The monthly club nights began in August 2004 and continue as our core activity. They are friendly and informal evenings for all lovers of folk music, folk singing and folk dancing. Actually for all music lovers generally as the nights tend to be very eclectic with a mix of fiddle tunes, swing, jazz, folk classics, popular music and a bit of poetry and storytelling too. All are welcome. Bring along an instrument or just come and enjoy the music at 7:30pm on the last Friday of each month (see calendar for dates).
Venue:
Newport Community Hall
15 Mason St, Newport
Entry is $5 or $3 for NFFC members, children and students.
The Newport Bush Orchestra has been running since early 2006. Under the leadership of local musician Greg O'Leary, the Orchestra has developed an impressive reportoire of Australian traditonal tunes. New members are always welcome. The Orchestra performs regularly at the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club and has performed all over Victoria at festivals and special events.
The Newport Bush Orchestra runs on a number of principles that make it different from a ‘classical’ orchestra:
Greg O'Leary is a professional musician who has played with many folk and bush bands. He has also worked as a music teacher in schools. The success of a bush orchestra Greg led in 2004 with the Ringwood Folk Club inspired the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club to have a go too, and with some funding support from the Australian Folk Life Fund, the Newport Bush Orchestra was born.
As a conductor Greg has the ability to coach and encourage beginning musicians while inspiring more experienced musicians with his encyclopaedic musical knowledge. Every tune has a story and Greg seems to know them all. His infectious enthusiasm unites a group of disparate musicians and instruments into an accomplished orchestra.Monday evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. Terms usually the same as school terms, see Calendar for exact dates.
Venue:
Outlets Neighbourhood House
43 Mason St Newport
Michael Stewart
Phone: (03) 9399 4466
Choirs are springing up all over Melbourne and Newport is no exception. The Newport Community Choir started up in October 2008 and has been going strong since then, rehearsing regularly and performing at local venues.
Come along, join us and experience the fun of singing with others in a supportive environment. There are no auditions, just join in and have a go! There is a place in this choir for everyone – whether you have a little experience as a singer, a lot or none at all. We perform regularly at the NFFC club nights and other events.
Since first joining a choir ten years ago, Alan has sung in choirs large and small and has led singing workshops for schools and festivals. Along with his musical skills, Alan has developed a passion for choral singing and a firm belief that singing is for everyone.
The 2010 repertoire includes:
Wednesday evenings 7:30 - 9:00pm.
Our terms are generally the same as school terms.
See calendar for details.
Venue: Outlets Neighbourhood House , 43 Mason St Newport.
Term fees 2010:
Term 1: $70 (8 weeks)
Term 2: $97 (11 weeks)
Term 3: $88 (10 weeks)
Term 4: $88 (10 weeks)
Not sure? Come along for a free try-out session. If you like it, pay for the rest of the term at $10 per session.
A limited number of concessional places is available at half the normal term price. These places are available to:
Please note, we can't guarantee that a concessional place will be available. Concessional places are allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. Concessional places are offered for the choir only, not for other NFFC activities.
Call Alan Davies on 9391 1103, or
Have you ever felt like writing a song? Have you actually written a song, or even several? Do you want to improve your song writing? Then, come along to the Incredibly Supportive Songwriting Group.
This collective of keen songwriters meets once a month to provide mutual support for songwriters. You don't need to be a professional. You just need to want to write songs.
Commencing on Tuesday 8th June we meet on the second Tuesday of the month from 7.30 until about 10pm at Outlets Neighbourhood House at 43 Mason St. Newport. There is a suggested donation of $3 to cover the cost of the venue and refreshments.
The group's goal is to encourage and support songwriting in the wider community by providing a forum for local songwriters to develop the craft of songwriting. The purpose of the group is to share in song writing, not performance.
Everyone should bring a song, or a fragment of one, that they are working on. Everyone there will have an equal time to share their songs and get feedback. Everyone should be encourgaged to give some honest feedback, to be concise and constructive. There will be a facilitator/time keeper to ensure, as much as possible, that everyone gets a fair turn. Simon Kerr, Phil Hudson and Greg Jenkins will take turns in this role
No need to book, just turn up.
We run a series of workshops in May - June each year. The 2010 series is now over - watch this space for future workshops. Here's what we covered in 2010:
Contact us for more information.
Three NFFC members - Greg Hammond, Simon Leverton and Christine McDonald - have teamed up with Breizoz Crêperie in Williamstown over the last few years to create a monthly acoustic music event in the wonderful atmosphere of Breizoz's live music venue - a former chapel at the back of the building.
Sadly Breizoz is winding up at the end of September 2010 so the future of the monthly acoustic nights is uncertain. The October night has been cancelled, but the team hope to have things going again in November, somehow, somewhere...watch this space for news.
The NFFC and Friends of Newport Lakes organise an annual Bush Dance at Newport Lakes Park. The 2010 Bush Dance took place on Sunday 21 March, 4-7pm See report and photos on our blog.

See our Festival page for details.
NFFC musicians pop up at festivals, fetes, celebrations and concerts from Williamstown to Colbinabbin and beyond. See our Calendar for what's on.