Hosted By:
David Hyams and the Miles To Go band

When:
Friday, 6 November 2009

Where:
Kulcha
13 south terrace
Fremantle
6160

Description:
Click Here To View Event

The whole world in these bands

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Tony Hillier | January 05, 2009
Article from: The Australian

Woodford Folk Festival
December 27-January 1.

STICK-smashing morris dancers risked meltdown under the merciless southeast Queensland sun. A kilted Scottish stiltwalker wilted as wizened, Guinness-guzzling folkies belted out broadsides in a tented hostelry nearby.

Some cool relief came courtesy of pristine peals emanating from the 21 strings of a Malian maestro's kora and the sweet high-and-lonesome vocal harmonies of a pale-skinned Appalachian twosome.

Welcome to the stimulating if uncomfortably warm world of Woodford, arguably the most eclectic and egalitarian show on earth (23 venues, 500 acts, 2000 performers). Tastes cultivated in this cauldron of culture could last for a lifetime.

If thematic sessions in the Folklorica marquee dedicated to subjects as diverse as Bulgarian boogie, Turku and Kurd music, feet percussion, ceremonial drum, and banjo and yodelling queens proved excessively esoteric, there was plenty of blander fare to be found in pop presentations at the Amphitheatre, the Grande and the Bazaar.

Alternative treats were available elsewhere. Over at the Blues'n'Roots tent, the ever reliable Backsliders skilfully erected their Delta-based wall of sound. Amiable pun-slinger Mic Conway and his National Junk Band provided the corn and cheap conjuring tricks, while the fetching Kara Grainger and her boys put an irresistibly funky stamp on 12-bar standards. Jeff Lang excelled on four different stages with his superlative slide guitar and self-penned roots-flavoured masterpieces.

Kristina Olsen was her usual ubiquitous self; only Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, who notched up a heroic 10 gigs in five days, were busier than the Californian songstress and raconteur. Their exquisite a cappella sessions with the rest of the Fagans were a highlight of the traditional folk program, along with Virginia's beguiling Whitetop Mountaineers, Scotland's Alistair Hulett and David Rovics from the US.

On the world music front, Mamadou Diabate's kora virtuosity held audiences spellbound. The sassy Sydney-based Latin group Veneno, Brisbane's dynamic Balkan-grounded band Doch and Melbourne's manic but intensely musical gypsy punksters the Barons of Tang had the younger punters on their feet in a trice.

The Dya Singh Group, the Habibis and flamenco troupe Arte Kanela consolidated burgeoning reputations as the best concert acts of their type in Australia.

Proven crowd-pleasers Jigzag, the Borderers and Fiddlers Feast were as energetic and entertaining as ever, despite the steamy conditions.

The testing weather exacted some toll on veteran Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean, who seemed content to let the audience do much of the singing.

Coming direct from the icy depths of a Canadian winter didn't inhibit the impressively tight Newfoundland band Hey Rosetta! or their quirky and equally hard-hitting compatriot Hawksley Workman. If intricate arrangements and instrumental acoustic expertise were the criteria, Perth's David Hyams and the Miles To Go Band were among the standout acts.

An abiding memory of Woodford 2008-09 was watching the event's hard-working director whiz around the site in a homemade chariot. As he recovers from a recent knee operation, Bill Hauritz will be able to savour yet another successful festival.

With the enduring goodwill of its patrons, allied to thousands of well-drilled volunteers and Hauritz's vision, the future of Woodford is assured, even in these economically austere times.

Some recent news - "Knowing the Place" came in at #41 on US DJ Richard Gillman's Top 70 Albums and Songs of February 2007 (compiled from 149 Folk DJ Radio Playlists - mostly North American). we're pretty chuffed, considering its an independent australian album with no label support (and we also spotted the new Bob Dylan, Chris Smither and Natalie McMaster albums at no.46!).

"Australian multi-instrumentalist cooks up successful Celtic/jazz/roots crossover. Hyams' playing is surefooted and dexterous while supple input from the band adds luster. Intelligent, well-crafted, cosmopolitan celtic-styled music. Worth investigating."
FROOTS MAGAZINE (UK) June 2006

"The new CD sets its stall out right away. "Flat Out Like Lizard Drinking" starts out with a Sam Bush-esque funk mandolin riff that soon underpins a bubbly set of reels on wooden flute and uilleann pipes. Just as you're getting comfortable with this groove, the space opens out into a rhythmic didge followed by a multipart horn arrangement that would sit comfortably on a La Bottine Souriante album, leading back into a reprise of the opening tune. It's all gloriously unexpected and inventive, and it rocks to boot...just about every track has the same rich combination of tasty tunes, fresh arrangements and impressive musicality... The musicianship, production and recording quality are outstanding throughout...The overall theme, like the first album, is an exploration of the confluence between traditional Celtic folk and American-influenced New Acoustic styles, and it succeeds in staking out a patch of ground all of its own... If you enjoyed "Miles to Go" then you'll certainly be captivated"...
STEVE BARNES, FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

"The power, the passion, the multi-layered arrangements, the superb (and sometimes a bit unusual) use of the instrumentation is joyous. It's very well-played and well-produced. I love it."
CINDY FUNK, RADIO WYSO 91.3FM OHIO, USA

"Knowing the Place extends the lineage of the musical traditions of Ireland in Australia and further defines their firm and comfortable place in this country's cultural and musical character. The music has been written and performed with great spirit and emotional depth, not to mention impressive skill and dexterity....a refreshingly sincere and engaging musical journey... leaving us with the feeling we have been somewhere that we might not otherwise have been."
MICHAEL SCHRAPNEL, INDIE-CDS.COM 2006

"an excellently recorded, always interesting and very clever blend of diverse instrumental textures...a classy recording of instrumental music."
GRAHAM MCDONALD Canberra Times June 2006

"... a feast for the ears...There's gold to be found in every track"
GROOVE MAGAZINE Sylvester Fox - Western Australia -

"a real treasure... [The] music is superbly creative, inventive and so professional, truly magnificent"
GERRY FAULKNER Ireland Downunder on Sydney's 2 Triple H FM http://blog.myspace.com/images/blog/smileys/surprised.gif

“ if you enjoy acoustic instrumental bands with jazzy rhythm grooves like Lunasa or the numerous incarnations of David Grisman’s groups, than this Australian bunch is for you. This CD features well played and tightly arranged pieces
SING OUT MAGAZINE
Summer 2007

“ if you haven’t experienced a full Miles To Go performance, pick up a CD – in our opinion some of the best composed and performed music (with a Celtic/Oz flavour) that is available around the traps.”
MALDON FOLK FESTIVAL - 2007 program

Both of our albums are now available from the iTunes store worldwide

David Hyams: Miles To Go
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=194542242

David Hyams and the Miles To Go band : Knowing the Place
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=101739508&forceArtistsPage

also available on
http://www.martianmusic.com/MartianMusic.aspx?Form=Works&cid=10363&aid=7483235