pollock and Nick Repin, with Gary Fenton on cajon performed lively South American pieces. Great rhythms, tunes and playing. James Webb, a well loved regular, performed with flourishes on the guitar well chosen sing along songs. The Eagles "Peaceful Easy Feeling" was followed by two made famous by the King: "Teddy Bear" and "That's Alright." Black Train are a Lismore-based band, featuring guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass and vocals. They got the hall tapping their feet to infectious versions of Woodie Guthrie, Blind Willy McTell, gospel and John Prine songs (among others). That is when the whole hall packed up their chairs and started dancing. Totally unexpected, and totally wonderful. Everyone left elated. We will have them back hopefully later in the year for more toe tapping and thigh slapping. $510 was raised for the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation (cancer research). Photos of the night are in the gallery. Canadian troubadour Gordie Tentrees (details and bookings HERE) will be with us for a one off performance Wednesday February 25, supported by fabulous young local Bradley Stone. A good audience for this new initiative will mean more touring artists visiting Tintenbar hall in future.
Coming up Wednesday February 25, in Tintenbar Hall
the fabulous touring Canadian roots musician, Gordie Tentrees. Lots more details here. There's a brand new world opening up this year at Tintenbar Up Front. February 6 has a nearly full program of music, fun and poetry, kicking off with tunes to accompany your delicious Indian dinner from 6.30. Check the program here. And your Indian menu here. (Remember you must book) We are very excited to introduce a new concept for TUF: touring musical acts performing one off concerts. Support these and they will become a regular feature of our calendar, certain to be musical treats. The first is Canadian blues and roots musician Gordie Tentrees on Wednesday February 25. Check details and book tickets on Gordie's page. Then, on Sunday March 29, also from Canada come The Bombadils, playing traditional and original Celtic, bluegrass, and old time music, influenced by their backgrounds in jazz and classical styles. Check details and book tickets on The Bombadil's page. We had an amazingly fun party Friday December 12 and it was the culmination of a great year for your community event Tintenbar Up Front, where wonderful audiences were treated to performances by 76 different artists, and our charity fund raising reached $16,357. It's a win for the audiences, a win for the performers and a win for our charities. We began with one of several crowd favourites for the evening, The Fry Babies, a sister duo with superb harmonies, delicate finger picked guitar and much spirited enjoyment of what they do. They performed exquisite versions of Extreme's "More than words," "A thousand years" by Christina Perry and Paul Kelly's "I still cry for baby Jesus." Singing a cappella was Melina Wolinski a vocalist new to the area. She started with a spiritual, "Way beyond the blue." Next was a love song, "At Last," followed by "What a wonderful world." She returned to a spiritual: "Amazing grace." Melina's powerful and resonant voice had the audience rapt, and they responded with rapturous applause. Young vocalist Bailey Southon, a regular to TUF sang a Christmas themed song "Mary did you know?" Then changed the pace completely with Bruno Mars' "Chasing girls." A third song finished his set. Bailey has fine control of his instrument, from the softest to the most forceful of notes. The light and shade in his performance showed a nuanced understanding of how music moves us. The Wayward Nightingales from the Byron area wowed us for the first time. An original "How does it feel?" demonstrated fine interplay of instruments (Guitar, dobro, banjo and fiddle) and delicious vocal harmonies that would continue for the rest of their set. The second song, a traditional, "Way down south," was done with that phrase repeated, with finger click percussion, while the lead voice sang verses over the top. The result was an accomplished musical treat, complete with train whistle type harmonies. The wayward trio completed their set with two originals. "Yellow Long" was about a young woman who rode with Thunderbolt. "Sleep my child" was a lullaby, a soothing refrain with meaning far beyond children's understanding . Sam Sabine and Ebony Stibbard concluded the first half of the night with their trademark harmonies, fine guitar and keyboard playing, and a sense of joy in the music. They did "Little hands," "Tears in heaven" by Eric Clapton, and Elvis's "I can't help falling in love with you." Party band, Groove Control then had the hall bouncing with delighted dancers, who took breaks to socialise on the verandah. Rock and roll was the main fare and it was performed with verve and skill. Thanks Groove Control for a perfect end to a great year for TUF. There are lots of pics of the evening in the gallery. We begin next year on February 6, not the usual second Friday. No performers have listed yet, so if you are interested, book a spot. DON'T FORGET OUR SPECIAL CONCERTS WITH TOURING ARTISTS ALL THE WAY FROM CANADA Please come and support this TUF initiative. For details about Gordie Tentrees, Wednesday February 25, click here. For details about The Bombadils, Sunday March 29, click here. It's Party Time for the last TUF of the year.
