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Greetings to our Duggup readers and we hope that 2008 is a stellar one for all. Duggup is back and kicking the year off with new livery and a magazine style layout. How’s it looking so far?

As it is summer here in Australia, the music festival season is forging on. I thought it was a good time to present a taste whetting cross section that awaits those who brave the blistering Aussie sun and traffic snarls long associated with any outdoor event.

Let’s see, in no particular order now:

Peggy Seeger

The 20th Brunswick Music Festival program preview is shaping up with some interesting music from here and abroad. Everything from old time swing to gypsy music will pass through the venue portals. Archie Roach, Peggie Seeger and Eddi Reader and Madviolet are a few of the performers slated to rock Brunswick between the 15 March-1 April 2008.

Archie Roach

A ten day concert program + extra fringe events, boasting a top class music line up of blues, roots, Celtic, and world music styles at town halls, performing arts centres, pubs and clubs and arts precincts.

There is probably not a lot of point telling you about St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2008 to be held in Adelaide, Saturday February 23rd Brisbane, Saturday March 1st Melbourne, Sunday February 24th and Sydney, Sunday March 2nd, as the tickets for this indie street event are sure to be sold out though there is nothing to indicate this on the website.

Laneway festival

Highlights this year are sure to be Via Tania, Feist and New Zealands pop duo The Brunettes.
The Burke and Wills Folk Festival 2008 will be held on Friday March 7th-10th at the Burke and Will Winery 31kms. NW of Lancefield.

Probably the world’s smallest folk festival, and certainly the most intimate and relaxed. One main stage, home-cooked meals and snacks, cellar door wines, free camping, beautiful open, spacious & peaceful landscape miles from anywhere, yet only 101kms. from Melbourne.

As yet, the 2008 programme is incomplete but includes Kieran Halpin (Scotland), Peter Denehy, Bruce Watson, Martin Pearson, Kate Fagan and Robbie Long and the Hardrive Bluegrass Band.

While on the subject of small folk festivals there is the Chewton Folk Festival which has been moved to Newstead (15 minutes west of Castlemaine) and renamed Newstead Live. This event is scheduled for Friday 25th -28th of January.

This festival is always worth attending and this year is no exception with the likes of such luminaries as Bernard Bolan, Broderick Smith, Danny Spooner, Madviolet, Margret RoadKnight, Martin Pearson and Trouble in the Kitchen.

The Band Who Knew Too Much

The St Kilda Festival will be held between the 2nd-10th of February. Featuring five stages showcasing music both old and new. The energetic Band Who Knew Too Much

Martin Pearson – National Festival

Woodchop Jazz veterans The Band Who Knew Too Much celebrate the important things: beer, spending the rent, whales, suburban lunch cutting and hard rubbish nights in Kew.

and The Barons of Tang with many other bands will gather on the St Kilda foreshore to amaze and entertain.

Spawned from the fiery pits of Melbourne, cutting their teeth in the underground theatre scene and with the taste of blood on their lips, 8 piece ensemble The Barons of Tang bastardize mainly traditional gypsy and tango feels to inappropriate perfection.

The final festival I want to preview today is the 19th annual Byron Bay blues and roots music festival – Bluesfest. Even more than the National Folk Festival in Canberra at Easter, this is the event I want to get to. The Bluesfest also falls on the Easter weekend – 20th-24th March. That figures but how can you beat a lineup that includes John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, KT Tunstall, the Black Crowes, Rodrigo y Gabriela and the list goes on and on.

There are many more festivals all over the country to suit just about every taste in music. If you want to know more or want to know who is playing near you, send us an email and we’ll point you in the right direction.

jools is a graphic designer who used to front a band on vocals and bass. All evidence of which have mercifully been obliterated or otherwise lost.
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