> 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 USA cakewalks; Leanne Suffern, who performed early classic rags;
> Adrian Ford, who covered a range of ragtime and early stride; and I
> ("Ragtime Dave") played classic and lesser known early USA and
> Australian rags. Duos were Jim Mills and Stephen Jewell ("The 19
> fingers of Mills and Jewell", no, I don't know why), two pianos,
> presenting classic rags and stride; "Pianowash" (Jeremy Cookes piano
> and Jan Pickering washboard), with mainly straight ragtime; and "Pluck
> and Tickle" (Russel Sheridan piano and Peter Millburn banjo) who
> presented ragtime and old time sing-along. Larger groups were "The
> Elite Syncopators" (clarinet, piano, bass, and washboard, not the USA
> band of the same name); "Spirituals to Ragtime" (clarinet, banjo, bass
> and drums); "Mothers Ruin" (reeds, viola, flute, banjo, bass, drums,
> used to be only ragtime but recently have included Latin-America
> music), and "Ragtime Rollers" (piano, tuba, reeds, banjo, drums).
> Several of us included our own compositions. In addition to this, some
> other bands included ragtime (eg "Gutbucket Jug Band" had some very
> nice ragtime featuring mandolin) or ragtime-related material ("Wizard
> and Oz" always include quality boogie, and one of the bands at the
> Monday picnic, I've forgotten which, played straight honky-tonk).
>
> More details, registration forms etc. at
> www.merimbulajazz.org.au .
>
> If you wish to perform there, musician registration closes March 17.
> As all performers are treated equally, and the organisation is non-
> profit, payment is only nominal. If you do wish to perform, my wife
> and I will help defray costs by accommodating a few people at our home
> during your stay in Sydney and (perhaps) getting you to Merimbula.
>
> Hoping to hear an overseas accent or two at Merimbula this year.
>
> RAGards
>
> David Beattie