By Paul Oboohov
Music at the Creek — as the November 7-9 Major's Creek Folk Festival is known — has been running for five years. Each year it attracts more musicians and larger audiences to the former gold-mining hamlet about 15 km south of Braidwood, perched above the picturesque Araluen Valley in southern NSW.
This festival is a must for fans of folk music dedicated to the struggles of working people.
A workshop by Rosa's Daughters examined the history of women in Australia and New Zealand. Songs taught included one on Louisa Lawson, an important feminist in the late 19th century and also Henry's mum. Another was a song about a New Zealand woman who had to live as a man to gain the freedoms of men.
Rosa's Daughters later performed a spirited gig including a rendition of "These are Rosa's lovely daughters".
Peter Hicks performed songs from his new CD, The Bottom Line. A hilarious and topical number was "What's the matter now with my bloody family?", in which a drunken queen of England describes despondently the various social misfits who make up her family.
Folk music icons Eric Bogle also performed. A highlight of his set was "The Fields of France", on the slaughter of World War I. While Bogle's musical talent is unquestioned, his constant Australian nationalism was annoying and unnecessary. Grumpy Bogle also told off some young people who wanted to dance.
Dancing was welcome when the Born Again Pagans belted out their infectious reels. The Pagans include Peter Hicks and Miguel Heatwole, conductor of Sydney's Solidarity Choir. Their repertoire includes many progressive numbers played with fast, catchy folk-rock rhythms.
The festival also featured traditional bush dancing.
An amazing blues band, Mostly Muddy Shoes, left many gasping for breath. The Canberra Union Voices presented songs of struggle and solidarity.
Peter Hicks had the pleasure of hearing his"Stand up and stand by our union" sung in four-part harmony. The beautiful "Bread and Roses", about a mill workers' strike in the US early this century wafted across the warm spring countryside.
David Beniuk, reminiscent of Billy Bragg and Peter Hicks, sang hard-edged songs of struggle. He is someone to watch.