Fairbridge Festival of World and Folk Music

Fairbridge Festival of World and Folk Music is Western Australia’s most popular family camping festival which takes place annually in April. It is a friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, self-contained bushland site at Fairbridge Village, South West Highway, 5 km north of Pinjarra, Western Australia. A 2 hour drive from Perth CBD.
This year, 2012, was the 20th Fairbridge Festival and all the signs are that the momentum and enthusiasm continues to grow. The scene is set for another great weekend of joyous music making. As well as a growing number of top international, interstate and home grown artists there are the youth and children’s festivals, numerous workshops, street theatre, a vibrant markets area, poetry and much much more to enjoy.
Fairbridge Village makes a wonderful festival site, with graceful, mature bush and sweeping views over the Darling Escarpment about 100 km south of Perth’s outlying south-eastern suburbs. Over the weekend the site comes alive with music in numerous marquees and permanent buildings, and in the church which is the home for a now-legendary Sunday morning Gospel session and a plethora of a cappella singing in its natural habitat.
The festival is now established as a major event on the WA cultural calendar with a devoted audience base, a strong pool of volunteers, and a remarkably stable organising committee led by president Carole Winfield. Its reputation has spread to the point where each year it receives well over 500 applications from acts wanting to play, many of them from interstate. It has stayed true to the original vision of catering to a family audience, and presents probably the largest children’s program, in proportion to the festival as a whole, of any such event in the country.
The success of the festival is an inspiring example of what can be done from the grass roots, at the far-off, sparsely populated end of the country, by a small group of people dedicated to the love of folk music and community events.
So we decided to go and have a look.
It was a very pleasant drive, east of Perth. Along the way we saw the now compulsory plethora of bikeys, classic cars and inumerable towable camping caravans and Winnebago's.
Arrived about 11.30am, made our way to the entrance to be greeted by a very nice lady wanting $240!!!! We never imagined that there was even a cost, but anyway, we had travelled to far not to go and have a look.
Well, it was brill. The place was wall to wall folkies, earth dwellers, you know the type. embracing the flower power era, dressed how I imagine Glastonbury/Woodstock people would be.
A flavour of the acts!
The Ball Point Penguins - comedy
Big Rory & his Great Scottish, (very amorous and incontinent) Beer Hound, Ochie.

Big Rory

Ochie

They were really really funny

He just pee'd on anyone who came near him!

The Chipolata's - A trio!!!!
My Friend the Chocolate Cake - singing duo, folkie name or what?
Ye Old Mucky Duck Bush Band - what do you think? Say that when you've had a few.
Rocket Girl - Rocket Girl Rocket Show is a spectacular and exciting outdoor performance. Fun for all primary school and lower high school aged kids Rocket Girl introduces the science of rocket flight, 'Newton's third law' and 'conservation of momentum'. Safe and inclusive educational fun - well Peter liked it!!
Perth Morris Men - Yeah they even have 'em over here.


Same the world over!

Perth Scottish Fiddlers - I'll let you guess.
Shogglenifty -Famous the world over for inventing techno ceilidh, acid croft and hypnofolkadelia, Shooglenifty is one of Scotland's most unique musical exports. NEVER HEARD OF 'EM.
Spookeymen of the West - I watched these for a while, and they were right!!
Stiff Gins - aboriginal
All in all a good day out. Think we might indulge in a bit of 'Glamping' next year.
The Skerritts in Oz

York

Went off to York a couple of weeks ago. About 1.5 hours east of Perth. I can tell you it ain't nothing like York, UK!!!
York, in the Avon Valley of Western Australia, is situated 97 kilometres east of Perth, a pleasant 1.5 hour drive (yep, correct) It is one of the most charming and picturesque (no wouldn't describe it as that!)  towns in Western Australia.
Founded in 1831 on the banks of the Avon River, it was the first inland European settlement in WA.
York has a long history and a unique past, with many of its old buildings still being utilised today (no, I'm afraid I wouldn't say that either). It has much to offer (mmmm, they are stretching that a little bit), from its naturally beautiful scenery to picturesque farmlands, and an abundance of activities and attractions. (now they really are shaving the truth)
York is also well known for annual events and festivals, ranging from music, to arts and crafts, to vintage motor vehicles, cultural sporting events and its historical gardens and roses.(Didn't spot them!)
York is a must to visit and warmly welcomes visitors to the town. (Yeah, would agree with that)

Interesting eh? Definitely picturesque!!!!!!!!!

