Got the Port Fairy gig!

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:52 pm

Got notification tonight that Dave and I got the invite to show our instruments at the Port Fairy Folk Festival so were stoked.

There's usually about 50,000 people chocking in to Port Fairy on the long weekend in March so it'll be a great opportunity.

I know Jack Spira was hoping for an invite, so I hope he's snagged a guernsey too.

There'll be a few other luthiers there so I'll be able to get into their ear about the forum.

The line up for the festival is fantastic this year as always.
Jake Shimabukuro, Loudon Wainwright III, Peggy Seeger, FÃ¦rd ( from Scaninavia - do you know these blokes Arnt?), Genticorum from Quebec,
Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill , The Duhks from Canada, The Bushwackers, Kasey Chambers, Weddings Parties Anything etc, etc
so there'll be plenty to listen to after we've shut up shop at the INSTRUMENTworX tent.

So it looks like it's going to be a fantastic weekend (if I can keep Dave out of the Guinness tent.

Looks like we'll be busy over the next couple of months finishing off the all the half built guitars in the workshop.

Bob

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:22 pm

That's fantastic news Bob . I'm truly wrapped for you guys.

I'm certain your line up of guitars is going to knock them out.
( not literally of course ).

A huge congratulations guys . Better have a few cold ones to celebrate.

Cheers , Craig

Dave White · Post by **Dave White** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:49 pm

Bob/Dave,

Fantastic - you'll love it although the panic of instrument finishing will be interesting. I did my first show at Cheltenham last September and absolutely loved it. Hope you sell lots and lots.

The line-up looks great too. I saw Loudon Wainrwright III at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1975 and still remember his version of "If I was a Carpenter" that went:

"If I was the Holy Ghost, And you were Our Lady, You could marry a carpenter, But you'd still have my baby"

Rufus and Martha are carrying on the tradition to great effect. Hayes & Cahill are fabulous too.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:57 pm

Brilliant mate, this is fantastic news and certainly has the potential to get you guys the recognition you deserve for the passion and skill that you bring to this wonderful craft.

Well done, and skin a few for me

Cheers

Kim

Sam Price · Post by **Sam Price** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:51 am

All the very best with your unique and beautiful instruments, Bob & Dave...let the Guinness flow!!

I'll have one tonight to celebrate your good news when the kids have gone to bed!!

I would love exhibit at a show one year.

Hesh1956 · Post by **Hesh1956** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:10 am

Congrats guys - so this will be kind of like your coming out at Port Fairy?

Dennis Leahy · Post by **Dennis Leahy** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:47 am

To Bob (the visible) and Dave (the invisible): wonderful news! Congratulations, now, put down that beer and get those guitars finished!

Tell Dave NOT to wear the pink dress!

Dennis

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:22 am

Dennis Leahy wrote: Tell Dave NOT to wear the pink dress!

Dennis

I don't know, after all it is Port Fairy

sebastiaan56 · Post by **sebastiaan56** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:15 am

Well there is a bundle of good news! Congrats Bob. Your instruments look very impressive and Im sure they soung great as well. I hope this is the leg into the big time!

Sebastiaan

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:52 am

Way to go guys, Wish I lived a bit closer to be able to stop buy. We love Port Fairy. Haven't been there for the festival, but just for a visit it's a great place to stop and knock back a few.

Paul B · Post by **Paul B** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:17 am

Good one Bob. Congrats.

Where the hell is Port Fairy?

Bob Connor · Post by **Bob Connor** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:32 am

Thanks everyone.

Now the work starts in earnest. At least we'll have plenty of pics to throw up here in the next few months.

These instrument shows at the festivals here in Australia are fairly laid back affairs with most builders displaying 3 or 4 instruments. Generally these instruments are new and the builders are trying to sell at the Festival.

The downside of this is that most of them are reluctant to let anyone, except who they percieve to be serious players, near them in case of damage.

We're going to take a some of the older instruments that we've built and have been played in/opened/dinged etc up as well as a few newies.

If anyone's interested here's a link the the festival website.

http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/

Thanks again for the congrats.

Dave - I saw Loudon at Cambridge in '85. John Martyn too - one of my favourite guitarists.

Dennis - Dave looks great in the pink dress.

Paul - Port Fairy is in Southwest Victoria just past Warrnabool. About 3 hours from Geelong.

Bob

jackspira · Post by **jackspira** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:19 am

Hi Bob, it will be great to see what you come up wiht. I've only just started making instruments for the festivals this week, so it will be working till midnight to get a couple out in time.
I notice too that Port fairy and the National festvial are only two weeks apart this year, yike! Might have to limit PF to only two bottles of bushmills and bed before 3am.\
Jack

Dave Anderson · Post by **Dave Anderson** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:56 am

Great news Bob and Dave! Enjoy! I hope you have a great time and sell a few.
Yeah, Loudon W. is a great performer and Funny as hell!

Be sure to take many pics from Fort Pairey!:rolf

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