National Folk Festival

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:53 pm

I'll be there on Saturday - who's going from here?

Matthew

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:57 pm

matthew wrote:I'll be there on Saturday - who's going from here?

Matthew

Negative...working all weekend.

Bruce McC · Post by **Bruce McC** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:46 pm

Hi Matthew

I intend to be at the Nationals on Saturday and would love to meet up with you
sometime somehow. Meet The Makers would be an obvious place.
The bass must be progressing well if you can afford to take time off.

If it is in order to exchange mobile numbers via this forum we could contact on Saturday
via SMS?

Bruce Mc

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:05 pm

afshar wrote:
If it is in order to exchange mobile numbers via this forum we could contact on Saturday
via SMS?

Bruce Mc

Exchanging mobiles is fine Bruce...best to do it via PM. If you put your mobile no in a post you'll have every Tom, Dick and Harry...and Kim...and Bob calling you up.

Clancy · Post by **Clancy** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 5:36 pm

I'm a regular attendee

but I'm not in Canberra this year

I usually bump into Graham McDonald, cast an eye over Peter Coombe's wares, try to link up with Dominic & fail, and pretend I can play the Irish Bouzouki

Ah, the Folk Easter weekend. I'll miss it.

peter.coombe · Post by **peter.coombe** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:07 pm

I'm already there. Will be in the Instrument makers display all weekend.

Peter

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:10 pm

Peter, I will seek you out.

Matthew

liam_fnq · Post by **liam_fnq** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:15 pm

Bit jealous I am. Wish I was there. Have fun

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:40 pm

I'd love to be there, but alas, I'm off to N.S.W. for a week to raid Micheal's wood stash and drink his beer. Stay tuned for the photo's.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:44 pm

Yep, I was going to go in on Saturday until mid arvo. I'll introduce myself to those at guitar makers stalls. And I'll leave my mobile number with John (Mr Woodrat) so send me a txt if you are around and want to catch up.
Cheers
Dom

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:26 pm

Allen wrote:I'd love to be there, but alas, I'm off to N.S.W. for a week to raid Micheal's wood stash and drink his beer. Stay tuned for the photo's.

I know I won't need to tell you Allen but you'd better drink my share too!

liam_fnq · Post by **liam_fnq** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:36 pm

Nick wrote:
Allen wrote:I'd love to be there, but alas, I'm off to N.S.W. for a week to raid Micheal's wood stash and drink his beer. Stay tuned for the photo's.
I know I won't need to tell you Allen but you'd better drink my share too!

That's just crazy talk. Get Michael to drink his share and nick's share and my share then stuff all his pizza oven fuel into a box and send it my way

. He'll never notice

graham mcdonald · Post by **graham mcdonald** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:33 am

I'll be around Friday and Saturday. If anyone would like a little light amusement, I am part of a production of an episode of a 1950s radio serial, The Carter Brown Mystery Theatre, that will be in the Scrumpy Bar (right next to the instrument makers building) on Saturday at 1.30

cheers

graham

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:42 am

Graham McDonald wrote:I'll be around Friday and Saturday. If anyone would like a little light amusement, I am part of a production of an episode of a 1950s radio serial, The Carter Brown Mystery Theatre, that will be in the Scrumpy Bar (right next to the instrument makers building) on Saturday at 1.30

cheers

graham

One can easily identify Graham as a polished professional because he understands that location is everything.

Wish I could be there.

Cheers

Kim

J.F. Custom · Post by **J.F. Custom** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:34 am

Good luck and enjoy everyone that is going.

I'd love to go along, alas, have prior commitments this year. I'm aiming for next year though, potentially with some stock to join in the makers stalls - so hopefully I will catch some of you then!

Cheers,

Jeremy.

peter.coombe · Post by **peter.coombe** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:42 pm

For those of you who do make it to the National, you must check out Joe Gallagher's Red Spruce/Mahogany dreadnought. I am next to Joe and have picked it up a few times and have heard others play it. I'm gobsmacked, once matured this is going to be one awesome guitar. No, correction, it is already awesome. It is something all of us aim for but seldom or never reach that sort of sound quality and build standard. The rest of us are all bowing down in admiration. It has been sold to a guitar player who lives not far from me and is certainly going to a very good home. Hopefully I will be able to check it out occasionally in the future, and I will be looking foreward to that. Joe has a guitar in the raffle, and we have just bought 4 tickets!!

matthew · Post by **matthew** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:01 pm

well, back from canberra ... sheesh it was cold a night in the campsite ... but the festival was fun and i did get to catch up with Peter Coombe, John Copley, the Woodrat and Bruce. And some others!

Will follow up with a few workshop visits down the track, I'm sure.

cheers MT

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:08 pm

I have played a few of Joe's dreadnoughts over the last few years and none have failed to disappoint.

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:12 am

Sorry to miss everyone. I ended up having to go into work, at the job that actually pays money. Not the best way to spend easter. But its important stuff so I am not totally bummed. Perhaps next year.
Cheers
Dom

peter.coombe · Post by **peter.coombe** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:12 am

I will try and take a few pictures of Joe's guitar today and post them when I get home. What I like is it is simple clean and elegant (no bling), beautifully executed, and most important is a tone monster. I agree with Bob, I have always liked what Joe has exhibited at past festivals, but he has moved the bar up significantly higher this year.

peter.coombe · Post by **peter.coombe** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:22 am

Some pictures as promised.

Don't let anyone try and convice you that African Mahogany is no good for guitars. I have read this advice on another forum and Joe has proven it is BS. Joe's guitar is Red Spruce and African Mahogany

woodrat · Post by **woodrat** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:14 pm

Hi Everyone, I was there displaying as well and it was great to see so many instrument makers there. It was great to put some faces to some of the names on the forum. I met Matthew of Double Bass fame and Bruce McCulloch from the anzlf. It was good to catch up with David Worthy, Jack Spira, Peter Coombe and Joe Gallacher as well as others and talk about all things lutherie. A chap called Vic Belsher came along and showed me a very interesting 12 string that he had made. It had a twisted neck but the twist was very deliberate and not a problem with the neck. I had seen a couple of pictures of this done before but never seen one in the flesh (wood) before. The rosette and the purfling were also unique being made from multi coloured paint that was all mixed together like a Jackson Pollock picture and then cut into strips to form the rosette and purfs. It was a very interesting highly unique instrument.
My friend Adam Edwards from Hobart was there displaying his first Norwegian Hardanger fiddle with five sympathetic strings, modern planetary pegs and a carved Tassie Devils head. It was made from all Tasmanian timbers and was very popular...especially amongst the fiddlers. There were a couple of people who had Graham McDonald's Wombat Hardangers there too so they were very interested to see what Adam had made.
The concert was on Saturday night and it was a great success as it was full and the venue this year was much better than last year as it was in the Trocadero instead of a marquee. We actually were under time so the musicians who played were able to finish with a jam at the end of the show. It was great.