- Monthly Club Nights
- Newport Bush Orchestra
- Newport Community Choir
- Open Stage Nights
- Songwriting Group
- Celtic Session
- Music Workshops
- Bush Dances
- Folk Festival
- Live@Newport
- Performers at Community Events
Monthly Club Nights
The monthly club nights began in August 2004 and continue as our core activity. They are friendly and informal evenings for all lovers of folk music, folk singing and folk dancing. Actually for all music lovers generally as the nights tend to be very eclectic with a mix of fiddle tunes, swing, jazz, folk classics, popular music and a bit of poetry and storytelling too. All are welcome. Bring along an instrument or just come and enjoy the music at 7:30pm on the last Friday of each month February - November (see calendar for dates).
Venue:
Newport Community Hall
13 Mason St, Newport
Entry is $5 or $3 for NFFC members, children and students.
Newport Bush Orchestra
The Newport Bush Orchestra has been running since early 2006. Under the leadership of local musician Greg O'Leary, the Orchestra has developed an impressive reportoire of Australian traditonal tunes. New members are always welcome. The Orchestra performs regularly at the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club and has performed all over Victoria at festivals and special events.
The Newport Bush Orchestra runs on a number of principles that make it different from a ‘classical’ orchestra:
- All musicians, of all ages, are welcome, whether experienced or just starting out
- There is no written music - all the tunes are learned by ear
- Any musical instrument is welcome, but traditionally ‘bush instruments’ are used, e.g. fiddle, guitar, tin whistle, mandolin, bass, washboard, accordion, banjo, stick and black kettle...etc
- The repertoire consists of traditional Australian dance tunes
Conductor
Greg O'Leary is a professional musician who has played with many folk and bush bands. He has also worked as a music teacher in schools. The success of a bush orchestra Greg led in 2004 with the Ringwood Folk Club inspired the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club to have a go too, and with some funding support from the Australian Folk Life Fund, the Newport Bush Orchestra was born.
As a conductor Greg has the ability to coach and encourage beginning musicians while inspiring more experienced musicians with his encyclopaedic musical knowledge. Every tune has a story and Greg seems to know them all. His infectious enthusiasm unites a group of disparate musicians and instruments into an accomplished orchestra.When and where
Monday evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. Terms usually the same as school terms, see Calendar for exact dates.
Venue: Outlets Neighbourhood House, 43 Mason St - Online map.
Downloads
- NBO Tunes Book
- NBO Charter
- More downloads on our Tunes page
- Even more downloads on the new NBO Tunes site.
Enquiries
Michael Stewart
Phone: (03) 9399 4466
NBO payments
This term
NBO members - pay your Term 2 2013 fee ($88) now via Paymate
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Newport Community Choir
Choirs are springing up all over Melbourne and Newport is no exception. The Newport Community Choir started up in October 2008 and has been going strong since then, rehearsing regularly and performing at local venues. See our fab video, made in late 2011.
Everyone welcome
Come along, join us and experience the fun of singing with others in a supportive environment. There are no auditions, just join in and have a go! There is a place in this choir for everyone – whether you have a little experience as a singer, a lot or none at all. We perform regularly at the NFFC club nights and other events.
Choir leader:
Alan Davies
Since first joining a choir twelve years ago, Alan has sung in choirs large and small and has led singing workshops for schools and festivals. Along with his musical skills, Alan has developed a passion for choral singing and a firm belief that singing is for everyone.
Repertoire
Our current repertoire includes:
- Banana Boat Song - a classic from Harry Belafonte
- Dimna Juda Mamo - tales of an evil wood-nymph from Macedonia
- Down in the River to Pray - you might know this song from the movie
O Brother Where Art Thou? - Freedom is Coming - a bit of good old-fashioned gospel
- Horror Movie - the Skyhooks pop classic from 1975
- Ipharadisi - a South African gospel song
- Morning Has Broken - a beautiful song with lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, popularised by Cat Stevens
- Mravalzhamier - Georgian song, wishing you a long life
- Roof Rack - an Oxo Cubans song about love and decrepit cars
- Sinje-Nje-Nje - traditional Zulu hymn
- Step By Step - a 19th century union song
- Sylvie - a Leadbelly number. We do 2 versions of this song, a 4-part harmony (thanks to Andrew Houston for arrangement) and a simple 2-part version that we teach to our audience in minutes!
