Bush Music Club Inc.

The Bush Music Club Inc. 1954 - 2014

Celebrating our Diamond Jubilee

The Bush Music Club, based in Sydney, is the oldest folk club in Australia and, arguably, one of the oldest folk clubs in the world. It has been actively promoting Australian folk traditions for the last 60 years and will continue to do so well into the future.

Activities During our 60th Year

February 1 - Beecroft Birthday Dance

A dance party with Ryebuck Bush Band

February 21 - 23 - Cobargo Folk Festival

Members will be performing with Chris Woodland and Dale Dengate for a Concert "John Dengate - Australian Son".

March 29 - Members' Dinner

Celebrating the effort all members have contributed to the Bush Music Club over the past 60 years - New Members Welcome - booking essential.

April 18 - 21 - National Folk Festival - Canberra

The BMC will be performing a number of times during the weekend with Song and Tune Workshops and Sapling Sessions.

May 17 - Heritage Masquerade Ball

Parramatta Town Hall - purchase tickets early to get the best price. Music provided by Heritage Ensemble with post ball "dress up" picnic held at Pioneer Village, Wilberforce from 11.00am on May 18.

June 21 - Ermington Dance - 7.00 - 11.00pm

Ermington Community Centre with Urban Scrub

August 10 - Saplings Master Class

For young musicians (8-16 yrs).

August 23 - Subscription Ball

Maitland Town Hall with its sprung floor. The post ball picnic will be held at Lake Macquarie at the Heritage Shed in Speers Point Park.

September 6 and 27 - Songwriting Workshops

with Phyl Lobl.

October 4 - 6 - The Goulburn Gathering

The Gathering is always a special event on anyone's Bush Music Calendar. In 2014 the BMC plan to have a greater presence.

November 15 - Reunion Concert and Dance

The Concert and Dance will be held in the big hall at Addison Road Community Centre with a reunion in Tritton Hall.

December 20 - Christmas Dance - 7.00 - 11.00pm

The final event for the year will be the Christmas Dance at Ermington with Southern Cross Bush Band providing the music.

Sapling Sessions

In the 2nd half of 2014 the Bush Music Club will be organising a full day Master Class (Sapling Sessions) devoted to giving young musicians an experience and enjoyment of playing Australian collected music in a relaxed atmosphere with expert bush musicians (tutors). Details are available here.

Regular Monthly and Weekly Activities

Beecroft Bush Dance - 1st Saturday of the month

(Feb - Dec) 7.30 - 11.30pm with music from Sydney's best bush bands

Beecroft Community Centre, Beecroft Rd Beecroft

Dance Workshop - Monday nights

(Feb - Dec except public holidays) 7.30 - 9.30pm

Pennant Hills Community Centre, Yarrara Road Pennant Hills

Music Workshop - Monday nights

(Feb - Dec except public holidays) 7.30 - 10.00pm

"Tritton Hall" (Hut 44), 142 Addison Road Marrickville

"Duke's Place" - 2nd Friday of the Month

(Feb - Dec) 7.30 - 10.00pm

Australian Songs - Featuring Guest Performers with a Session to finish

Bring a plate and songs - only $10

"Tritton Hall" (Hut 44), 142 Addison Road Marrickville

Membership

New members are always welcome and encouraged to participate in the activities of the Club. Membership forms are available from Club functions or can be downloaded here.

Members receive a copy of the Club's bi-monthly newsletter Mulga Wire, concession rates at Club functions, as well as the satisfaction of supporting an organisation dedicated to the continuous Australian tradition by preservation and publication of our heritage.

A Bit of History

It was sixty years ago that John Meredith and a small group of musicians formed the Bush Music Club, as a social and teaching club, so that they could pass on their tunes and songs and to encourage the formation of other bush bands.

The Bush Music Club has always had a strength of purpose and a sense of pride in pursuing its principal objectives - to collect, publish and popularise Australia's traditional songs, dances, music, yarns, recitations and folklore.

Australian bush songs and tunes have been consistently performed and taught by individuals and groups associated with the Club, from the Bushwhacker Bands of the fifties to the present exponents. The Club's Concert Party, Urban Scrub, regularly perform at festivals and public performances where "old" and "new" share their skills and enjoyment of our folklore. The Club's popular Heritage Ensemble has been capably providing dance music for the Heritage Ball for over 30 years.