history

Have a look at how we started and where we have been over the last fourteen plus years

Over the years we have moved from venue to venue and grown in numbers, without altering the basic nature of the event.

by Howard Miller- Convener -1993 to 2009

To view some of Howard's other interests, click here

Hot Foot String Band	1993 AUSGRASS had its beginnings in 1993 as WINTERFEST a weekend get-together of members of the Bluegrass and Traditional Country Music Society of Australia at Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, near Bargo, NSW. Founded by Howard Miller.	How it all began, just picking, grinning and socializing
Ian Simpson, Martin Louie, Andy Le Broche	1994 Return to Wirrimbirra and the Robertson Christmas get-together.	Diane, Maurie, Laurie, Judy and Lindsay at Robertson Hotel
Nina Sunday, Rod Jones, Bruce Packard, Dave O'Niel, jam in the open.	1995 A change in management was in the air and a move on the cards.	Michael Job, banjo teacher gives a few pointers.
1996 saw a move to Canyonleigh, near Moss Vale, NSW. This venue was my favourite of all the sites. A real country atmosphere, set in a bushland setting on a dusty country road, this site had enormous potential along with monster management problems. The centre changed hands and returned to providing for schoolchildren only after 1997. And I forgot my camera that weekend	1997 Andy Owens our first overseas guest artist joined us in 1997 at this venue. The cook rolled the 4WD on the weekend and the event had underage local drinkers gate crash the event, the heating broke down. WOW, what a headache for an organizer, but we had a GREAT weekend. Anyway, the centre was sold and so we had to move on.
Andy Owens and "The Down under Project" L to R, Donal Baylor, Bruce Packard, Tim Lee, Andy Owens, Dave O'Niel, Gary Brown		Hardrive at Canyonleigh L to R Lachlan Dear, Nick Dear, Peter Sweatman,Mick Harrison.
Dean Sapp from Maryland USA and our local Bluegrass band "Fitzroy Express"	1998 Next move was to Fitzroy Falls, also near Moss Vale and Dean Sapp gave a first class performance at this great venue. Some of our largest attendance's were at this venue. Foggy Hollow Bluegrass Band	My-Ty- Fine String Band L to R Mike Pace, Rod Jones, Judy Jones, Lindsay Marr
Walden and Anne Dahl and Paul Shelasky	1999 Walden and Anne Dahl along with Paul Shelasky as west coast musicians gave a welcome change in style to the weekend.	An impromptu group limber up for the Saturday Night concert L to R Lauchlan Dear on Bass. Mick Moffit on Fiddle, on Mandolin, John Taylor and Peter Sweatman on Guitar, Quentin Frazer on Dobro and Dave Hellens on 5 string Banjo.

2000 Around this time Howard passed through a period of business stress and ill health and Maurie Kurtz and Louise, along with her spirited clog dancers, helped out by running the convention at Greenhills Convention Centre, Canberra, ACT.	2001 Another year at this great centre	The Sommers Family
Melbourne's HARDRIVE Bluegrass Band	2002 Late 2002 saw the disastrous bush fires sweep the ACT and surrounding area and the Convention Centre went up in smoke, well, half of it that is!	My Ty Fine String Band, Rod & Judy Jones, Lindsay Marr and Mike Pace.
Karen Lynne and Acoustic Shock Bluegrass Band	2003 So another move for 2003, this time to Borambola, in the Wagga Wagga area and a NSW Government Sport and Recreation Centre. AUSGRASS 2003, was graced with the presence of many fine performers, some who had not performed at AUSGRASS before. Karen Lynne and Acoustic Shock Bluegrass Band from Sydney, My T Fine String Band from Sydney, Sommers Family from Dorrigo, Northern NSW, Dooleys Hollow from Bathurst, Central NSW, The Bluegrassouls from Victoria, Hardrive from Melbourne and so many others. WHAT A SHOW !	On the back porch

Tuesday 21 to Friday 25 JUNE 2004

A three day Residential Bluegrass workshop with an overseas instructor prior to the main weekend event.

What is a Boot Camp?

It is firstly a name to attract your attention but mostly it is a residential vocational venue where there is training, assessment and a focus on important aspects of a subject matter.
In this case Bluegrass Music.
Hence the birth of the
"Bluegrass Music Boot Camp",
Why the name?
A boot camp is a "back to basics term", the military use. I was inspired by one of my favourite LP's " Old and in the Way" and said to myself " My banjo playing could sure do with a BOOT along " and the boot on the cover looked the right size and shape. So it was back to basics for us all, the part of our playing we find so hard to fix and we had the best Teacher in the Business to do it.
Jack Hatfield.

