Director of Music: Boris Hunt
••••••
Collector combine traditional and modern instruments,
with a range of strong lead vocalists, all fine interpreters
of Australian songs.
The members of the band are united by their long love
of seeking out and playing traditional Australian music.
Collector formed in 2001 to explore the idea of a bigger band playing
arrangements of rare Australian music.
The energy and conviction of the band is plain.
Whether it's one of the great old ballads, an unaccompanied song,
the sweetest waltz, or a set of tunes with the band in full flight,
Collector is heartfelt, entertaining and infectiously irreverent.
The songs reflect Australian history, landscape and place names
- Australians will recognise the context as their own.
Wayward's Ricarda at Ironfest 2007. Photo by G. Phipps
Wayward’s repertoire extends from the early 10th Century to the 16th Century
with the main focus on the songs of the French Trouvères and Troubadours
and German Minnesingers, who while singing songs of unrequited love,
also sang of crusades and the basic pleasures in life
- eating, drinking and the prospect of warm bed.
Wayward perform songs in English, French, German, Swedish & Latin.
BOMB blastin' at Ironfest 2007. Photo by A. Lynes
BOMB stands for Boris One Man Band.
Boris uses the stimuli surrounding him to create relevant art for that minute.
It forms and disappears. It swells and feeds from the audience and delivers
a gutsy and raw reply which comments on the news of the day or a couple walking past.
Boris sings plays drums, guitar, cornet , turntables and organ
all at the same time, generating more sound than any one man should.
Ironfest once again is pleased to present the dramatic and colourful parade of
Lithgow's own Highland Pipe Band.
The Band is perhaps most active in its ball presentations.
The Lithgow Highland Pipe Band has proved so successful
because of the experience of the Band in playing
at Scots balls for many years in other centres.
In addition to the Lithgow Ball, the Band has annual engagements
for Scots balls at Bathurst, Blayney, Cowra, Oberon, Mudgee,
Blackheath and Wallerawang. The Band also has an average
of six other engagements outside Lithgow at festivals,
shows, and assisting charitable organisations.
Some Band engagements have been annual events for over twenty years,
which in itself is a token to the Band members.
If they still like you after twenty years you can’t be a bad bunch of lads.
"I love it when an artist has that "indefinable something"
.........Snez is special not only in her performances, but in her song writing.
She exudes passion, beauty and charisma."
Jim Shipstone, ex. MD BMG Music Publishing.
It's very rare to experience an artist who sings and writes with spirit, passion
and raw emotion, on stage and in the studio.
Her voice is a tapestry of emotion, vulnerability and sensuality.
She has a formidable talent as a songstress & interpretor of song.
Moving her audiences with stripped back acoustic numbers as well as
creating a fusion of confident, fresh and melodic music with her full band.
SNEZ has performed at many festivals and concerts across Australia,
sharing the spotlight with notable artists such as Renee Geyer, Robyn Loau & Robyn Dunn.
SNEZ was awarded BEST International Female Pop Artist in 2007 from the
Toronto Exclusive Music Magazine Awards and was a top 5
finalist on the ABC radio Acoustica competition in 2008.
For the past 2 years, SNEZ has been co-writing with widely respected
Producer/Singer/songwriter Stewart Peters. Stewart has been involved
as a songwriter/producer with various Australian performers and has performed
on various national TV shows.
click here for performance timetabe (click)
Icarus has established itself as one of Australia's
premier stiltwalking companies.
They have built a strong reputation on their abiltiy
to thrill and surprise audiences
with their unique and often humerous characters.
They have been regular Ironfest contributors over the years,
bringing new acts each visit..
Nellie Collins has performed his juggling, fire and balancing stunts
internationally since 1993 at festivals all around the world,
including Glastonbury, Linz, Ghent, Taste of Tasmania, and Ironfest 2007.
Step back in time to 1911 with the Katoomba Amusements Company.
Be astonished by Professor Pickwick and the amazing Immaculate Regenerator.
Help Miss. Isabel search for rare and endangered specimens,
The Colonel for the legendary Black Panther and Maisy for her long lost brother.
Will they be at Ironfest too?
Based in Lithgow, Belly D is a dynamic group of
dedicated dancers of all ages. Directed by Tanya Hineman.
