24 January 2012

Canberra Creatives. Part 2, the musicians

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music

This week’s creative shout out goes to the musicians.

We may not have the live music venue options of Melbourne or Sydney, but we sure do have some kick arse musos mingling amongst us; and they come in all genres, shapes and ages.

Rock, reggae, folk, funk (sometimes lacking), jazz, classic, metal, mellow, indie, prog, punk, acoustic, electric, blah blah the list goes on…

Canberra, like anywhere, has its little circles. The metal people generally hang out with the metal people, the folk people hang out with the folk people, the punks with the punks, etc. These natural groupings create what are known as ‘scenes’. Happy communities where like minded people get their freak on in their own way.

Personally, I give a big thumbs up to the Canberra Musician’s Club (CMC). A mix of many genres but mainly acoustic singer-songwriters, a welcoming vibe, frequent events, non-age bias, quality music, quality people, lots of alcohol while remaining kid friendly, and a real nurturing of up-and-coming songwriters.

Let us know which music groups are doing good things, and where!

[Photo by Horia Varlan CC BY 2.0]

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I went along to the beginning of the gig at the Polish club on Saturday night. I got there at 8pm and it seemed a bit shambolic at first. Nobody at the door and nobody obviously running the show.

I bought a terrific polish beer and sat back to listen to the couple who were playing at the time. Interesting songs, but the vocals of the guy who was singing reminded me of me. That’s not a compliment unfortunately, but it’s OK, because that’s what this sort of gig is about, I presume.

They finished and there was a long pause, then about 9pm a woman with a very nice voice started singing and playing guitar while accompanied by a guy with snare and bass drums. They sounded pretty good, and I was sorry to have to leave to go elsewhere about 9:30.

And if my eyes didn’t deceive me, JB was also there, attending a birthday party that was happening at the same time. If it wasn’t our RA overlord, then he has a doppelganger somewhere in the inner north.

Anyway, it was about what I expected. I’ve worded up my wife now that she’s back in town, and we’ll trying to make it to another gig in the next month or so.

LSWCHP said :

When I sing I sound like like a frog farting

Since when has that been a disadvantage for a folk singer? Robert Zimmerman always had a voice that sounded like sand and glue (its even worse nowadays, he really should just give up), but that never held back his career.

Jim Jones said :

“A mix of many genres”

With the most utmost respect, the CMC is a club for folk musicians.

It’s impossible to name any other genre of music that is represented: jazz, rock, metal, classical, funk, punk or whatever.

Haven’t been to any of their functions, but friends who have say the opposite. I suppose I should go along and find out for myself.

Thanks for this. I’ve always wondered what the CMC was but never thought of looking it up.

Jim Jones said :

“A mix of many genres”

With the most utmost respect, the CMC is a club for folk musicians.

It’s impossible to name any other genre of music that is represented: jazz, rock, metal, classical, funk, punk or whatever.

I went to a CMC event and one of the bands that played was a raucous rock/jazz/punk outfit who engaged the audience in much non-PC banter. They kicked arse. Some of the audience looked a little upset. Ha ha.

I don’t know why they don’t just call it Canberra Folk Music Club or something. The name is a tad deceptive.

“A mix of many genres”

With the most utmost respect, the CMC is a club for folk musicians.

It’s impossible to name any other genre of music that is represented: jazz, rock, metal, classical, funk, punk or whatever.

LSWCHP said :

Hey, thanks for that!

My wife is a longtime folkie with a beautiful voice. She gigged for many years with bands in Canberra and Melbourne, has appeared at the Folk Festival and even ran her own venue for a while. When I sing I sound like like a frog farting, but I play passable backing guitar. We’ve been talking for a while about doing some gigs somewhere, but it was All Too Hard, with work, kids etc.

This seems like a great crowd, and we’ll come along and check it out. Who knows what might happen. 🙂

Thanks again for the links.

Think about coming along to Bungendore’s Music and Poetry Night – first Friday of every month at the Provincial Pantry. Also Murrumbateman’s acoustic music night at the Murrumbateman Pub on the last Sunday of every month. Arrive at both around 6.30 to get your name on the list. Both great nights.

Hey, thanks for that!

My wife is a longtime folkie with a beautiful voice. She gigged for many years with bands in Canberra and Melbourne, has appeared at the Folk Festival and even ran her own venue for a while. When I sing I sound like like a frog farting, but I play passable backing guitar. We’ve been talking for a while about doing some gigs somewhere, but it was All Too Hard, with work, kids etc.

This seems like a great crowd, and we’ll come along and check it out. Who knows what might happen. 🙂

Thanks again for the links.

Let’s count in the inclusiveness of choirs … Gay & Lesbian choir, ANU Choir, the choirs at Parliament House, church choirs, Canberra Opera Chorus – I have no idea how many. see choirsact.org.au

Let’s also include Queanbeyan and rate their Signing Choir and I think there’s another Disability Choir over there.

Hear, hear. One standout folk event is The Shed Sessions, held at The Artists’ Shed in Queanbeyan (not strictly Canberra, of course) every second weekend. I’ve been going to these for a few months now and I can’t get over the quality of performers.

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