Come join us for three new artists. We are especially looking forward to the debut of Byron's Wayward Nightingales, plus crowd favourites: The Fry Babies, sensational young performers Bailey Southon, Sam Sabine and Ebony Stibbard. Then we'll push back the chairs for dancing and socialising with party band Groove Control. Lots of time to socialise, dance, and just plain enjoy wonderful music. Check the program here. Of course, Bev Singh's delicious Indian food. Menu and book here. (essential) While the cat's away, let's relax and play! November TUF was a beauty! Recorder ensemble? Who would want to listen to that? Well, after an enthralling performance from La Fontanella, the audience at TUF would welcome them back. A wide range of tunes were played with fine musicianship. We were assured that the large wooden recorders were not from IKEA! La Fontanella were a delight. Ballina Uke Bewdies followed with whimsical versions of popular songs: These Boots Are Made ForWalkin', Let It Be, and Perhaps from Strictly Ballroom. Massed ukuleles work well and the audience sang along with gusto. Mim O'Grady and Karl Mullan kicked of with McCartney's Blackbird, beautifully finger picked by Karl and sung quite jazzily by Mim. Their next three featured delicate harmonies: Melissa Main's Hey Babe, Tumble and Fall, and Hank Williams' Cold Cold Heart. The enjoyment they were having with the music and pushing the edge of performance was infectious. That Bloke From Wantabadgery recited two of CJ Denis's poems and a couple more humorous ones recognisable by younger ears. His ability to use character and voice to entertain us created lots of warm and enjoyable moments for the audience. Catherine Frederick told an old story full of meaning for the modern listener. I was transported to those days of story telling from my mother, or when I was making up tales for my own children. The language was delightful, and the narrative compelling. Max Strong, in his bloke from the pub incarnation, told a humorous yarn about a little bull that went a long way. Again the telling was assisted by his ability to enter into the persona of a bush yarnster, spinning better than any politician could. Jenny Cargill-Strong, TUF's most well known and favourite story teller extended the tale telling with one from Egypt. Her flowing weaving of the perfect word stream had the listeners anticipating the next part of the story. The nobility of the ending was a surprise. Hollywood lost out to chivalry. Thanks Jenny. Son Of Jack finished the evening with his usual flourish of interesting guitar picking, resonant vocals and well chosen songs. Leonard Cohen's recent My Oh My was followed by an original written for the ABC competition for songs about the North Coast. The last was Jackson Browne's For a Dancer. What a great night again. $520 was raised for children's cancer charity, Camp Quality. There are pics of the evening here. December 12 we will have five of our fave acts, the rest of the evening given over to dancing and socialising with local band Groove Control. FUN> FUN> FUN Seeya for some end of year revelry Early next year Tintenbar Up Front are excited to present extra concerts from travelling Canadian musicians Gordie Tentrees (Feb 25) and The Bombadills (March 29) Click on their names for details. TUF Friday November 14 boasts QUANTITY: 15 ukulele players, 20 recorder players, musos, poets, storytellers and Salty Pete, the PIRATE. But if you've been before, you know there will be QUALITY in all those performances. From delicate finger picked songs, to intricate arrangements of classical and contemporary recorder pieces, from well spun yarns, to humorous poems of the bush. Check out the program here. Of course, Bev Singh's delicious Indian banquet must be booked here to ensure you get a meal. Look forward to seeing you at our wonderful community event, now in its third year. A receptive TUF audience was treated to fine performances from gifted musicians as well as free cakes and prizes as part of our second birthday celebrations. A Consort Of Friends began their recorder recital with fugues: an older piece and a jazzy American one by Lance Eccles. Then followed an Australian mazurka, Dido and Anaeis by Purcell and finally an English jig. The interplay of complex parts from recorders small and large prompted the MC to declare the players "must have been having the timing of their lives." A superb opening to the evening. Rod and Robert, known as The A Minors, interwove two guitars and voices skilfully to deliver renditions of Neil Young's "Old Man" and "Hey Hey, My, My;" as well as a Calvin Russell tune and a very different version of Oh Susannah. Bernadette McWhinnie on harp accompanied Joan Pickup on several songs. The harp gave a delicate and almost mediaeval feel to the tunes, in contrast to Joan's strong vocal style. We were treated to The Long Tay Boat song about unrequited love, Song For Ireland, Blessing For You all, and a final singalong. The applause was heartfelt. Liora Claff's soulful voice was perfect for a slow version of "I Am Woman", turning it almost a folk anthem. The conviction of her singing and restrained guitar rendered Holly Near's "I Ain't Afraid" into a powerful statement "I'm afraid of what you do in the name of your god," being the chorus. Liora concluded with a mellow "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor which had the audience singing along gently in the chorus. Another moving performance from a fine artist. Thanks Liora. Pauls Francis played his fave Gibson electric guitar on two new self-penned songs, and was joined by Peter L. on rhythm guitar for Bruce Springsteen's "Wreck On The Highway." Paul songs always have an unusual edge, and with slightly distorted guitar and wistful voice, they took a turn for the darker side of town, typified by "Blue Motel." Keep goin' for it Paul, your dedication to your craft is appreciated. Bradley Stone shone once more. He can take a song from whisper to growl through subtle changes of guitar strokes and picking or by the use of his (often) falsetto voice. There is artistry that has you likening him to Jeff Buckley, Bon Iver or the young Australian singer Jack Carty. Do not miss him when he next performs. Moving from the sublime to the ridiculous we heard from Bronny and the Bishops. They commenced proceedings with the lost lyrics for the National Anthem. "Australians all are ostriches, our heads stuck in the sand..." sung a cappella. Then followed a tale of woe of "Eddie The Fixer, master of slush funds and dirty tricks yeah." Joe Hockey's call to the poor who don't really own cars inspired the third song "Shakey Breaky Cars." Are you listening Joe? They finished with a rousing call to arms: Abbott The Saviour: "Tony Abbott took Us to War now, We don't know what it is for...." Political satire and a sense of fun engaged the audience thoroughly. Gregory Pimm coaxed us softly with his delicate twelve string washing through the lyrics of "Long Black Coat," " Mr Bojangles," and "Blind Willy McTell." Greg always animates these old favourites with subtlety and conviction. Thanks Gregory. Snakebite McCoy (you can't fault him for stage name) and a newbie to TUF, played some fast paced bottleneck slide guitar and sang tunes from the Delta Bluesmen: Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson(Rolling an Tumbling) and finished with "Whiskey Avenue". Thanks for bringing the evening to a rousing close Snakebite. We enjoyed it. $300 was donated from the evening's proceeds to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Pics are in the gallery.
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AuthorPeter Lino, amateur muso, Archives
November 2016
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