NCFC Spring Flute Festival 2008: David Blonski

The second annual NCFC/NoNahme Spring Gathering starts this weekend in Georgetown, CA. To highlight the event, I thougth that I would feature a short introduction or review of each of the vendors who will be selling flutes next weekend. There will be a lot of other vendors with awesome crafts for sale, far too many for me to talk about each of them. But since I know personally, or know of all of the flutemakers, I thought that I would spend a few moments letting you know what's in store so that you bring a few extra bucks with you, just in case...

David Blonski has been a long time supporter of the Northern California Flute Circle, and is a recording artist with many albums to his credit. David is one of the premier didjeridoo players on the west coast, and you'll want to make sure that you don't miss his performance this weekend! David also will be teaching two didgeridoo workshops, one for beginners and one for advanced players. Dave promises that you'll be able to make some sounds by the end of the beginners workshop. Dave also manufactures a variety of instruments, including didgeridoos, flutes and shakers. Dave will be selling instruments and CD's at his booth this weekend. I expecially enjoy his latest album: "Into the Night" which is a great album for listening to while driving (especially for those late night commutes - it'll definitely keep you awake, tapping to the beat...)

Check out Dave's website: http://www.timelessproductions.com

For a complete list of vendors, check out the festival page: http://www.softcom.net/users/greebo/festival.htm

Don't forget that the NCFC/NoNahme Spring Flute Festival is April 26-27, 2008, in Georgetown, CA. 8 AM - 6 PM each day

Ash Dargan in Concert in Marin TONIGHT

Just a reminder:

MILL VALLEY in Marin County, nearby SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:
Monday, October 23rd
San Francisco,
Mill Valley
The Rock Morton Theater
STORIES OF WIND CONCERT, "A LIVE MULTI-MEDIA PERFORMANCE"
8:00p.m., tickets available at the door arrive 45 minutes BEFORE!!!
142 Throckmorton Ave Mill Valley, CA
Box Office: Tue-Sat, 1-6pm
PH: 415-383-9600 or
Online at: www.142throckmortontheater.com

"...a superb blend of two of the worlds oldest wind instruments, the Native American flute, and the Australian didgeridoo... Ash is a bridge between the entire world music sound of this century and what is happening here in Indigenous Australia. Ash as a composer has an ear for what we all want to hear."-- Gavin Jones, Editor of Deadly Vibe. Australia's national indigenous magazine

ASH DARGAN, an Australian indigenous recording artist world renowned for his mastery on the Didgeridoo has been pushing the boundaries of contemporary world music for the last eight years. His distinct blend of Australian indigenous and contemporary world music captures the essence of one of the oldest cultures on earth and with it transcends the boundaries of time. His music has been described as the soul of the Australian Dreamtime landscape with a timeless quality reflecting a deep connection and reverence for the spiritual wisdom of his ancestry.A family member of the Larrakia Nation, the traditional land owners of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia, Ash is an ambassador of his culture through his music, storytelling and live performances. Ash was classically trained in music from the age of eight on trumpet and came back to his cultural roots at the age of twenty two. His grandmother and great uncle, both traditional elders of the Larrakia people were instrumental in his musical adoption of the Didgeridoo and its deeper cultural significance. Through them he came to know of the Didgeridoo's unlimited potential for the expression of rhythm and its ability to represent the power of the natural and spiritual worlds. The vocal harmonies used in traditional corroboree's (ceremonies) and the natural voice of Australia's native song birds have also had a great influence on his musical compositions.
For Bookings Events
Nancy Hansen Zuschlag
ASH DARGAN EVENTS
Green Triangle International
Aurora, CO 80013 USA
303.766.0184 Fax: 303.699.1538, #223
GTI: Partnering Communities and Cultures
nhzgreentri@hotmail.com
www.ashdargan.com

Ash Dargan in Concert Sunday and Monday

Don't forget that Ash Dargan is in concert in Northern California tonight and tomorrow.

Tonight (Sunday) Ash is appearing in Napa. He's also presenting a beginners didj workshop this afternoon, and there's still room for more! For details, check out the NCFC calendar.

Monday night, Ash is appearing in Marin at the Rock Morton theater.

Didj Workshop with Ash Dargan

I really want to encourage you to attend the didj workshop with Ash Dargan, coming up next Sunday afternoon. Especially if you have never played the didj before.

I first discovered the didj 2 years before I discovered the Native American flute. I made my first several didj's out of plastic PVC pipe, which is an affordable way to play. But once I discovered the flute, i found myself playing the didj less and less. That is until earlier this year, when I decided to purchase a brand new Ben Hicks didj from the Didjeridoo Store and I took a private lesson with Ash during the INAFA convention. WOW! In that one hour, Ash provided me with some tips and tricks for circular breathing and I am now 'over the edge' with my circular breathing. I have been performing on didj for one song with my Taiko Drumming group since two weeks after I returned from the INAFA convention in August, and I have played it at 4 performances since then.

So the bottom line is this: if you have the time and the interest, I highly encourage you to check out this workshop with Ash, it's a rare opportunity to learn from a true aboriginal and highly skilled and personable teacher.

For more information check out the NCFC Calendar.

Ash Dargan Concert in Napa

We are less than two weeks away from hosting Ash Dargan in concert in Napa! This event is sponsored by the Northern California Flute Circle and hosted by the NCFC Valley Clan.

Ash Dargan played at the 2006 INAFA convention, and when he said he was interested in coming back to Northern California, we wanted to setup an event for him. If you've ever wanted to learn to play the Didjeridoo, this is your chance! Ash is teaching a an afternoon workshop in Napa on Sunday October 22nd, from 2-4PM. Cost is $25. If you've never played before, loaner didj's will be available at the workshop.

For more info on the workshop contact Brian Revheim at 707-253-1325.

In the evening of Sunday, October 22nd, Ash will be presenting his "Stories of the Wind" program at the Napa Valley Center for Spiritual Living, in Napa. If you missed Ash at the INAFA convention (or even if you had the chance to see him) this is your chance to hear one of the best (in my opinion) Aboriginal story tellers. Ash will have you enthralled, laughing and amazed as he tells stories from the outback. It's an evening not to be missed.

The concert starts at 7:30 PM, cost is $25 per ticket. A portion of the profits will go to the River School Music program.

This event is a fundraising event to buy music equipment for the River School Music Program. We will be having an auction during the event, and all proceeds from the auction will go to the school.

For more information here's a link with complete details: http://www.naflute.com/Concert-flyer-pspcolorNapa2.jpg