The Wolfe & Thorn Podcast

REGULAR EPISODES OF THE WOLFE & THORN PODCAST WILL RESUME IN 2022.

In the meantime, CC Thornley introduces our dear listeners to some of the friends of the Wolfe & Thorn  that make up part of the rich Tasmanian folk landscape in this special series of live podcast concerts recorded at the Providence Cafe, North Hobart, Tasmania.

The first of these concerts introduces MATTHEW DAMES & ANNA TALBOT chatting with CC, playing and discussing some of their music.

Well it's come to that time.  We say goodbye for another season, CC ventures off to some other podcast projects and Emily retires to her nest to have a baby.  In this last episode we look back at ten of our favorite tunes that we've encountered during the season.  So many tangents, so much disinformation, but plenty of good, proper folkie banjo & fiddle music.  We hope you get some tunes and tips out of this season and meet some new friends!  We'll see you again in 2022....
Songs we play are: Miss officer’s waltz; Spanish Waltz; The Jasmine; Leo's Prince Of Wales Schottische; Cape Barren Washerwoman; The Patchwork Reel; Kieth & Georgie’s Fancy; Gran McCoy’s Schottische; The shotgun; Waterloo

A quiet night in once our guests finally leave.  We look back on some of the new additions and contributors to the Tasmanian folk heritage.  From the complex chords of the Harrison-Day sister's patchwork to some good old fun time tunes of Paddy Riley, all these tunes (except for one guy) are all 21st Century tunes.   CC discovers where Emily keeps her plumbis.  Many tangential rabbit holes are explored.  Also, a bonus tune is hidden somewhere in here, about the subject of  *ahem* gardening...
The songs are: The Patchwork Reel; Bush Ravioli; Sirkieci; The Unforgettable; Bush Caprice

In our final special for Season 2 we are joined by veteran folkie Fred Pribac.  He regales us with stories of sweary dance callers, FIFO politicians, and his many experiences in the folk scene around Australia, Tasmania and Cape Barren.  He also brings with us two packets of biscuits that we kept, and also 5 songs!  Correction - make that 2 songs, and 3 tunes.  Yes, the tunes have words in them thus making them songs.  Or so I'm told.  I dunno, I wasn't really paying attention.  Will this be on the test?
Songs were: Home Sweet Home; A Ringtail Possum & A Kangaroo; Mark Walters Set Tune; The Shotgun; C'mon You White Mark Boys

The real McCoy and the actual Steve Gadd (not the robot!)  Welcome to our Eileen McCoy special!  Steve & Marjorie Gadd have a special connection with Eileen McCoy who stayed with them shortly before she passed away in her late 80's.  Steve & Marjorie tell us many stories of her and her tunes, reminisce about the beloved Dawson family, and also give Emily and CC their report cards.  (Basically - "could do better had they applied themselves.")  
Also in this episode, while Emily and Marjorie play harmonies together, Steve gets on the banjo (and some other instruments,) and CC discovers the Cello Banjo!  Songs we played together: 1,2,3,4; Captain Jig; Grab McCoy's Schottische; The Railway Porter/ Frog Puddles; Black Velvet Waltz

In this episode Emily gets her pizz on, and CC plays every chord available to the banjo except the right one.   We play something old, something new, something borrowed, but mostly major keys and not a huge amount of blues.  Special disappointing guest appearance from Trevor the bogan and his V8 ute from down the road.   An episode packed with fiddle & banjo tips.
Songs played are: Mrs G.S. Laing's Hornpipe; Kieth & Georgie's Fancy; Ms William Downie's Hornpipe; Waterloo; Back & Bootless

Merinda Jane joins us to teach us some NEW TUNES!  From Cape Barren!  We talk about the history of the tunes and and her experiences growing up and learning them.  we also speak to Palawa man Cody Summers about his experiences with Cape Barren music and growing up indigenous during a very racist time in Tasmania's modern culture.    Cape Barren tunes hold a very special place in the Tassie folk canon, being tunes developed by the indigenous communities up on the island and have a flavor all of their own that's fun, rollicking and invite participation.  Songs we play in this episode are: The Black Cat Piddled in the White Cat's Eye; Little Burnt Potato (The Cape Barren Jig); The Cape Barren Washerwoman; The Muttonbirders' Jig; Uncle Affie's Tap; Old Clog.

We go dancing with David Wanless at the annual Steampunk ball, and talk about what a dance is like from the musician's perspective.  Includes actual samples of the actual dances being actualized, acoustically!  Songs include:  The Chess Set; The Ireland Quadrille; The Cuckoo's Next & Growling Old Man and Cackling Old Woman; Soldier's Joy; The Spanish Waltz.

We look at a few very recent editions to Tasmanian folk music given to us from friends in China, Scotland, and Ireland.  Emily's cat causes issues with its wants and needs.  Some irrelevant but brief pop cultural references regarding the Journey to the West by Wu Cheng En.  We discuss what makes a folk songs folk without reaching any real or useful conclusions.  Also, Emily reveals her teen fan idolization of the Scottish band Fiddler's Bid.
Songs include: The Jasmine; Michael's Mazurka;  Hamnataing; The Ortaba Waltz; Inisheer.

Despite numerous setbacks, our heroes triumphantly get Episode 2 done.  They say there are no coincidences...This episode we take a quick look backstage at the podcast with some analytics and discover how the reptilian overlords that run Youtube use copyright to destroy human civilization.    We play quite a few Schottishces, and some polkas.  Songs include: Leo's Prince of Wales Schottische; The Pretty Lips (or "Lollypop) Schottische; School Polkas 1 & 2; The Sorrell Windmill; and the Gumnut Schottische.