Great drive though, 60 kms of sheer nothingness.
The place itself is just like something from the wild west. One High Street, properties both sides of the road for about 6/700 yards, nothing behind them. Most places were up for sale, looked like the place was struggling to me.

The High Street

Not exactly Yorkminster! Quaint though

The local Vicar was from Telford would you believe?

Very popular with motor bikers and eccentrics with Morgans (Our Kid) and the like!!!!

Found somewhere nice and safe to leave Peter

Whilst we had a walk around the local shopping centre

And then grabbed some lunch.

Then high tailed it back home.
The Skerritts in Oz

The Fish!

Peter has been swimming for the school again, did him self proud with a second and a fifth. They were third in the relay.

What a boy!!

Some of these Aussie kids are like flippin' dolphins at 12-16 years of age.

Third man in the relay, away he goes.

Raring to go

Swimming underwater all the way is just not allowed Pete!!!!

The school finished 4th out of eight, which considering they were competing against much bigger and more established schools was a magnificient acheivement.

The Skerritts in Oz

'When I'm dancing on the danger line'

Went to see Duran Duran in concert last Saturday at The Sandalford Estate, only about 10 minutes up the road. Same place we saw Buble.

Just managed a swift one before going in.

Great venue, everybody sitting around picnicing and getting steadly sloshed.

You couldn't take your own grog, as Sandalford would have missed an opportunity to give it to you right up the 'Aristotle Onasis'. Very cheap white or red wine 15 quid a bottle!! and 330mm cans of Heiniken 8 quid a can! Robbin' b******s.

Our Wend and Libby tried to smuggle some wine in though, as you might know, Libby managed it, Our Wend got caught. They only confiscated it and they gave it back to you when you left.
Got home circa 11.30, slightly the worst for wear, starting watching Villa Arsenal, fell asleep.
Our Wend was not too good most of Sunday I can tell ya.
The Skerritts in Oz

Happy St Patricks Day

A belated Happy St Patricks Day to one and all.
Left to right, Dylan (he is normally happier than that, honest), Rachel, Lisa, Brad (the tall fella) yours truly and Our Wend.
God I'm missing my Guinness.

The Skerritts in Oz.

Its Bloody Big

Just in case you are all concerned about the cyclone that has hit Port Hedland in Western Australia or the awful flooding that is in Queensland, you needn't worry.
Port Hedland is the equivalent in distance from Perth as Madrid is from Birmingham!! In fact, the northern extremity of Western Australia is almost the same distance from Perth (2742 miles) as Morrocco is from Brum.
As far as the floods in Queensland are concerned, they are as far away from Perth as New York is from Brum.
Yeah, like I said its bloody big.
The Skerritts in Oz.

Jesus Christ!!!!

Our Wend did a pizza delivery the other evening, only to be greeted at the door by The Man, himself.
Honest, full beard, loin cloth, sandals, scared the living daylights out of her!

He'd had a shave by the time I'd gone back and snapped him!

'Anyway Our Wend' I said, 'he doesn't look like JC', she just kept saying 'O God, O God, O God'!!!!!!!!!!!
Still v v busy here, takings going in the right direction, for how long who knows. We had our best week ever week before last, then beat it last week. Very time consuming I have to say, but it gets a little easier every week.

I did a delivery last week where the boys asked if I wanted to have a beer, which I had to decline, then they said I could stay and watch THE show if I wanted to, took me a bit longer to decline that invitation! Had to get over to Duncraig for another delivery didn't I?!!!!!!

This was obviously before the show started. Anyway how is one family meatlovers gonna feed that lot?

Talking about the pizza delivery front, we deliver to the most unusual places at peoples homes, some of these Aussies are strange. People sit in the garage next to their beloved Harley, Ute, camper, or classic car, or varying sizes of piles of crap, I have delivered to a guy sitting in his Scobby Doo type motor home, even people sitting in their front garden.

Yeah, and there was a dog in it!

Went to this v v nice house recently, tiny little dog greeted me on the drive, absolute Babe answered the door, I asked her if it was her dog, she said it was and I said how unusual it was that it didn't bark. She said 'O, he probably thought you were my Dad'

'O thank you very much' (that bloody hair dye ain't working is it?) 

'O, I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that,' she said, 'its just that there hasn't been a man around here for quite sometime'

Unusually enough I was totally lost for words, and I'm sure I blushed. Just really didn't know what to say next! Just hoping she orders a pizza again soon, got loads of snappy answers now!!!!
The Skerritts in Oz