Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival

YOUTH VENUE

Following the success of last years Saturday Night Youth Concert, we will be adding a new element to this years Festival – a designated Youth Venue.
We are programming concert performances, open-mic sessions, song-writing presentations, and workshops specifically aimed at youth and supporting your musical passions and goals.

Some of the artists performing and mentoring at the Youth Venue will be:

Stars of Thursday

Stars of Thursday are an acoustic, slightly alternative, original music three piece band providing a refreshing new sound. Combining creative acoustic guitar parts with intricate drum rhythms on a djembe (traditional African drum) supported by funky bass lines covered in creative melodies and inventive lyrics.
Two brothers, Tim Orchard and Jon Orchard along with Chris Richter have been working together to create the Stars of Thursday sound. A rich, energetic and quite unique taste of original music that appeals to a very wide age group. With the ability to play thought provoking ballads or fast, catchy 'get up and dance' tunes, Stars of Thursday is proving that they can keep you interested and inspired with their energy and unique, creative style of music.

Karise Eden

Karise Eden is a 19 year old singer songwriter guitarist from the central coast north of Sydney. Karise’s influences are wide and varied from traditional music through Old Time, Blues, Soul, Bluegrass and Rock.
Karise might sing a Janis Joplin song in a powerful husky voice followed by beautiful Joan Baez song the next. She also writes strong and original songs and is in the process of recording them. Karise can sometimes be seen playing double bass in the Usual Suspects, and is also involved with MADD musicians making a difference.

Susanna Carman

Susanna Carman’s live performance hints at a bit of Fleetwood Mac via Dixie Chicks skip, mixing lilting acoustic guitar, violin and smooth vocals with a gift for storytelling that slides into your affections.
Susanna is currently in the US performing a series of shows promoting the release of her second album, Circus Girl. This year at the festival, Susanna is looking forward to participating in the festival and at the Youth Venue Tent.

Andrea Soler

Andrea Soler is a genuine gypsy. Music is her life and she lives it with a nod to the cultural tradition of the troubadour, travelling the world, singing songs, telling tales and lifting spirits with a beguiling, bohemian flare and an authentic joie de vivre.

Her music is nomadic too, wandering the realms of indie folk, jazz, roots and world music. With touches of calypso, flamenco, reggae and more, Andrea intuitively blends a myriad of global influences to create music with universal appeal.

Andrea wins hearts wherever she goes, and lately a couple of awards too, picking up Female Vocal of the Year and World Music awards at the 2010 North Coast Music Industry Awards; recognition for the passion, talent and integrity that will take her a long way and win her many more accolades and many more fans.

Although this wandering minstrel is technically based in Northern NSW, she never stays put for long. She recently spent three years roaming around Europe with her guitar and ukulele, connecting with her French ancestry, honing her craft and gigging her heart out.
Her travels took her to the cobbled streets and smoky bars of Paris, the lush green hills of Scotland, the Moroccan desert and all around the UK festival circuit. Along the way, she dropped in at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, where her EP, Better in the Sunshine, and debut album, Earth on an Axis, were mastered.

Whether it’s an intimate solo show or a packed out festival, Andrea exudes a warmth and charm that quickly envelops an audience – she has an uncanny ability to connect with people through music on a very genuine and intimate level.

Andrea Soler will be performing and conducting workshops at the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival Youth Venue.

YOUTH WORKSHOPS

Some of the Youth Workshops presented at the Youth Venue this year include:

Singer/Song-Writing
Sound and PA Systems
Band formation & Band dynamics
Getting started and established
Instrument Workshops