Description
Manjimup Bluegrass & Old Time Music Weekend returns
by Mary Nixon
TN179 Sep 26
Since starting in 2012, The Manjimup Bluegrass & OldTime Music Weekend (MBOTMW), has been underpinned by our slogan Making Music and Making friends.
To be held on September 25-28, on the King’s Birthday weekend in Western Australia, it’s a “bring your instrument/s weekend” with music workshops and jams being key to the event’s success.
The event has hosted some amazing Bluegrass and OldTime luminaries as tutors since 2012.
These include the Davidson Brothers, Ash & Andy, Tony O’Rourke, Ian Simpson, Adam Gare, The Company, Donal Baylor, Bluegrass Parkway, The High Street Drifters, Jim Fisher, Jeremy Marcotte and Craig Woodward.
Tutors and participants get a real workout over the weekend!
Having just one group of tutor/musicians for the weekend has meant that the participants have really benefitted from spending a full weekend with the professionals.
The Saturday night feature concert provides the visiting musicians with the opportunity to showcase their skills to a seated audience of dedicated music lovers as well as to members of the general public to be won over to the genres.
The Sunday morning Gospel SingOut and the evening Blackboard concert has given many closet musicians their first taste of public performance.
Jamming is, of course, integral to the weekend as Monday mornings’ exhausted but happy musos will attest to.
This is not a big ‘festival” with all the hoopla that one associates with the word.
It’s a weekend of “ordinary” people meeting up and sharing their love of music.
The Manjimup Bluegrass & OldTime Music Weekend has an enthusiastic and loyal following, and the input of the professional musicians we’ve hosted over the years has not been wasted.
Many of the MBOTMW regulars have made the most of the workshops and honed their playing and singing skills.
As a way of acknowledging those who have really been working on their musicianship and band skills, the organisers are very proud to announce that this year’s Saturday night concert will feature four home grown bands, Green Herring Oz, Gumtree Boys, Seldom Herd and Wading in the Water.
So, if you’re keen to meet new people, make friends, do a workshop or two and jam till your heart’s content, as well as have the opportunity to perform in a welcoming environment, in other words, immerse yourself in this very inclusive music scene, book your tickets here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1609182
The event is based in the town centre and all venues are within walking distance of each other.
Manjimup is about 3 and a half hours south of Perth.
Your trek to Manjimup will be well rewarded, as Making Music & Making Friends is no idle mantra!
Our Facebook page, Manjimup Bluegrass & OldTime Music Weekend will keep you updated.
P.S. A note from one of our regulars and now on the organising committee.
“I can remember in the early days, pre the MBOTMW, going to one of the JamCamps run by Greg McGrath and him remarking that although we may think friendships will last longer than a festival or weekend, most participants would never see each other again.
“This has proved not to be the case as each year we gather.
“It is amazing to see the growth of individual musicians.
“Many beginners have advanced to play in Bluegrass and Old-Time bands across the state.
“Manjimup Bluegrass and OldTime weekend is pivotal to keeping these genres alive and growing within WA.”
Dalvene Taylor, Dalyalup, WA.