Tanya Hineman has been passionatly involved in Bellydance for over eight years.
In that time she has attended numerous workshops that include Kaligi,
Saidi, Tribal, Gypsy, Folkloric, Zills, Ancient Egyptian, Ballet,
and a certificate course in Choreography.
Tanya has danced at over fifty performaces, ranging from Nursing Homes
to Academics, to other Bellydancers, (her toughest audience to date).
Tanya is also a certified Fitness Instructor.
Her favourite pastime is to attend live music workshops with Terezka is Sydney,
as Tanya believes that in order for her to continue to be a good
teacher, she must also be a good student.
Zhagareet are a group of women from the Blue Mountains
who are passionate about Middle Eastern Dance.
Zhagareet is directed and choreographed by Cathie Gorman
and performs on a regular basis at festivals all around the State.
INSIDE OUT AND UPSIDE DOWN HULA HOOPS THAT BARE ALL!
A peek behind the scenes of a circus spectacular ? where all? dreams can come true!?
A unique street theatre experience, direct from her imagination,
via streets all around the world.
Join Tee in her invisible tent for a circus show for all ages.
A blend of hula hoops, manipulation and aussie humour from a woman
who has performed in many of the world?s remotest corners!.
Flavoured with audience participation, anything is possible!
What happens when the dressing room is see - through, the star can only juggle
one ball and the man who will help dress her is a total stranger?
The show must go on! This one woman circus has bought smiles to young,
and young at heart in towns like Adelaide, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Nijmegen and Sydney.
The Middle Ground belly dancers demonstrate two cultures
coming together, sharing of knowledge, and respecting our differences.
The Arabic coming together with the Wiradjuri (aboriginal) and together
they perform appreciating our differences in dance style.
visit www.cell.org.au
CeLL is an industrial strength music box making use of the voluminous
acoustic boom that a 6m shipping container can offer.
CeLL operates as a self-generating symphony, converting digital data into spontaneous rhythmic sequences.
At times a raucous cacophony emits from the open doors, at others a rhythmical pounding evokes the universal urge to dance. Painted with motifs of clouds and sky, the box is closed off by bars running across its front, a frustrating prohibition between bodies and the thunderous machinery inside.
As loud as CeLL is at its peak, there is something about the quality of this loudness that presses you to want to get right inside of it, so its rhythms can really vibrate your bones. The comic element to CeLL is in the unexpected shifts and clashes of tempo, in the way it becomes an organism with its own pulsing personality, oscillating curiously between mechanized factory and shantytown one-man band- minus the one man.
Machine artist Miles van Dorssen & composer Nick Wishart present CeLL.
On site at Ironfest 2008 just inside the Main Gate
return to events listing
Photos by J.Williams & G.Phipps
Lithgow is the birthplace of steel in Australia, and has a long
history of excellence in working with metals.
At one time there were three iron smelters and two
copper smelters in operation in the Lithgow Valley alone.
Blacksmiths of all kinds numbered in the hundreds.
Even today, when blacksmiths are an endangered species
around the country, the Lithgow Region can still count the
number of working blacksmiths in the dozens.
Blacksmithing has been at the 'molten core' of Ironfest from the
very beginning, when Harry Piers, a Central West artist/blacksmith,
first demonstrated ancient skills with his forge at Ironfest in 2000.
At the same time, well known local regional artist/blacksmith, Dave Sherlock,
exhibited hand forged work for sale at the first Ironfest.
Each year more and more blacksmiths come to Ironfest,
often travelling large distances, to exhibit work for sale,
to demonstrate, and/or to take part in competitions.
Over 20 blacksmiths are expected to take part in this year's
blacksmithing competitions, which will be run over two days.
Demonstrating ancient metal working skills, racing against the clock to finish,
turning lumps of iron into art; blacksmiths from all over Australia
drip sweat as they compete in competitions over two days.
The Hall of Industry is the Ironfest engine room where coins are smelted
and the knife-making, chain-mail making and bio-diesel making workshops take place.
There will be continuous blacksmithing action taking
place over the two days in the ‘Hall of Industry’ (see festival site map).
photos by J. Williams
Bikes, Trikes and other delikes - Sat 26th April.