- Tuxedo Junction - a 1930s swing number by Erskine Hawkins
- Two of Us - from the Beatles' Let It Be album.
- Zamangwaza - a Bantu initiation song, with foot-stomping rhythm
When and where
Wednesday evenings 7:30 - 9:00pm.
Our terms are generally the same as school terms.
See calendar for details.
Venue: Newport Community Hall, 13-15 Mason St Newport - Online map.
Cost
- 9-week term: $79
- 10-week term: $88
- 11-week term: $97
Not sure? Come along for a free try-out session. If you like it, pay for the rest of the term at $10 per session.
More information
Call Alan Davies on 9391 1103, or
Choir videos
We made this video in late 2011 for our good friends at The Substation. Support their fundraiser!
This is a an Australian Christmas carol we recorded in late 2012.
Hear us on SoundCloud
Open Stage Nights
A chance to get up on stage and perform, or perhaps to just come along and enjoy listening to local performers in a relaxed atmosphere. The night is run on a 'blackboard' system - put your name on the board and you'll get a turn to perform. Cafe style seating, BYO food and drink. Open Stage Nights are held at 7:30pm on the second Friday of each month February - November (see calendar for details).
To receive email updates about the Open Stage nights, Sign up to our email updates 
. If you're already on our email list, it will prompt you to "update your profile". Follow the instructions to add your email to the Open Stage list.
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The Incredibly Supportive Songwriting Group
This group is currently 'in recess'. We know you're out there, songwriters, but we weren't getting sufficient numbers at the monthly gatherings. We're considering ways to make this group serve the needs of songwriters. Got any ideas or suggestions?
Contact us if you're interested.
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Celtic Session
First Friday of the month at the Newport Bowls Club. See Calendar for details.
Here are the tunes, you know what to do...
To receive email updates about the Celtic Session nights, Sign up to our email updates . If you're already on our email list, it will prompt you to "update your profile". Follow the instructions to add your email to the Celtic Session list.
Reels Drowsie Maggie |
Polkas Dennis Murphy’s |
Jigs Kesh |
Jig o’ Slurs Dusty Windowsills |
Hornpipes Boys of Blue Hill |
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Ukulele workshop
Music Workshops
We run a series of workshops in Autumn each year. The workshops have covered traditional folk instruments such as fiddle, guitar and mandolin, and also less conventional topics such as stagecraft, yodelling and how to use a PA system.
The 2012 series comprised Old Timey, Singing, Percussion and Sibelius workshops (the Sibelius music software, not the composer!) Watch the calendar for future workshops. If you would like to be alerted about future workshops, subscribe to our email updates.
Contact us for more information.
Braemar in performance
Live@Newport
On the third Thursday of every month we bring you live music at the Newport Bowls Club.
Past performers have included Braemar, Taliska, Nick Charles and Paul Wookey. Once or twice a year the program changes to an open-mike theme night, e.g. "Beatles vs Stones" or "Bobfest".
Drinks are available at bar prices.
To receive email updates about the Live@Newport nights, Sign up to our email updates . If you're already on our email list, it will prompt you to "update your profile". Follow the instructions to add your email to the Live@Newport list.
What's on Live@Newport
Scroll down for more.
Bush Dances
The NFFC and Friends of Newport Lakes organise an annual Bush Dance at Newport Lakes Park.
The 2012 Bush Dance will be held on Sunday 18 March. See calendar for details.
For a report and photos from our last Bush Dance, see our blog.
Our annual Folk Festival is held in early July each year. The Festival includes concerts, jam sessions, workshops, kids' activities and lots more.
See our Festival page for details.
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Performers at community events
NFFC musicians pop up at festivals, fetes, celebrations and concerts from Williamstown to Echuca and beyond.
We have soloists and groups available for all types of venues and events.
Contact us for more details.
The Newport Bush Orchestra performs at Maldon Folk Festival