Am very happy to be part of the 2018 Woodford Folk Festival program for this year with marvellous Indian Classical Violinist Sukhdev Mishra from Varanasi and Australian tabla player extraordinaire Shen Flindell. Check out the full WFF program for more details and tickets: 

http://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme/the-programme-book.html 

https://www.facebook.com/woodfordfolkfestival 

#woodfordff #wff2018

 Broaden Your Horizons and Balance Your Life by Engaging in a New Hobby 

Article by Julie Morris - Life and Career Coach juliemorris.org

Participating in a hobby is good for your wellbeing, especially if you are in recovery.  It’s a chance to add balance to your lifestyle and help you to stay on track. You can engage in new activities via the web, developing your skills and interests by yourself or with your friends.  Opportunities abound for virtually all levels and abilities.  Tap into these ideas to boost your mental health: 

Learn a new language.  Picking up a new language is not only an interesting way to spend your downtime, it’s actually good for you.  According to expertscited by The Star, learning to speak and read a new language is a workout for your brain, encouraging it to do some athletic maneuvers it wouldn’t otherwise be performing.  It can help you learn to process information better, improve your ability to focus, enhance your decision-making ability, improve your perception and even postpone the onset of dementia.   

While some experts note it used to be expensive to learn a new language, thanks to the Internet you can now do so for free.  There are fun online toolsavailable that offer tutoring, audio and text information, and you can review information as needed.   

(Image courtesy of Pixabay) 

Learn to play an instrument.  Another hobby that is not only fun, but also is good for you is playing a musical instrument. Huffington Post explains musical trainingcan improve reaction times, memory function, improve physical coordination and even slow the process of aging in the brain.  Playing an instrument is another hobby that used to be a costly endeavor and finding instructors with expertise could be challenging.  Thanks to several sites including YouTube, some of the best music lessons can fine-tune your skills.  

Learn a sport.  Whether it’s swimming, tennis, walking or another sport, you can get started through the web.  For instance, have you always wanted to try golfing, but didn’t want to pay for lessons with a pro?  You can learn online without an expensive coach or country club membership.  It’s a great way to get some exercise, and you can do it alone or with a group. Have you ever considered giving mountain bikinga try? Not only is this a hobby you can do with others, but it’s easy to learn and a great way to get out in nature, unplug, and enjoy the fresh air. Regardless of what sport you choose and whether you’re brushing up old skills or starting out as a beginner, chances are there is online instruction to get you started.  

Refurbish motorcycles.  Do you love vintage bikes and tinkering?  There is something very satisfying about breathing new life into old parts, and if you always wanted to try your hand you can find online, step-by-step instructions on how to rebuild an old motorcycle.  Whether you work through it solo or connect with a few buddies who also love bikes, have tools, expertise or just enthusiasm, it’s a hobby you can engage easily these days, thanks to the web.  In the end you can either sell your projects or just enjoy them.   

Write your story.  Whether you choose to start a novel, blog about your days, or engage your inner poet, writing is a simple, free and fun pastime.  Gather friends for brainstorming sessions or join an online writing group.  There are writing communities, which offer critiques, reviews, support, marketing tips and a pat on the back when you need it.  Well Kept Wallet points out writing can even become a moneymaking hobbyif you decide to go that route, since there are opportunities for freelance writers and editors on the web.   

Hobbies can improve your quality of life. If you are in recovery, consider learning one of these choices and sharing it with your friends and family. Your self-esteem will thank you.

APRIL 2018  
FLAMENCO MEETS JAZZ AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES - PACO HEREDIA (Spain) & BART STENHOUSE (Aus) 

Presale tickets are AVAILABLE NOW for all shows.

Full details and description below: 

SAT MARCH 31 - TOOWOOMBA QLD - Ortem - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

TUES APRIL 3 - NAMBOUR (SUNSHINE COAST) QLD - Bison Bar - Tickets available through  
www.thebisonbar.com/news/2018/pacoheredia-bartstenhouse 

WED APRIL 4 - BRISBANE QLD - Doo Bop Jazz Bar - Tickets available through www.doo-bop.com.au/…/4-april-2018-flamenco-guitari…/ 

THURS APRIL 5 - BANGALOW NSW - Byron Bay Jazz and World Music Club - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

FRI APRIL 6th - TENTERFIELD NSW - St Stephen's Church Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

SAT APRIL 7TH - BELLINGEN NSW - Bellingen Memorial Hall - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

SUN APRIL 8TH - SYDNEY NSW - Camelot Lounge - Tickets available through www.stickytickets.com.au/65199/paco_heredia_spain__bart_stenhouse_%40_camelot_lounge.aspx

TUES APRIL 10TH - WOLLONGONG NSW - Wollongong Conservatorium - Tickets available through www.wollcon.com.au/news-events/ or through www.bartstenhouse.com/events (to find updated ticket link) 

