There have been discussions in this group about the decline of ragtime
festivals in the USA. Here in Australia, our population is too small
to even hope for such an event, so we must contend with accepting
ragtime as a (usually small) component of a broader jazz festival.

Having said that, might I suggest that if you want to visit Australia
and wish to experience ragtime as it is here, structure your visit so
you attend the Merimbula (south coast of NSW) Jazz Festival on the
second weekend in June (Friday evening to Monday afternoon). As a
result of the ragtime leanings of one of the organisers, this seems to
have become the festival where most ragtime is performed. One of the 8
venues is even labelled "The Maple Leaf Room", and contains the only
grand piano of the festival. Most ragtime is performed here, even
though this only makes up about 30%% of this venue's performances.

Last year's event gives an indication of ragtime performed at the
festival. Solo piano performers were classical organist Harold
Fabricant ("An Organist Takes a Break") who performed mainly early UK
and...

Great to see you 'spreading the word' David.

I'll see you there.

Doug Rann

"David Beattie" bigpond.com> wrote in message
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