Flying Engine String Band, Post Office Hotel, Coburg, May 14th 2010

Craig Woodward's Flying Engine String Band is the latest incarnation of popular old-time string band Headbelly Buzzard who held the Friday night residency at the Railway Hotel for 14 years. Flying Engine comprises: Craig Woodward (banjo/fiddle), Brett Leppik (Banjo-mandolin), Jono Wilson (shoe-string guitar/ and shoes!), Liam Wratten (banjo), and Jeremy Hanley (double bass). The Post Office Hotel has been recently refurbished and is a pub with a Fitzroy feel -- polished wooden floors (great for dancing), rough hewn red-brick walls with crumbling grout, tall tables and a great courtyard. Flying Engine are hoping to play regularly on Friday nights (see local gig guides for details). In the meantime, here's some footage from Friday's gig. I'll be posting an interview with Craig Woodward in the coming weeks.

Old-timey Session @ The Lomond Hotel

Every Saturday from 5.30pm onward The Lomond Hotel hosts an old-timey session in the main bar. Led by renowned old-timey musicians Craig Woodward (Headbelly Buzzard, Sandilands, Woodward & Rough) and Warren Rough (Paramount Trio, Woodward & Rough) the session is a relaxed, family friendly, live jam for musicians and fans of old-time American mountain music. The gig is informal and open to both seasoned musicians and novices, young and old. On any given Saturday you will find anywhere from a dozen to thirty-odd musicians wandering in through the evening, instruments tucked in their cases, smiles etched in greeting, a kid or two rocketting about between legs to dance or bang on the piano in the back-room and jam along with their parents. It's a lovely, social way to spend a Saturday arvo. Thanks to Nick Steiner for the wonderful photos. The footage is just a sampler for those of you readers who haven't yet been to The Lomond on a Saturday arvo. Jess and Iona and I go down most weeks (it's a great excuse not to cook) and my daughter just loves it, as do I. It's also free of charge - as are all Lomond gigs. A great part of Melb's music culture.