On site registration 10am - 12 noon
Prizes and display of chrome and craft during the day
Location: Adjacent to the Grand Stand
click for Participants Form
click here for timetable and map (click)
Participants info (click here)
We need to act. Faced with rapid climate change and the accompanying
extreme weather events; water shortage, as well as an impending energy crisis;
adaption through innovation is our only chance.
Presenting ways that we can actively make a difference in our own way of life.
Great ideas on how to deal with rapid climate change and the accompanying
extreme weather events; water shortage, and the impending energy crisis;
from solar power systems to water security, to building energy efficient houses.
Location: The Far Side of the Hall of Industry
Participant enquiries:
Email: ironfest@lisp.com.au
& (click here)
Ironfest aims to provide as many hands on experiences as possible,
particularly in the area of working with metal.
Below is a list of classes/ workshops/ courses that are available in 2008.
This list will continue to grow as the year progresses.
If you have an interest not listed here, please email us and we will see if we can help.
• Belly Dancing
Belly D with Tanya Hineman
Come and learn the ancient art of Belly dancing. From the earthy beauty of baladi, to the exotic undulations of the Delta Tanya will recreate the atmosphere of Egypt. Learn her choreography through this workshop, and learn also the age old tradition of creating your own dance with sequences that have been handed down through the generations.
Tanya has over eight years of Belly dancing under her coin belt and a passion that rivals her troupes, Belly D. Come along and enjoy a journey of female empowerment as this ancient dance genre encourages you to be as much woman as you can be and to be proud of it.
p.s It's not ageist or sizeist, and is lots of fun too.
Cost: $15.00.
Duration: One and a half hours.
Time: 10.00am.
Contact: 0429 962 451.
Middle Ground Belly Dancing
The Middle Ground Belly Dancers practice Traditional Jordanian Moves from the Middle East. You will explore the concepts of Jordanian Traditional Belly Dancer moves as culturally done so from the Traditions beginnings. Learn the Basic and most common moves, while learning how to focus and tap into the rhythm of Arabic Music.
This workshop contains a teacher who learnt at hand while growing up and her long time student. This workshop is a 30 minute session.
Cost: $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.
Duration: 30 min.
For times contact: 0405 375 007.
• Medieval Combat Workshops for Kids
Location: Outer Reaches
Historica
Participants will be inducted into the safety rules of Knight School and the historical use of the weapons and rules of chivalry. They will be prepared to engage in full-speed, full-contact team battles using specially designed and constructed padded swords and protective equipment (Latex covered Shield & Leather helmet with foam padding).
All training and combat will be overseen by our instructors and fully controlled by them in a double roped off area. Generally the age limits for participation is 6-14 however it will be down to the Safety Officer on duty to ensure that each child is capable to undertake the session.
The program will be hosted by Historica which has been conducting and designing education programs for schools and museums since 2004. Historica brings history to life.
Cost: $10 per child
Duration: 30 min.
Times: During Festival Hours.
• Blacksmithing
Beginners Short Course
Ph Phil Spark 02 47 59 3937
Mobile: 0410 183 104
Email: philipspark@hotmail.com
• Industrial Blacksmithing
TAFE
Richmond Campus
Ph: 02 45709050
TAFE
Ultimo Campus
Ph: 02 9217 3168
• Knife Making
One day Course
Ph/ Fax Alex Schiebner: 02 63 79 1364
Mobile: 0428 791 364
Email: talerwinforge@bigpond.com
• Chain-mail Making
One Day Course
Ph Anthony FitzGerald 02 4787 1700
Mobile: 0405 241 326
• Welding
Long Course
TAFE
Lithgow Campus
Ph: 02 63 520 444
• Silver Smithing
Ph Sharon (02) 6494 5739
Email: wilberstock@bigpond.com
• Circuit Bending
Short Course (Sydney)
Ph Nick 0416 166 365
Email: gijoe@toydeath.com
• Making Printed Circuit Boards
& Soldering Skills
Participants will learn to make a simple printed circuit board
from copper filmed plate and then solder a few electronic
components to make a useful electronic device to take home.
Cost will be $ 140 and all material provided.
