Gig Alert! Folk Choir at Red Hill Folk Club, Dec 18.

This week at Folk Choir we're running through some lovely songs that we plan to perform at Red Hill Folk Club on December 18. Come to the gig! 7pm, Red Hill Community Sports Club next to the Broncos, Fulcher Road, Red Hill, Dec 18. We'll do a half hour set, there will be carol singing and Pirate Santa. Can't miss that!

We're going out to the Fred Smith concert!

Fred Smith in Concert - an excursion for the Folk Choir!

Don't forget that this week we have decided to go on an outing to see Fred Smith in concert in lieu of choir on Thursday night. Folk Choir members are entitled to the concession price, so let me know that you are coming and I'll make sure you are on the door list. You can book concession tickets online, and the list will confirm you at the door, or you will also be able to buy tickets at the door. As I won't be the person on the door, make sure you email me back to be on the list.

Here is the information about Fred's concert. I will also put a sign on the door at choir in case anyone does miss this info and come along.

The concert will feature Fred and a great band comprising bassist Liz Frencham, drummer Erin Sulman, and the Folk Choir's very own cellist Rebecca Wright and pianist Emma Nixon! Fred's insightful music is by turns uplifting, amusing, heartbreaking and deeply moving. Don't miss it!

WHEN: Thursday 28th November, 2013, 8pm.

VENUE:

Queensland Multicultural Centre

102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

Brisbane, Queensland 4169

Bookings:    http://www.trybooking.com/68248 

FRED SMITH IN CONCERT

 Peace In The Pacific & The Dust Of Uruzgan

Recently featured on the ABC's Australian Story, Fred Smith is a diplomat and musician who has recorded extensively about his work and experiences in Bougainville and more recently in Afghanistan. His work with DFAT and the Australian Army have given him unique perspectives on Australia's place in a complex world and the experiences of the peoples with whom he has worked.

The show would be Fred presenting a concert in two themed halves. The first would be Peace in the Pacific. Peace in the Pacific explores the beauty, turmoil and complexity of the islands. It also celebrates the contribution of thousands of Australians who have worked on peace monitoring operations in Bougainville and Solomon Islands

The Dust of Uruzgan will make up the second half of the evening - Smith recently returned from 18 months working as a tribal and political advisor alongside Australian Forces in Uruzgan Province. He wrote a collection of songs from his experiences, playing concerts on the Multinational Base in Tarin Kowt where his music has become legendary. 

Media responses to the Dust of Uruzgan CD and show:

“A great work of art, a great suite of songs…an amazing thing if you get to see him perform it in concert”

Richard Glover, Drive, ABC 702 Sydney

“An exceptional songwriter and certainly the equal of Bogle, Walker and Schumann… a cycle of songs that are raw, remarkably honest and suitably ambivalent about the nature of war… a collection of songs that offers an intimate perspective on the war in Afghanistan.”

Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald ‘Review of the Week’ 6–7 August 2011

“… the music of Fred Smith comes straight from the front line…raw, ribald, but also capable of moving grown men to tears.”

John Huxley, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 July 2011

What's happening in the Folk Choir?

Thursday 5 September is the final night for term three. 
We will be having fun with some chorus songs, and rehearsing the three songs we are taking out for the night on Wednesday 11 September to the Red Hill Folk Club. There'll be hot cuppas and hot singing!

Then we're having a three week break so we can fit in:
• 11 September: Folk Choir's floorspot at Red Hill Folk Club. Club starts about 7.30pm, at the Red Hill Community Sports Club, Fulcher Road, Red Hill, next to the Broncos' Leagues Club. We're on about 8.

• 13-15 September: Neurum Creek Festival. The Wish List, featuring The Folk Choir's Nicole Murray and Emma Nixon, with three special guests from the Folk Choir (Rebecca Wright, Alexa Sheppard and Naomi Rowland) will be playing at 7pm on Friday 13 Sept. Earlier that afternoon, Alexa and Naomi are debuting their new duo, Fiddlesque, in the blackboard concert. It's all happening at Neurum Creek, which is 12km down Neurum Road from Woodford township, Sunshine Coast Hinterland. This great little festival is full of enjoyable acts, and chances to sing and play. www.neurumcreekfestival.com.

• 21 September: The Mount Tamborine Celtic Concert and Ceilidh, a big night of celtic music and the chance to shake a leg! Featuring The Wish List, Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay, and Mark Cryle and the Civil Union in the concert, we then hand over to The Ceilidh Clan for a true Scottish and Irish ceilidh, with dances called by Donald McKay and Davydd McDonald. Loads of fun! Doors open 6pm, BYO picnic supper, all inclusive price $20 grownups, $5 kids. Book with Emma at emlnixon@optushome.com.au

The Folk Choir starts a new twelve week term on Thursday 3 October! 

The Folk Choir

Thursdays 7 - 8.30pm

at West Ashgrove Uniting Church Hall downstairs, 
between Glory St and Waterworks Road

$15 casual, $140 for 12 week term, or $75 for 6 weeks.

This term runs October 3 - December 19.

thefolkchoir.blogspot.com

CDs available at Folk Choir include: 

The Wish List - beautiful fiddlesinging from Emma Nixon and Nicole Murray - $20

cloudstreet - trad and original folk with powerful harmonies from John Thompson and Nicole Murray - $25 or $40 for two

Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay - warm-hearted Scottish trad and contemporary songs - $25 

Hot Harmonies and Hot Chocolate!

