Friday 23th (~4pm) to Sunday 25th August 2024 (~2pm)

Castlemaine, Victoria, Dja Dja Wurrung Country, Australia

Exploring Ancient Song for Pipers, with guest tutors:

Dumawul, ancient traditions of Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung People) (pictured to the left)

Fiona Ross, traditional Scots song (pictured to the left)

Pat Lyons, sean nos

Geoff Jones, ceol mor

Matt Horsley, tunes for pipers

Oscar West, tunes for pipers

Merran Moir, beginner pipers

Amy Friend, posture, ergonomics & injury prevention

The focus for the 2024 Goldfields Piping Weekend is Exploring Ancient Song for pipers.

We’ll have a suite of tutors specialising in uilleann pipes and Scottish smallpipes along with our special guests from Dumawul, Fiona Ross, and Amy Friend. With the focus of the weekend on ancient songs and languages, it will include workshops on Irish slow airs, Scots language song and ceòl mòr (piobaireachd), and learning about local Dja Dja Wurrung language and song. There will also be a focus on posture & ergonomics for piping. As usual, we will present an informal soiree on the Saturday with all participants welcome to perform.

Pipers of all levels will find stimulation, inspiration, and development in this weekend-long program of group tutorials, sessions, and performance experiences, plus loads of fun.

For program details, click HERE.

The annual soiree offers the opportunity for all participants to gain some rehearsal and performance experience in a casual and informal setting. Pipers of all levels are invited to take part, either by joining us for some or all of the pre-arranged repertoire or contributing an item of their own. You may like to take the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the repertoire & materials in advance of the weekend. A run-through of the sets for anyone wishing to participate is planned for the Friday evening.

Click here to access the materials for three arranged sets.

The 2024 Goldfields Piping Weekend is best suited to people who play or are interested in:

• Uilleann pipes

• Scottish smallpipes

• Other types of pipes including Northumbrian smallpipes, English pipes, other pipes

• Other folk instruments

There is no minimum standard of playing required. All participants have the opportunity to learn from and alongside each other.

Breakfasts: help-yourself continental breakfast items will be available for those staying onsite. Good coffee is available from cafes in Castlemaine.

Lunches: Saturday and Sunday light lunch is supplied.

Dinners: Friday evening meal is included in the weekend price; it will be a take-away order from a local resturant. The Saturday evening meal will be a group boking at the Commerical Hotel; the cost of this meal is not included.

Campbell House 1882: 31 Campbell Street, Castlemaine

Senior Citizens Centre: Mechanics Lane, Castlemaine

Maurocco Bar: 4a Templeton St, Castlemaine

Cumberland Hotel: cnr Barker & Lyttleton Streets, Castlemaine 

Full weekend:  $165 members / $215 non-members

Full weekend partner/non-participant: $115 members / $165 non-members

Friday evening pass:  $45 members / $55 non-members

Saturday day pass: $95 members / $115 non-members

Sunday day pass: $55 members / $65 non-members

There is space for 18 people to stay onsite at Campbell House 1882, 31 Campbell Street, Castlemaine.

Bedrooms: All rooms sleep two people, either as two singles or one king bed. Please consult the floorplan when selecting your bedroom via the online registration.

Bathrooms: Shared bathrooms. There are no ensuite rooms.

Bookings: $160 per person for two nights. If you would like to secure a private room, you will need to purchase both beds in your chosen bedroom.

See the Campbell House webpage for more details, including the floorplan (image 51 of the photo gallery).

Participants may otherwise book their own local accommodation. The Castlemaine Colonial Motel is very close by and offers a number of private rooms. Further close by options can be found at Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation.