Bush Traditions Back to Binalong, 17th-19th November, 2017

Back to Binalong

Bush Traditions invites you to a weekend Gathering at Binalong
on 17 - 19 November 2017.

 

The GATHERING IN THE BUSH will celebrate the music of Harry Cotter, Val Turton and others, as well as Banjo Paterson, whose parents owned Illalong Station for a time.

                    portrait of Harry Cotter in Binalong Hotel (Denis McKay photo)

Contact Bush Traditions for further information

The purpose of the weekend is to:

-                      Enjoy Life

-                      Get together with like-minded

-                      Play music

-                      Dance

-                      Learn something new

Recording of Val Turton by John Meredith & Rob Willis, 1991


Portrait of Val Turton, Harry's daughter, by John Meredith

The event will be conducted as a gathering, modelled more on Numeralla than other events we may be familiar with. It will follow the format of a similar weekend held last year when folkies gathered at Sofala to celebrate the music of Joe Yates.

The plan is to use existing facilities, e.g. the Motel Royal Tara (Stephen Street) and the Binalong Hotel (cnr Fitzroy & Wellington) for food, accommodation etc. Participants will be responsible for their own accommodation and meals. There is a large reserve on crown land available for camping. Camping is free of charge and showers will be available courtesy of the local football club. Your organisers will collect $5 from campers to cover the cost of hot water.

Bush Traditions will hire the Hall (Wellington Street, 130M from the Hotel) and will charge a small fee to attend dances in order to recover this cost. Practiced participants will lead music on a come-all-ye basis.

Mechanics Institute Hall.

Program

Dave de Hugard will be spending the weekend with us.

Program includes:-

Bush Dance Friday night

Bush Ball Saturday Night

Three concertina workshops

A workshop on the songs and tunes of the Cotter Family - tune/song book available

a Magpie Session - pretty tunes to play to the Magpies

Tea Coffee and Bickies available in the supper room all weekend.

A plate for supper for the dance would be appreciated.

Binalong is west of the Hume Hwy, 35 km south of Yass. The town boasts 220 residents and the district another 350. It has a Hotel and a Motel, a community Hall and a large campground. You can find a map here:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.6735029,148.6344627,965m/data=!3m1!1e3

The gathering is the first in what is hoped will be a continuing series of similar events to be run by Bush Traditions in coming years. The aim is to take our collected music back to the communities where it was collected to put the music into its historical context with a contemporary experience. The event is being promoted through the Monaro Folk Society, The Bush Music Club and the Kiama Folk Club.

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