Ph Melvin Din 0064 9 2381080
PO BOX 37 PUKEKOHE
NEW ZEALAND
Email: melvindin@clear.net.nz
Website: www.etec.net.nz
• ‘Paverpol’ Sculpture Making
Paverpol is a water based textile hardener
that can be used in many art mediums.
Ph: Mike Coombe 02 63 37 5120
Email: mikecoombe@austarnet.com.au
• Biodiesel Production
Ph Melvin Din 0064 9 2381080
PO BOX 37 PUKEKOHE
NEW ZEALAND
Email: melvindin@clear.net.nz
Website: www.etec.net.nz
photo by J.Williams
The 2nd Ironfest woodchop competition will take place on Saturday 26th April
organised by the MidWest Axeman's Association.
Location: Adjacent to The Common
Click here for timetable (click)
The two-up game has cultural icon status in Australia, and is widely played using pennies (pre-decimal currency) on Anzac Day. Two-up was played by Australian troops in the trenches during WW1. The Ironfest two-up game will involve WW1 historical re-enactors who aim to recreate the feel of the period. It is not legal, even on Anzac Day, but because of its cultural status, police tend to ‘look the other way.’
Parents please Note: The Ironfest two-up game is meant as a cultural demonstration, nevertheless, two-up is a form of gambling. To enter The Shed during this time, children will need to be accompanied by an adult and are not permitted to play.
History of Two-Up
The exact origins of the game are obscure, but it seems to have evolved from pitch and toss, a gambling game involving tossing a single coin into the air and wagering on the result of the toss which was popular amongst poorer English and Irish citizens in the 18th century. The predilection of the convicts for this game was noted as early as 1798 by the colony's first Judge Advocate, as well as the lack of skill and consequent losses at it.
There is evidence to suggest that pitch and toss had evolved into two-up, using two coins by the 1850's, and the game was played on the goldfields of the eastern states, and spread across the country with subsequent goldrushes elsewhere in Australia. As time passed, increasingly elaborate illegal "two-up schools" grew around Australia, to the consternation of authorities but in fact with the assistance of corrupt police officers.
The game was played extensively by Australia's soldiers during World War I, and games of two-up at which an even blinder official eye was cast became a regular part of ANZAC Day celebrations for the returned soldiers.
The games continued illegally for most of the 20th century throughout Australia, exclusively involving men and usually only Anglo-Australian men. Two-up was the basis of one of Australia's first major illegal gaming operations, the legendary Thommo's Two-up School, which operated at various locations in Sydney (sometimes even on boats and hired ferries) from the early years of the 20th century until well after World War II. Crime writer David Hickie claims that Thommo's was turning over tens of thousands of pounds annually by the 1920s, and it is generally acknowledged that it flourished for decades thanks to endemic police and official corruption.
Legal two-up arrived in Australia with its introduction as a "table" game at the new casino in Hobart in 1973. Laws were subsequently passed legalising two-up on Anzac Day and also legalising it at several two-up schools in outback towns (mainly as a tourist attraction). Two-up is now played at many of Australia's casinos, but from the 1960s onwards it began to drop out of the illegal gaming culture. It was at first supplanted by the card game baccarat, which enjoyed a considerable vogue in the 1960s at the numerous illegal gaming houses around Sydney, but ultimately it was overtaken by the mainstream adoption of poker machines (slot machines) in NSW clubs. It is also played at Returned Serviceman's Leagues (RSLs) on Anzac Day.
(http://au.answers.yahoo.com/answers2/frontend.php/question?qid=20070424222202AA0gRjc)
Location: The Shed
Ironfest isn't just entertainment for the serious adult festival goers..
- look down, there are lots of munchkins running around at your feet -
and this is where they come together for a rollicking parade of
liddlefolk amusements and musical adventures, enough for every kid at heart!!
images from Ironfest 2007 artroom by m.graham
(Fri Sat & Sun)
Curated by Dragan Kalemusic; featuring artworks
by students from the local High Schools.
Location: The Royal Wardrobe off the Ballroom, Lithgow Showground.
(Fri Sat & Sun)
Location: Just Inside the Main Gate
Works by local sculptors
including:
Tim Johnman, Philip Spark, Colin Fenn and MacGregor Ross |  |
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