2019 Festival Snapshot

ERIC BOGLE returned to Camperdown in 2019

Eric Bogle was our headline act for RBSF 2019.

2019 Performers

Eric Bogle

Eric Bogle is an internationally known and respected songwriter. For nearly 40 years he has toured the world with his music, inflicting his songs on innocent bystanders from outback Australia to the streets of New York and many places in between. During those 40 years he has embarked on eight tours of North America, 11 tours of Europe and many, many tours of Australia, with 4 tours of New Zealand thrown in as well. He has performed at many of the major folk and music festivals around the globe, including Port Fairy, Woodford and The National in Australia, Philadelphia, Mariposa and Vancouver in North America, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and the Celtic Music Festival in Lorient, France, as well as treading the boards in countless folk, footy, bowling and social clubs and arts theatres all around the world.

In 1987 Eric received the OAM from the Australian Government for his services to the entertainments industry, and in 1986 he received the United Nations Peace medal for his contribution, through his music, to the cause of peace.

Although he has now stopped touring overseas, Eric is still doing the occasional concert/festival in Australia as the spirit moves him, which he hopes to keep doing until he finally falls over, which he further hopes will be around 2045AD

Fiona Ross & Shane O’Mara

Glasgow-born Fiona Ross lives in Blackwood, Victoria these days but she retains all the feeling for, and ability to transmit, the Scottish song tradition that she developed on the folk scene in Scotland before moving to Australia in 2009. Through her mentor, tradition bearer Andrew Hunter, Fiona is at one remove from the great traveller ballad singer Jeannie Robertson. While Fiona continues to perform at traditional music events in Scotland, here in Australia she flies the flag for Scots song, performing at major festivals across the country. She is Patron of the Robert Burns Club of Melbourne.

ARIA Award winner Shane O’Mara is one of the nation’s most respected guitarists. He has recorded & toured with many renowned artists including Paul Kelly, Chris Wilson and Tim Rogers. As a duo, these two highly accomplished artists combine to deliver a captivating set of traditional Scottish songs with a contemporary edge. Website: www.fionaross.com.au

Luke Plumb & Kate Burke

Masters of their craft, Luke Plumb (Shooglenifty, Andy Irvine) and Kate Burke (Trouble in the Kitchen, w/ Ruth Hazleton) combine their formidable instrumental and vocal skill with world class experience in traditional music arrangement to create a new traditional sound.

Aurëa

Aurëa are four young women from Victoria with a fresh and unique approach to Celtic music. With four singers and multi-instrumentalists, their musical palette is broad and fascinating and includes original tunes and finely crafted songs. Comprising Roni & Cait Corby, Maddy Barbary and Laura Hickey, this quartet can play powerful tune sets, exquisitely beautiful songs and everything in between. The 2019 recipients of the Stars of the Lake Award, Aurëa are the 14th group to emanate from this outstanding initiative of the Lake School held at Koroit each January.

Elonera

Izzy Rowan (flute), Jen Rowan (concertina) and Josh Hickey (guitar) are the three brothers and sisters who make up folk band Elonera. Drawing on both traditional and contemporary sounds of Ireland, Elonera’s uniqueness comes from playing together in their family home kitchen for years. Having only recently turned their love of playing together into a band, Elonera brings fresh tones to the folk scene of 2019.

The Cornerhouse Band

This exciting group of young people are seasoned musicians, The Cornerhouse Band have been sharing sweet songs and funky folk tunes in their small Northcote share house. Caity Brennan, Jordy Hickey and Rhiannon McArthur make up The Cornerhouse band featuring Josh Hickey on the drums. The three girls played in the multi award winning band, The Drowsy Maggies and captivated audiences around the country for the past 4 years. The band members hail from Camperdown, Ballarat and Adelaide and combine their love of music whilst studying and working. With original harmony filled songs, creatively arranged tune sets and grooving bass lines, The Cornerhouse band are not to be missed.

The Likely Celts

This unlikely mob of south-west musicians present an exciting yet relaxing mix of Scottish and Irish arrangements, original tunes and songs, treated with a reverent splash of other world elements. Likely Celts comprise Merran Moir on pipes, whistles and accordion, Glenn Hudson on guitar and vocals, and Tim Conlan on bass. Come along to enjoy a tune or two from them, they’ll be pleased to meet you.

The Twa Bards

Don Grieve: Vocals, Guitar, Bodhran & Angela Preiss: Vocals, Bodhran, Harp, Flute, Whistles, Fiddle. Don’s definitive Scottish brogue, strong vocal performance & rhythmic folk guitar alongside Angela’s rich vocal harmonies & instrumental variations combine like chilli and chocolate… haggis & whiskey! As a small boy Don discovered his Scottish history through its songs and stories; taught by his father and friends. The work of Robert Burns was an essential part of the aural tradition they shared. Don has been performing those songs and adding to that collection ever since. Angela has classical roots that pretty quickly loosened up into folk and funk styles along the way! Her love of music, its possibilities, its stories, its colour, its connections are evident in their arrangements. The Twa Bards have a tartan heart that time travels! “May your pulse beat as your heart would wish!” Optional extensions to their work as a duo include: two sets of original songs & as pied ‘pipers’ with a set of unique flute duets; a great & unusual option for folk festivals, art galleries, medieval & heritage fairs.

Claire Patti

With her hauntingly beautiful voice and elegant harp accompaniment, Claire Patti draws on classical, jazz, folk and contemporary popular influences in her performances of original songs and pieces, traditional Irish and Scottish songs, jazz favourites and classical repertoire. Claire sings and plays the harp and horn with various ensembles including rising stars Co-cheòl, who were crowned State Champion at the 2014 A Cappella Victorian State Champions. They placed 1st runner up at the 2014 National A Cappella Championships, winning additional awards for “Best Band” and “Best Comedy Song.” She has featured as a solo performer and with Scottish band Taliska at folk festivals throughout Australia and was awarded the “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the 2014 Australian Celtic Music Awards. As a passionate conductor and choral singer, Claire performs with The Consort of Melbourne and was a long-time member of internationally acclaimed ensemble The Australian Voices. She has worked with conductors of international acclaim, and her choirs are regular award-winners in competitions.

Warrnambool & District Pipes and Drums Inc.

WADPADI is an active and competitive pipe band located in Warrnambool in the south west of Victoria, Australia, and fosters a leading program of teaching pipes and drums. The band has always been vigorous and under its current Pipe Major, Donald Blair OAM has won numerous national and state titles. The Band has had several changes of title, and the current title, Warrnambool and District Pipes and Drums Inc. as chosen to reflect the importance of the both pipes and drums and to indicate that members come from the surrounding district as well as from Warrnambool itself. WADPADI has become a leader in the educational field of piping and drumming, and since 2001 has conducted its South West Coast Piper Drummer workshops in April featuring highly respected overseas tutors.

Tuniversal

Tuniversal Music Group Inc. are a community music group based in Camperdown. They are an inclusive group of all ages and levels of playing. Tuniversal meet every Wednesday at 5:30pm at St Paul’s Hall and anyone is welcome to join.