Great Southern Lutherie Website Launched

Wow, August '07 was my last post. Interesting.

These last 9 months have been nothing short of intriguing. Probably the highlight in recent times has been the Playmakers event, held in Albany as part of the Perth International Arts festival (PIAF). Scott Wise & Paul Duff turned up, as did Mike Compton & his mandolin from the USA, along with the maker of Mike's manolin - Steve Gilchrist. It was a fantastic weekend, culminating in a gig put on by Paul Duff's band, Bluegrass Parkway.

All of that in February/March 2008 has brought us as a lutherie group speedily to now, where we have launched a website to feature all of the original group of makers from 2005. It's gonna be a work-in-progress, but it's a start ... Check us out at Great Southern Lutherie.

One of the treats at Playmakers was to be recorded as participants/makers by Robyn Johnson and David Le May from ABC's Radio National. They recorded HOURS of audio and have spent the last couple of months editing it into a one-hour docco for their 'Into the Music' program on the 31st of May (South Coast :: 96.9fm) - check out the Gallery while you're there; I had a beard back then.

We're havin' a BBQ at Steve's place to all tune in as a group. Should be a hoot.

BTW - that pic of the knothole below has taken on a new life as a soundhole in the Big Fat Momma Dulcimer that is getting close to final glue-ups. More posts to come on that one, promise!

chiz