3 days of tuition, all meals and the best accommodation in the Centre and the AUSGRASS Convention weekend, all thrown in.
Alternatively, you can get on a jet, travel for 20 - 30 hours, spend about $2000 and still not get the one to one attention we are offered.
This Camp was not limited to banjo players, Jack is an experienced Bluegrass Music Instrument Teacher, so those who play any Bluegrass Instrument and wished to improve their playing, did not miss out.
Places for the camp, had been held to around 25 persons and here is the great guy who worked tirelessly, both day and night to make the First event of its type ever held in Australia a blinding success.

***** 2004 *****
Announcing - Australia's First - Bluegrass Music Boot Camp

Jack Hatfield
Bluegrass Master Musician and Teacher

Jack Hatfield is a respected contributor to Banjo Newsletter and has for many years been a teacher of Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin and Fiddle, before focusing on his current role with Banjo Newsletter. Who better to give your music the boost that you have always longed for than this great guy?

BUTCH ROBINS in Australia A " Master of the Five String"	CampAusgrass© 2005 The Bluegrass Boot Camp was offered again in 2005. With the Special Guest being none other than one of Bill Monroe's, "Bluegrass Boys" I take this opportunity to thank Butch Robins, Master Musician for taking the time out from his busy schedule to attend and take on the role of Principal Teacher/ Instructor at CampAusgrass 2005. I also wish to thanks all those who offered help and support in the Ausgrass 2005 tour. especially, Ian Hobba, Tim Lee, Neil Wills, Roger and Ann Simpson, Rod and Judy Jones, Nick Dear and Hardrive and many others. What was this "Boot Camp Thing" It meant, there was an Education / learning component (Tuesday night to Friday 4 p.m. Modules 1 to 11 June 21 to June 24 - 2005	Keith Lugdon with his new Paul Duff Mandolin and Butch Robins Boot Camp Band practise session
Andrew Barton with his new Eucalypt Banjo Alex Kaufman braved the mostly male event, and showed off her great Stelling banjo.	AND (Friday night to Sunday 4 p.m.) Module 12 June 24 to June 26 - 2005 A relaxed Bluegrass and Old Timey Music weekend event, beginning on Friday afternoon and continuing on the Saturday and Sunday. Featuring opportunities for beginner and accomplished musicians to perform or jam with friends, or simply sit back and watch others do their thing in great surroundings, good food and friendly staff. With Butch Robins, a recognized Master of the Five String Banjo and perhaps one of the most competent exponents of teaching instrument and performing skills to visit Australia, along with other experienced musicians leading each session. Aspiring musicians pre-ordered what learning experience they needed to advance their musical ability with one on one Master Sessions with one of the World's Master's of the Art. During his short stay in Australia, Butch Robins held audiences spellbound with his intimate knowledge of the time he spent with Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music.	HARDRIVE in OVERDRIVE Butch Robins gave a 5 hour presentation on his time with the father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe and he held the audience spellbound for 5 hours. You better believe it !

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Some of the 2005 Boot Camp participants -
Left to right - Andrew Barton, Ian Hobba, Howard Miller, Rudi Nielsen, Butch Robins, Keith Lugdon, Alex Kaufman.

Howard and Butch, exchange jokes about banjo's

Have a mineral water, with me, 5 Miles from Gundagai

Two of the best banjo players you could ever meet. Tim Lee meets his No. 1 favorite.
Butch Robins.

2005 SPONSORS

Look at who is "jus pickin" on the old plantation verandah.
Butch Robins and Hardrive Bluegrass Band at Wagga Wagga Commercial Club

What is the Future of Bluegrass Music Boot Camps ?
The Borambola Centre has increased their fees some 40% and
Howard's energies have been absorbed with battling the ongoing drought
as a full time Farmer and focusing on the Tumut Event, so no more banjo camps for this venue.

The next scheduled Banjo Boot Camp is to be in Queensland and Peter Nahuysen
of Bellbird banjos will be the promoter. I'll see you all there
Proposed date, 5, 6 & 7th December 2008
Go to Bellbirdbanjos.com

2007

Coolgrass was the feature band for Ausgrass 2007.
Coolgrass undoubtedly took some of the blues out of Bluegrass, and launched
"JAGUAR BREAKDOWN",
their latest CD release.

Coolgrass is:
Jim Golding (Banjos & Vocals)
Doug Wallace (Guitars & Vocals)
Bruce Packard (Mandolins & Vocals)
Angus Golding (Bass & Vocals)

The Saturday Night Concert was more than exciting, it was an experience beyond all expectations, we knew this group was GOOD but COOLGRASS
put on a World Class Performance.

Angus Golding

Tim Lee and Donal Baylor -
Monroe Fiddle and Banjo numbers

2008 - - last update October 2008