Sounds Australia is currently calling for applications to Global Music Match 2021, a pilot initiative created to continue raising the profile of local artists in international music markets within the challenging parameters of the COVID 19 pandemic.
You can apply HERE.
Are you a small business in Victoria that supports festivals or do you work in the live music industry and would like to promote the work you do to a wide audience?
The Australian Festival Association (AFA), Music Victoria, the Victorian Music Development Office and The Push have come together to develop a resource to link businesses and industry specialists through a comprehensive directory of the many and varied professionals working across the music sector.
You can complete this form here so that your business or service can be promoted to anyone who creates festivals and events in Victoria. The AFA will be promoting this publicly accessible resource widely throughout May and beyond.
Melbourne musician Ruth Hazleton is sharing her new work Daisywheel in Tasmania.
One of Australia’s most highly regarded folk singers, Hazleton is a multi-award-winning instrumentalist, singer and songwriter.
Her debut solo album Daisywheel was recently nominated for ‘Best Folk Album 2020’ at the Music Victoria Awards and has been described as “…compelling and intimately fierce” by Living Tradition – UK.
You can read a review of the album at Listening Through The Lens.
Daisywheel is a lyrical voyage of history, struggle & resilience in song; a confluence of ancient and contemporary and a cross-cultural zeitgeist. Part traditional and part contemporary, the repertoire incorporates the many influences that have shaped Ruth’s musicianship over her 25-year career. There are flavours of Celtic trad, old-time American, Eastern European and Middle Eastern music, folk revival and folk-rock.
On her Tasmanian tour, Ruth (banjo and guitar) will be joined by Melbourne musician Fiona Steele (guitar and vocals – centre), and Tasmania’s own Luke Plumb (mandolin and bouzouki).
The Old Black Stump
Kunanyi Folk Club – SOLD OUT
The Old Courthouse, Swansea
MoonMilk is Tasmanian Emily Sheppard‘s debut album, written during many solitary hours in cold and humid Tasmanian caves in absolute darkness. Inspired by cave acoustics, ancient stalactites, and local stories, the music is both of the underworld, and of the emergence from darkness.
MoonMilk will be launched on the night of the April full moon. The night will feature music off the album; solo, duo and trio works for violin, viola, cello, shakuhachi and voice.
Mr Peter Parkville
FAA has received a request from a museum in the Czech Republic which is putting together an exhibit on bagpipes. Information and recordings are being sought about an Australian Peter Parkville who recorded Czech immigrants around the year 1988.
Associated with this was a Hungarian Robert Mandel with his Hurdy-Gurdy, a 1974 interview with Karel Jancar, leader of Czech dance group and perhaps a man Lada Zach.
If you are able to shed any light on this, please contact president@folkalliance.org.au
Applications
Want to perform at the 2022 Cygnet Folk Festival (the fortieth anniversary of the event to be held 7 to 9 January) in Southern Tasmania? Applications have been extended to Sunday 18 April. Once your application is lodged, you will have until 30 April to add support material or edit your details.
GO HERE TO APPLY.
AGM
Festival organisers are encouraging supporters to become members of Huon Folk Inc (Cygnet Folk Festival) which provides the ability to vote at its AGM which will be held Monday 19 April at 5:30 PM in the Cygnet Town Hall Supper Room.
A website for folk artists
FAA welcomes a new partnership with the North American company Bandzoogle which will benefit FAA members.
Bandzoogle makes it easy to build an engaging website and Electronic Press Kit for your music easily. You can choose from dozens of mobile-friendly templates, then customize your design and content in just a few clicks.
All the features you need for a professional website and EPK are already built-in, including:
Folk Alliance Australia members receive a 3-month free trial, plus 15% off any subscription! Plans start at just $8.29/month (USD), which includes hosting and your own free custom domain name.
HOW TO TAKE UP THE BANDZOOGLE BENEFIT
Simply email president@folkalliance.org.au with your membership name and number and we will email you the direct link for the FAA Bandzoogle – 3 month free trial and 15% discount.
Last month we announced that Folk Alliance Australia will launch the inaugural Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMA) in October 2021.
We are currently working through rules of eligibility and judging panel composition. Stay tuned as details emerge.
Nominations will open in late May, closing on 31 July for the following 8 Awards:-
Joining FAA
As well as the Australian Folk Music Awards, FAA is working on a number of ways to support and connect the folk music community in 2021 as we grapple with emerging from the pandemic.
You can help the community as well by signing up to the FAA for a modest fee and derive insurance and website benefits through our partners AON and Bandzoogle. Also, as a member, you would be eligible to vote in the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
The Australian Government has announced a $125 million extension of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund, available until 31 December 2021. Funding is now available to support a broader cross section of music and entertainment sector workers such as managers, booking agents, musicians, and roadies.
RISE funding is provided to businesses and organisations as competitive project grants towards the cost of putting on activities such as festivals, concerts, tours, productions and events.
FAA encourages folk organisations and artists to apply for funding support.
To find out more information, visit www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/rise-fund If you have any questions, you can email RISE@arts.gov.au, or phone (02) 6271 7971.
