Easter Weekend, 3 - 4 April 2010

The beautiful High Country town of Nasebywill again present the Bards Ballads & Bulldust Festival at Easter 2010.

The weekend activities will be hosted by 'Tui Award' winning high country balladeer, Phil Garland and based around the historic Ancient Briton Pub, which is again holding this highly successful event. Visiitors will be treated to some top quality Kiwi Folk & country music along with bush poetry relevant to the New Zealand High Country and the Australian Outback. As well as being home to Ross 'Blue Jeans' McMillan, one of the finest bush poets in the country, the Naseby festival welcomes again our regular trio of bush balladeers from across the Ditch.

The Bards, Ballads & Bulldust festival is the only one of its kind in the country, where the emphasis is on the spoken word in the form of bush poetry, which has a huge following throughout Australia. Bush balladry has been an integral part of our national heritage since the 1890s, but its profile has remained small, going largely un-noticed and un-recognised until the birth of Bards Ballads & Bulldust. Our indigenous bush poets are finally getting some of the accolades they richly deserve thanks to Naseby and the Bards, Ballads & Bulldust Festival.

Naseby (2000 feet above worry level) is the historic capital of the High Country and best known as the home of curling. Where better to experience high country life at its exhilerating best. Visitors can see a town changed little from the earliest beginnings of the Otago goldrush, whilst at the same time visit wonderfully preserved and historic buildings set amidst some of the most stunning landscapes and oldest gold diggings in Central Otago.

Ancient Briton Miners Cottage Post Office The Chronicle

(Naseby Buildings: The Ancient Briton Hotel, a miner's cottage, the old post office, the offices of "The Chronicle")

Guests

This year's guests include:-

  • Brian Turner - (Maniototo)
  • Milton Taylor - (Aust)
  • Melanie Hall - (Aust)
  • Suzie Carcary - (Aust)
  • Marcus Turner - (Dunedin)
  • Catgut & Steel - (Dunedin)
  • Ross McMillan - (Naseby)
  • Des Styles - (Naseby)
  • Roger Lusby - (Nelson)
  • Dusty Spittle - (Cromwell)
  • Colin Patterson - (Leeston)
  • Phil Garland - (Culverden)

Melanie Hall Milton Taylor Susie Carcary Brian Turner

(Melanie Hall, Milton Taylor, Susie Carcary, Brian Turner)

Catgut and Steel Phil Garland Roger Lusby Marcus Turner

(Catgut and Steel, Phil Garland, Roger Lusby, Marcus Turner)

Programme

Good Friday
Welcome and informal gathering in the Ancient Briton Pub, Naseby with music session from all comers. A chance to join in!

Saturday Morning
High Country breakfast with live poetry, songs & yarns from invited guests and local Syndicate farmers.

Saturday
Live performances throughout the day from invited poets and musicians in and around the Ancient Briton Hotel. Further details to be confirmed!

Saturday Night
BBQ session with songs, stories, poetry & yarns.

Sunday Morning
High Country breakfast with live poetry, songs & yarns from invited guests and local Syndicate farmers.

Sunday
Live performances continue throughout the day from invited poets and musicians in and around the Ancient Briton. Further details to be confirmed.

Sunday Night
Open performers night at the Ancient Briton, when invited guests will share the stage with all comers.


♦ Admission free to all events

♦ Well priced meals and snacks available from the town hotels and local Cafe throughout the weekend

♦ Well priced meals & snacks available from the town hotels and local Cafe throughout the weekend.

♦ Accommodation should still be available at the two local hotels, two motels and the camping ground. Further accommodation can be found at Ranfurly only 20 minutes away. However early bookings are advised!

♦ For further information contact the programme oganiser Phil Garland at pgarland(at)xtra.co.nz. *

♦ Accommodation sources in Naseby are found at http://www.accommodationz.co.nz/naseby-accommodation2.shtml

Accommodation

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