Fri, 12 Feb 2021
Welcome to 2021 Fiddle Clubbers!
We made it through 2020 bigger and stronger than ever. A few days ago, I would have said things are looking up for 2021. Hopefully this is just a little speed hump on an otherwise smooth road ahead. A special welcome and shout out to all our new members and online subscribers in 2020 - we got to meet some of you at our session in the park at the end of last year, and we're looking forward to meeting the rest of you ASAP.
We kicked off 2021 with a couple of fun events in January. We had a great online workshop with Kevin Henderson of Shetland - more on that from Roz in the newsletter - and we had a jam session last weekend at the Last Jar pub in Carlton. It was great to come together and play a few tunes! Hopefully we can continue to do so in the coming months...
2020 - The year we're all glad to put behind us
2020 was quite a year. We started off the year on a high with our debut at Newstead Live Festival (formerly held in nearby Chewton). It only took us about 15 years to get on the bill, but we did! Thanks Alex for writing a great application. A few gigs, a ceilidh and lots of fun over the Australia Day long weekend. Remember folk festivals?!
We had a couple of monthly meetings before we had to move it all online. We had a heap of activities online to keep us fiddling and coming together throughout the year. Friday night zoom jam sessions, Roz's fantastic tune share nights on Thursdays, a few Canadian tunes sessions, workshops and lessons with Patsy Reid/Adam Sutherland/Hamish Napier, masterclasses with Hanneke Cassel, Cathy Fraser, Rachel Johnson and Trent Arkleysmith. The list goes on! I know there's a heap that I've missed, but there's a snapshot. It was heartwarming to keep fiddling despite all the doom and gloom.
Late last year, we lost our friend and stalwart member, Mr Peter Dwyer. Pete and Shirl joined back in 2004 (I think), and the club changed the club forever! Pete rarely missed a gig or a rehearsal over all those years, and he made every occasion so much more fun with his warmth and kindness, his good humour, his beautiful voice and playing and his on-stage dancing and general hijinx. It was lovely to come together in December to remember Pete, to play some of his favourite tunes and sing the songs we will remember him by. We will miss him dearly.
2021 - The year that will be
Dare we make any plans or predictions for what 2021 has in store for us?! Yes we dare! We're pushing on with good music and great times in whatever capacity we can. More on what we've got planned for this first monthly meeting for the year below. Whether online or in-person, we're planning a range of sessions and workshops and all things fiddling for this year. Hopefully the situation with COVID and restrictions means that we can continue to come together.
With the prospect of any live performances looking pretty slim in the next few months, hopefully we can have a few more sessions. Great excuse to come together, play some music, have some fun and - of course - eat some food!
Jack Wilson
Club President
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