WED APRIL 11TH - CANBERRA ACT - Smiths Alternative - Tickets available through www.smithsalternative.com (call Nigel on 0401 084 773 for more information concerning tickets) or through www.bartstenhouse.com/events (to find updated ticket link) 

THURS APRIL 12TH - CANDELO NSW - Candelo Town Hall - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

FRI APRIL 13TH - ORBOST VIC - Orbost Exhibition Centre - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

SAT APRIL 14TH - MELBOURNE VIC - Paris Cat Jazz Club - Tickets available through www.rollerdigital.com/pariscat/product/172206?date=20180414#/sessions

SUN APRIL 15TH - DUNOLLY VIC - Dunolly Town Hall - For bookings phone Rachel 0427275 006 or rachelbuckley@bigpond.com 

TUES 17TH APRIL - TRIABUNNA TAS - The Village - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

WED 18TH APRIL - DEVONPORT TAS - Lifeway Auditoirum - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

THURS 19TH APRIL - STANLEY TAS - Stanley Town Hall - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

FRI 20TH APRIL - LAUNCESTON TAS - The Tonic Bar - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

SAT APRIL 21ST - HOBART TAS - Battery Point Community Hall - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

SUN APRIL 22nd - SPREYTON TAS - La Villa Wines - Tickets available through www.bartstenhouse.com/events 

PACO HEREDIA (Barcelona 1979), is a flamenco guitarist born in Barcelona descended from guitarists. At the age of 3 he starting playing his first guitar and to this day, this gypsy guitarist describes it as "a fundamental part of his life". 

Paco Heredia receives a traditional formation from his childhood and guarded by his family, accompanying singing and dancing. At the age of 14, he continued his studies and entered the Liceo de Barcelona where, in the face of the teacher Enrique and Granados, he stands out for his skills and qualification in his discipline. 

He compiles his studies with various performances, in the Tablaos of Barcelona and abroad. She has worked in Tarantos, in the Tablao of Carmen Amaya, in tablao Cordobés, in addition to several flamenco Peñas de Cataluña. In spite of his youth this guitarist soon stands out to gather in his touch the glitter at the same time as the purity, legacy of his family inheritance rooted in the most genuine flamenco tradition. 

His facet as a composer leads him to musically direct theater plays such as "Bodas de Sangre" by Federico García Lorca, including "Lola Vende cá" by director Llorens Soler. 

Constant appearances in television as well as the diffusion of his own works, through Theater or concerts make of this young guitarist a constant of the national flamenco panorama. 

It should be noted that due to his merits, Paco Heredia became the Director of the Flamenco Department of La Escuela de Córdoba. 

Paco Heredia Torres has worked with Paco de Lucía, Montse Cortés, Guadiana, Duquende, Jorge Pardo, Ginesa Ortega, and La Genára to name just a few... He has toured across Germany, Kuwait, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Austria. In 2006 he recorded his first album, produced by "Juan José Suarez" Paquete, winner of the Grammy by Aguadulce de Tomatito, and "Picasso in my eyes". 

'Paco Heredia belongs to the pool of flamenco guitarists post Paco de Lucía: he represents that generation of guitarists whose musical grace is both rhythmic and harmonic' (flamenco journalist Ana Sánchez in La2, a Spanish national TV Chanel) 

BART STENHOUSE has the muscle to settle any score. Musically speaking, that is. Packing a powerful ability to balance raw edge with feel good grooves, Bart’s music brilliantly blends fiery flamenco with cool jazz and rollicking Indian rhythms to create a sound that leaves the listener energised and ready for more.  

Bart started on a musical journey from an early age. However, it wasn’t until recently that he found his true calling – world fusion music. Inspired by his travels across North America, India and Spain, Bart’s music explores the signature harmonies, rhythms and instrumental identities of different world music cultures. 

Wielding his weapons of choice, electric and flamenco guitar and electric mandolin, Bart teams up with original artists across the globe to explore and craft soundscapes not heard before. An experienced producer, Bart records and releases his compositions under his own label, Stenhouse Records and in 2014 brought to the world his debut album ‘Blue Benares’. Hailed as ‘one of the best up and coming jazz fusion artists’ by Indian slide guitar maestro and guru Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya at the 2016 India International Guitar Festival, the young Australian composer is fast building a reputation as an original, collaborative and innovative artist. 

'Bart is one of the best up and coming jazz fusion artists right now' 
— Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya - Grammy Nominated Indian Classical Artist and Director of the India International Guitar Festival

December 2017 saw Australian jazz fusion guitarist Bart Stenhouse complete his first overseas tour with 5 concerts in India - performing as a special guest at the Khajuaraho International Film Festival with Surojato Roy on tabla and Sukhdev Mishra on violin and a series of shows in Varanasi including a dawn concert at Assi Ghat. 

In May this year (2018) Bart will bring his music to New Zealand for the first time with 10 concerts across both the North and South Islands schedule from late April to May. Head to the events page to see when he will be appearing in a town near you.