The Bundanoon DanceFest is back!

110 George Street Sydney

At the Rocks Discovery Museum from 1 February to 28 April, 2023.

More information, opening times etc...

The launch was on 3rd Feb with music and dance organised by David Potter with Sydney musicians and dancers. This component of the launch was supported by Bush Traditions Inc.

A lot happened at the National this year

Collected Tunes Sessions

This was held in the Session Bar with a number of tune leaders taking folk through a new set of tunes.

The Camp (Ngura)

This new festival venue with an Australian content focus got off to a good start under the coordinator Emma Sputnik with Dave Johnson assisting with programming. The marquee was located in a prominent position with a food van, Biggies, providing superb slow cooked meats with native spice rubs.

Festival Bush Orchestra

Held at The Camp with a programme that is a reprise of the nine years Dave Johnson has been leading the Bush Orchestra. The music is available HERE.
And don't forget that it was Graham McDonald who initiated this valuable addition to the NFF, followed by Greg O'Leary.

Slow Tunes Sessions

Held in the Session Bar as usual first thing each morning with Alan and Linda Swift and Wayne Millar. The music is available HERE.

Thanks for the great weekend of Australian trad… I managed to squeeze in the couple of tunes I knew and had especially fun at the Saturday morning slow session.
Gerry Harris

Thanks again for a really wonderful weekend of music playing and learning, and for the organising that went into enabling our gathering again of the Bundanoon music "family". 
It was so good to meet up with people again and to have time to sit and chat as well. 
We played some really beautiful tunes again and I came home with many new ones to learn as well. 
Denise Hibbs

What a great weekend of sessions we shared at Bundanoon over the long weekend.
A big thanks to everyone who contributed, especially Dave for organising venues, programme and the booking system, and to all those who coordinated singing or music workshops/sessions, or those who just came along to be part of it.  The music and company were excellent, with plenty of beautiful tunes, lively tunes, interesting tunes, as well as songs, and the hilarious ‘Silly Songs’ session on Sunday night set the tone for a fun and relaxed final evening of song and music.  
Carole  Helman

I very much enjoyed Saturday at Bundanoon. Thanks for your organisation.
Ron McLaughlin

Aside:
Ron was at Shayne Kerr’s workshop on the musical saw and I mentioned a saw player I’d invited to a Bush Music Festival in Marrickville in the early 1980s. Would you believe he was Ron’s grandfather’s cousin, known in the family as Uncle Walter!
Dave

Ron sent this info from a 1995 booklet of The Mclaughlin Family compiled for a family reunion gathering:
Walter McLaughlin, 10th child of John and Isabel McLaughlin born 1909 worked on the land most of his life. He later located to Sydney where he worked for CSIRO. Walter is a talented musician on the piano. Of late he has become renowned as a busker at Circular Quay where he plays the gum leaf and musical saw.
In 1972 Walter was World Champion Draughts player. When he was 83 he married Theresa Williams. They currently live in Sydney where Walter still does busking.