Welcome to term three! Yep, its the middle of winter, and that means heart-warming harmony singing and hot drinks all round. This term we are polishing up some songs to take out for a visit to the local folk clubs, and learning some new ones, as well as our friendly warmups, and regular opportunities to practice making up harmonies during chorus songs.

New singers are always welcome!

The Folk Choir

Thursdays 7 - 8.30pm

at West Ashgrove Uniting Church Hall downstairs,

between Glory St and Waterworks Road
$15 casual, $120 for 10 week term.

This term runs July 4 - Sept 5.

thefolkchoir.blogspot.com

CDs available at Folk Choir include: 

The Wish List - beautiful fiddlesinging from Emma Nixon and Nicole Murray - $20

cloudstreet - trad and original folk with powerful harmonies from John Thompson and Nicole Murray - $25 or $40 for two

Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay - warm-hearted Scottish trad and contemporary songs - $25 

The Tonic For Chilly Weather

Hasn't it been cold! But don't let it get you down - there's an extra warm welcome at The Folk Choir tonight because I'm putting on a pot of chai, and there'll be hot chocolate with marshmallows too! Who knows what that does for your voice, but its great for your spirits and so is singing.

We're going to snuggle down and work on some songs we did last week, making them stronger and even more satisfying to sing. 

They include Twa Corbies, Sammy's Gone Away and Bright Morning Star.

And of course we'll do some fun short stuff, and finish with a big chorus sing. Just the tonic for a chilly night - see you there!

love

Nicole

The Folk Choir

Thursdays 7 - 8.30pm

at West Ashgrove Uniting Church Hall downstairs,

between Glory St and Waterworks Road

$15 casual

This term finishes on June 13.

thefolkchoir.blogspot.com

CDs available at Folk Choir include: 

The Wish List - beautiful fiddlesinging from Emma Nixon and Nicole Murray - $20

cloudstreet - trad and original folk with powerful harmonies from John Thompson and Nicole Murray - $25 or $40 for two

Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay - warm-hearted Scottish trad and contemporary songs - $25 

Sing with Nicole this week!

Hi, harmony-lovers!

Nicole is back from an inspiring time on Magnetic Island and in Townsville, and rearing to have a big sing with you all. 

Huge thanks to the two folk stars who took the choir while she was away, the magnificent Rebecca Wright and Sarah Calderwood. Its women like these two who are taking the folk traditions and making them fresh every day. If you would like to check out their websites and see what else they're up to, have a look at www.wrightandmckay.com, and www.facebook.com/SarahCalderwoodMusic, or sarahcalderwood.com.

In more exciting news, four Folk Choir member, Nicole, Emma, Donald and Bec, have launched a new band, The Ceilidh Clan, with a dance at the State Library of Queensland last Saturday, and are cooking up a plan to have a regular dance. We're looking for a suitable hall for that, in case you have one in mind, and meanwhile, check out our new website and facebook page, and if you like us, "like" us!

Or if you enjoy your dance music with the little people, have a look at our new kids' ceilidh band, The Jiggles! Here's the website and the facebook.

See you on Thursday!

love

Nic

Come and sing on Anzac Day!

Yes, the Folk Choir will be meeting on Anzac Day, to lift our voices in harmony and sing songs of peace and songs about the war.

Come for a heart-warming sing AND ANZAC BICKIES!

As usual there will be a friendly welcome, a cuppa, copies of the Folk Rag to take, info about folk events, and quality local folk cds for sale, from cloudstreet, The Wish List, Rebecca Wright and Donald McKay, and Emma Nixon.

Welcome to The Folk Choir!

Our new term starts this week, Thursday 11 April!

We meet on Thursday evenings from 7pm - 8.30pm at the West Ashgrove Uniting Church Downstairs Hall. This term goes from 11 April to 13 June, ten weeks.

There is a friendly welcome and a cuppa waiting for you from 6.45, and we do a gentle warm-up from 7pm.

The Folk Choir explores songs in two, three and four-part harmony, including call-and-response songs such as shanties, a ballad or two from the Child collection, and works by contemporary folk songwriters. Each night starts with vocal warmups and short songs, then working on parts for new songs, and finally finishing with a big sing. There's no need to be able to read music, and there's no audition, just come and enjoy singing. Casual attendees are welcome.

The Folk Choir

West Ashgrove Uniting Church Downstairs Hall

Thursdays 7pm - 8.30pm

$15 casual, $120 full term of 10 weeks.

April 11 - June 13, 2013.

We're also on Facebook. Have a look at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Folk-Choir/328349187262746. 

Join the Folk Choir in 2013!

Welcome to the Folk Choir!

We meet on Thursday evenings from 7pm - 8.30pm at the West Ashgrove Uniting Church Downstairs Hall. New term 7 February - 21 March, 2013.

If you can arrive a little early it will help with the door, and there will be a cup of tea or coffee waiting for you.

The Folk Choir explores songs in two, three and four-part harmony, including call-and-response songs such as shanties, a ballad or two from the Child collection, and works by contemporary folk songwriters. Each night starts with vocal warmups and short songs, then working on parts for new songs, and finally finishing with a big sing. There's no need to be able to read music, and there's no audition, just come and enjoy singing. Casual attendees are welcome.

The Folk Choir

West Ashgrove Uniting Church Downstairs Hall

Thursdays 7pm - 8.30pm

$15 casual, $84 full term of 7 weeks.

Feb 7 - Mar 21, 2013.

We're also on Facebook. Have a look at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Folk-Choir/328349187262746. Nice pic!