MEDIA RELEASE, 10 OCTOBER 2006

Always Look on the Dark Side of Life

They say there's a dark side to everything, even life. Mostly however people don't talk about it - like Monty Python, they prefer the bright side.

At the Jamberoo Valley Lodge on Sunday October 22nd however, not only will they be talking about it, but people will actually be celebrating it in song.

Led by black humorist, Alan Musgrove, 'The Dark Side - Songs to Slit Your Wrists by,' will be a feature concert at 'Folk in the Foothills', the Illawarra Folk Club's annual one-day Festival at Jamberoo. Also featuring in the concert will be the ABC's, Nick Rheinberger, Songwriter and Singer Kevin Baker and the 'Black Knight', Pat Drummond.

Audience members will be checked for sharp implements before entering, to ensure that there will be no wrist slitting, throat cutting or heart stabbing during the concert.

But of course, if you're not into the dark side of life then there's plenty more to amuse and entertain you during the day. You can always try a bit of sedition by going to the great Sedition Concert. This will ensure that there will be a permanent record of your attendance as we fully expect the security services to be checking us out.

The award winning poet, Greg North will head up the fireside, 'Poets Breakfast' where the audience gets to have a go. Add the fabulous Wheeze and Suck Band, Country/Folk legend Emma Hannah, the rising young folk bands Pettibone and Replay, among 15 artists and you have a magnificent day out in the rainforest ambience of the froothills of the Illawarra Escarpment.

Purchase tickets early for a saving.

MEDIA RELEASE, 29 SEPTEMBER 2006

Sedition, the theme at the 2006 Folk in the Foothills

16 Artists: Pat Drummond, Emma Hannah, Wheeze & Suck Band, Pettibone, Alan Musgrove & Whatsaname Band, John Dengate, Nick Rheinberger, Gregory North, Murphy/Brown/Spillane, Replay, Maurie Mulheron, Kevin Baker, Illawarra Union Singers, Michael Cox, Amanda Collins, The Con Fiddle Orchestra

It’ll be full on sedition when some of Australia’s most seditious artists get together at the Illawarra Folk Club’s Annual ‘Folk in The Foothills’ one day folk festival at the Jamberoo Valley Lodge on Sunday 22nd October.

You may once have got yourself hanged for a spot of sedition and if certain politicians get their way you still might. This will not, however deter ace seditionist John Dengate from serving it up to those self-same politicians or Nick Rheinberger (of ABC fame) sorting out political correctness. Nor will it keep Kevin Baker from exposing the hypocrisies of radio’s ‘shock jocks’, Pat Drummond from looking at the dark side of politics, Maurie Mulheron from slaughtering sacred cows, Michael Cox and Amanda Collins from slipping the knife into the perpetrators of our new industrial laws and the Union Singers from giving us some historical perspective on sedition.

But you don’t have to be seditious to enjoy the day as that’s just one of 18 concerts.

Country/folk great Emma Hannah; the famous ‘Wheeze and Suck’ Band; the award winning funny man and poet, Greg North; up and coming band, Pettibone; the touch of blarney with Murphy, Brown and Spillane; the unique, Alan Musgrove; the Illawarra’s youngest band, Replay and others will all be there performing in five separate venues over the entire day.

If you haven’t experienced the magnificent ambience of the Jamberoo Valley Lodge then you’ve missed a vital Illawarra experience. Set on acres amongst rainforest at the base of the escarpment on the Jamberoo Mountain Road the Lodge has some fine concert venues. From the Poets Breakfast around the fireside in the bar to the major concert venue of the Wentworth Room and the acoustic feel of the Belmore Room the venues are superbly suited to both close up and larger scale performances.

It’s the only day of the year when the Escarpment Birds get out sung by the voices of homo sapiens.

To book a ticket at the early bird price of just $25 (which gets you into all venues, all day) just phone 1300 887 034 or go to the website at http://www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au/ticketfitf.php 

Make it a family day as children under 12 are admitted free.