Merry Muse Folk Club

Canberra’s best live performance venue
The Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St, WESTON, ACT – Location map

The Merry Muse operates on the second Sunday of the month from 4.00pm to 7.00pm and presents a blackboard concert along with a feature act. This is a fun afternoon for those wanting to share their love of music and play, sing or recite in an inviting and friendly atmosphere. Put your name on the blackboard to perform, or just get along and listen to some great music.

The next Merry Muse is on Sunday 11 April Blackboard plus Shortis and Simpson – SOLD OUT

Sunday April 11 Shortis and Simpson – we have done an informal booking system for this and are sold out – check on day of there are any cancellations if you wish to come. Please email eileennew23@gmail.com.

Canberra’s leading musical satirists, Shortis and Simpson, will be casting their satirical eyes over recent events when they appear at The Merry Muse on April 11, with classics from their repertoire mixed with bang up-to-date material. Come and join them as they burst the Canberra bubble, relive the joys of COVID apps and lockdowns, and generally regale you with tales of political shenanigans. They’re funny, poignant, topical- don’t miss Shortis and Simpson.

Coming Up Sunday May 9 Blackboard plus The Ten Quid Poms

The Blackboard is pre-booked with preference given to those who missed out last time – please email me on eileennew23@gmail.com if you want to perform.

Main Act The Ten Quid Poms

What happens when a retired child carer and a retired materials scientist get together? By 2016 both John Warner and Robin Connaughton had moved to Canberra, and both being assisted passage migrants to Australia, the “Ten Quid Poms was born.” That’s what. Both John and Robin are very successful writers of folk song and poetry as well as singers and musicians. John has created several themed collections, and the Folk cantata Yarri of Wiradjuri. Songs of his such as “Anderson’s Coast” and “Banners” have been widely sung overseas. Together they collaborated to create a collection of songs about the 1960’s NSW steelworks, where Robin had worked for sixteen years. The result is an album “We Made the Steel,” which has been critically acclaimed in Australia and England.

This pair have been performing traditional folk song in all its guises singly and in various groups for over forty years Anything is fair game, politics, work, unions, animals, sea shanties, love, hate, racehorses, whatever. Expect as many original song compositions as traditional ones, sung with scintillating harmonies, unaccompanied or with various instruments.

COVID Safe Arrangements

We will have to be operating under Covid Safe Guidelines – It is a requirement to sign in to the Club using the CBR QR code – if you are unable to do this please speak to an Irish Club staff member.

Changes to running the blackboard will be:

We request if you have your own microphone to bring it. Microphones will be sanitised between acts but safer to bring your own.
The sound people will be responsible for adjusting equipment – we request that performers do not handle the sound equipment.
The blackboard will be pre-booked – please contact me if you wish to play.

The room is limited to a total of 90 people so I don’t think we have to have everyone pre-book – we will see how we go.

We request that you bring the correct money for paying at the door to minimise contact with money. There will be hand sanitiser at the door to use on entry.

The Monaro Folk Society has posted our Covid 19 Safety plan at COVID Plan I ask that you look at this to see what you as an attendee are required to pay attention to. Importantly you should not come to the Merry Muse if you or any of your household are unwell or you you have been in contact with someone with Covid 19 or been to a hot spot area. The Merry Muse reserves the right to refuse entry as and when necessary to comply with this COVID-19 Safety Plan. You attend the venue at your own risk.

Looking forward to seeing regulars and new faces at the Merry Muse and here’s hoping that we have smooth sailing in 2021.

Please email me on eileennew23@gmail.com or ring me on 0412 127 882 if you have any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Merry Muse.

Eileen Newmarch

Admission:
$3 for MFS Members, Concessions, and Blackboard performers $5 for Others.
May vary for non-blackboard events
Under 16 y/o – FREE!

Please note that the Irish Club has asked that regular attendees also join the Irish Club

Enquiries and Performer bookings:
Eileen Newmarch 0412 127 882 Email: merrymuse@monarofolk.org.au

Post CDs & Biographical Info

173 Duffy St Ainslie ACT 2602 (Attention: Merry Muse Coordinator)

Past performers:

Alternate Route	Ami Williamson	Bluegrass Mountain Band
Bond Traps	Bronnie Ware	Canberra Union Voices Choir
Craig and Simone	Crooked Fiddle	David Griggs
Del Rey	Donal Baylor	Drummond and Lynne
Ecopella	Franklyn B Paverty	Frencham and Smith
Freyja Rain	Liz Frencham and Robbie Long	The Fuelers
Full Circle	Greg Carlin	Hazy Gates
Johnny Huckle	Humbug	Juke Baritone and the Swamp Dogs
Julia Johnson	Karen Lynne	The Lenders
The Little Stevies	Lotsi	Mackenzie Jones
Mal Webb	$Maureen O\'Brien$ Maureen O’Brien	Mihirangi
Mike Compton	Mr Fibby	New York Public Library
P J Wolf	Queen Juanita	The Rooftop Revellers
Sam Burke	Sam Buckingham	Selalu
Sanji	The Shiny Bum Singers	Simone, Sophie and Chanel
Spicy Fruit Chutney	Dr Stovepipe	Triplika
Truckstop Honeymoon	Ukeleles Canberra	Women in Docs