Wongawilli Europe Tour

Wongawilli with its energetic Australian folk music returns to Denmark and Europe in July 2008.

Please contact us if you'd like us to play for you!

Jane, Graeme, Tania, Sam and David - desanti@bigpond.com

"this ensemble is highly regarded in the field of interpreting authentic Australian traditional music, song and dance as a performance art. The group is recognised in Australia as a leading force in the revitalisation of our folk traditions ... "

"Wongawilli is the pre-eminent group performing Australian folk music in this country. The music they play is uniquely Australian, but without any of the clichés usually associated with Australian folk music. In the years they have been performing, they have built an unequalled reputation for fine musicianship and entertainment, backed up by extensive research into the traditional origins of the music and the people who played it in the past."

Concerts - the Wongawilli Band performs traditional, original and contemporary folk and bush songs and instrumentals. "Bush Music' is a term used to describe the traditional music of the settlers to Australia with influences from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe. The band has over 100 Australian songs from contemporary and traditional sources in its repertoire and over 500 tunes from various sources - Australian, Celtic, European, Italian, North American. They are mainly reels, jigs, polkas, step dance tunes, waltzes, mazurkas, varsovianas, schottisches, hornpipes and quadrille tunes. Tavern / Pub Concert - a concert of up to 3 hours comprising lively Australia bush and folk songs and instrumentals, music to drink to! Bush Dances - the band can present a 'bush dance' up to 4 hours. Wongawilli is regarded as one of Australia's leading dance music bands. All the dances are taught and walked through and from a selection of circle, line, longways sets, quadrilles and couples dances. The band is well known for its dance music and Australian dance repertoire, with over 80 dances in the band's repertoire. Performances have been provided for the National Folk Festival on a number of occasions, Bush Music Club, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide Colonial Balls. The following is a selection the band can teach and present. Quadrille formation dances (4 couples in a square set) Santoys Quadrille Galop Quadrille Lancers Quadrille Polka Cotillion Waltz Cotillion Wombat Quadrille The Grand March, danced traditionally at the start of the evening and before a quadrille Couples Dances Berlin Schottische Pride of Erin Frangipani Waltz Prince of Wales Schottische Varsoviana Kings Waltz Princess Polka Brown Jug Polka Dutch Hoe Waltz Barn Dance Manchester Galop Longways sets dances Country Bumpkin Haymakers Jig Flying Pieman Sandhurst Diggers Double Sir Roger de Coverley Bullockies Ball Virginia Reel La Galopade Circle Dances Adelaide Race Day Circle Waltz Circassian Circle Pt 2 Jubilee Jig Stockyards Blackwattle Reel Jacaranda Dance Circle Galop Other formations The Tempest Waltz Country Dance Spanish Waltz Jolly Miller Waltz Devil's Triangle La Gursa Dashing White Sergeant Workshops - members of the band can provide workshops on traditional Australian dance tunes, Australian style fiddle and music. One of the members of the David De Santi can also present a workshop on Italian traditional tunes that have travelled to Australia! The band members play a range of instruments featuring piano, violin, accordion, bodhran and the icon Australian instrument - the lagerphone. Click here to hear the band.

Click here for a sound and stage setup sheet for the band.

Further details from:

David De Santi, desanti@bigpond.com

tel: +61 409 57 1788

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About the Wongawilli Band:

The Wongawilli Band now in its 19th year will be returning to Europe following a successful tour in 2005. The band also featured at the 2005 Nanning International Folk Song Arts Festival in China and the Shenzen International Cultural Fair in China in May 2006.

Wongawilli is considered as one of Australia's premiere traditional music bands. The band performs traditional style Australian bush songs and tunes - reels, jigs, polkas, schottisches, mazurkas and waltzes. The band takes great pride in presenting authentic songs and tunes from the bush of Australia along with songs pertinent to Australia's current multicultural population.

The band is very lively with a combination of lead instruments - accordion and fiddle - and a strong rhythm section of vamping piano, bodhran, percussion and the traditional Australian percussion instrument - the lagerphone.

"They present their entertaining and distinctive interpretations of traditional and tradition-influenced Australian folk songs and tunes. As professional folklorists that they are, they also present a wide variety of educational Australian traditional music and dance workshops." Jamie McKew, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Australia

"this ensemble is highly regarded in the field of interpreting authentic Australian traditional music, song and dance as a performance art. The group is recognised in Australia as a leading force in the revitalisation of our folk traditions ... " Warren Fahey, leading Australian folklorist, collector

"Wongawilli is the pre-eminent group performing Australian folk music in this country. The music they play is uniquely Australian, but without any of the clichés usually associated with Australian folk music. In the years they have been performing, they have built an unequalled reputation for fine musicianship and entertainment, backed up by extensive research into the traditional origins of the music and the people who played it in the past. " Graham McDonald, National Folk Festival, Australia

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This page updated by David De Santi, 12 June 2008