October 16-18   2009  Westbury  Tasmania

A celebration of concertina, button accordion, piano accordion, mouth organ, jaw harp and musical saw   at this quirky button box and free reed music festival

Some of the players attending the 1st Windjam

This weekend festival will feature workshops, sessions, concerts, bush and folk crafts, the national button box tune writing championships and much more. .

They will come from all over Tassie and some adventurous souls will travel down from the northern isle. There will be the young, the old and the very, very old.

There will be many highlights with the biggest being the number of box players from Tassie who thought they were the last of their breed since their dances became less popular.

FESTIVAL PROGRAM - click here, but it's over,  and it was FANTASTIC!

Watch this space for next year Oct 15th - 17th 2010 but it will be in Richmond, near Hobart

Featured Events Tickets Performer Registration Accommodation About Westbury
Ceilidh Dance This dance will have something for everyone. Irish Set Dancing will be demonstrated, Tasmanian bush dances will be called and Old Time Dances will be played. All musicians are welcome to join in with featured artists the VerandahCoots from Hobart and Paddy Fitzgerald and Joan and Ray Mundy from Melbourne

Garlands on the Green
Lady musicians and their guests  are invited to join the Garlands on the Village Green.
If you like to play music with others, in a safe circle—music stands are welcome—then the Garlands could be your thing.
The Garlands play in a relaxed group for an hour then indulge in tea, fine wine and  cheeses before starting again.
Garland dress is optional but most wear white with a bonnet or straw hat decorated with flowers or fruit. No bells please.
Waltzes predominate but Morris dances are also catered for. They will also play for some dances and in the sessions
Almost all standards of playing are welcome and Windjam instruments preferred. No percussion is needed.
Sets of written music are now available and can be ordered on-line

National Box Tune Writing Award

All tapes of the event will be destroyed in the sake of national interest. Outstanding will be the sense of humor and the nature of the tunes. This is a change from the original Box Championships which concentrated on the playing of a set of tunes. 2006 winner was Malcolm Brown from Hobart - and he is still smiling.
Life and Music of The Cooleys Well respected Tasmanian musician Mick Flanagan grew up in the Cooley household. He will present a workshop of this renowned family of Irish box players and singers
Bit of Jam and a Lot of Wind  Rob Willis presents a workshop on house concerts in Tasmania
Stop Using Superglue  A workshop on box upkeep will be presented by Christiaan Dolislager. Christiaan will be available all weekend to advise and service instruments and he may have a few gems for sale. He will also be performing in concerts. Christiaan is the manager of Accordions and Folk.
Dance Workshop Joan Mundy will demonstrate dance music on the accordion and everyone can practice the dances for the evening ceilidh / Irish sets
Beginners Harmonica For those who have never played an instrument and would like to be able to jam after 1 hour. A D harmonica is required and some will be for sale for $10 (with a tutor book) at the workshop
Sessions and Concerts These go all weekend. Paddy Fitzgerald will lead the Irish Sessions.

The VerandahCoots will be teaching Tasmanian tunes at one session. The Australian sessions will go on all day.
Instrument Display Taking Note Tours

Techniques Music School, at 13 Lyall Street Westbury, behind Hob Nobs Restaurant, has a collection of over 250 instruments and collections of books, recordings and electronic music gear. The collections include free reed instruments and wind and stringed instruments used in Celtic music. There are stringed, wind and percussion instruments from 22 different countries, and from the kitchen and workshop too.

Interactive tours include a question sheet for each of the four main rooms to help learn more about the collections. Demonstrations of particular instruments can be requested. Try playing an instrument yourself that you've always wanted to "have a go at."

Cost: $7 per person. Take as long as you like.     Owen Dobson

         Westbury AccommodationOrganiser Fred adding the button accordion to his long list of instruments

Camping will be available at the Westbury Cricket Ground - no power hookup
For those who arrive on Thursday, there will be sessions happening in the evening with a BBQ at 5.30 at the Cricket Club
The Redline Bus from Launceston (4pm) stops at Westbury 4.41pm

We will be offering some pickup from the airport on Friday pm and Saturday am with some return trips on Sunday pm. Please email or phone if you require this ($10 trip).
 
A lovely list of B&B's, hotels in Westbury etc can be located at this website
Fitzpatrick's Inn B&B - historic home
Elmwood B&B - on the Village Green
Gingerbread Cottages - several cottages in the heart of Westbury

About Westbury

The are some amazing collections housed at Westbury. Special discounts are available for ticket holders to attend Pearns' Steam World, The Vintage Tractor Museum, The White House (- private museum and beautiful house built in 1841) and the Westbury Maze

Food can be obtained at   Hobnobs Restaurant - fine lunch time dining in the heart of Westbury,       Andys Bakery,      Westbury Hotel,        Fitzpatrick's Inn

During the Festival breakfast is available from the Westbury Cricket Club, which will also be doing a great BBQ each night.

Camping is at the Cricket Club grounds as well. $5 per night


Supported by the Folk Federation of Tasmania 
Sponsored by:  Celtic Southern Cross Music
Tasmanian Alkaloids
Meander Valley Council
Cam River Signs - who has noticed Windjam Sam at the entrances to Westbury off the highway?
Ashgrove Cheese
Westbury Gourmet Butchery
Westbury Festival Supermarket
 

Map of Westbury
 

Information: Mike Watts (03 63973427   or  music@celt.com.au )

Links of interest to box players

Playing the Anglo Concertina in bush music style - David Johnson

The Accordion (and other instruments) courses at Witney, Oxfordshire, UK

Basic information about accordion types and styles

The Pure Drop - Accordions

Celtic Southern Cross - folk music distributors for Australia, New Zealand or anywhere in the world really

Page designed by Mike Watts - Celtic Southern Cross © 2007  Artwork by Keri Smith

Updated 19/11/09