Didgfest History

Didgfest 1995 - 1997 - A celebration of the Australian Didgeridoo.

“I felt such a great need to connect WITH the land rather than live ON the land. The Didgeridoo creates this oneness for me”
Raymond Mow

How it started and what it was:
A gathering of like-minded folk who in most cases would never have dreamt of ever achieving the skills required to play the most scary of instruments…the Didgeridoo.

Travelling to Arnhem Land was an expensive option for most.

Yes there was the Council for Adult Education but again the night time interruption was meant for only a short few. ….and so the attempt to partially lift the intrigue was put in to place.

Raymond Mow was one of those folk. His knowledge of some Aboriginal communities in Victoria since the 1960’s and that the knowledge of the Didgeridoo was inherent in just being an Aboriginal was an intrigue in itself.

He furthered his knowledge and improved his skills in the art of the Didgeridoo and taught in the wider marketplace for 5 years. Being a Bronchial asthmatic,Raymond fostered the skills of Diaphragm Control to assist in easing his condition

Thus the temptation was too great. There were too many folk with far too many questions...and so Didgfest ‘95 was born in Melbourne’s outer east at Mooroolbark.

After shifting premises to the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury in Melbourne’s central suburb of Thornbury, the art and craft was put on display by both traditional and not traditional Aboriginal folk and the European sector of the community from places all around the Country.

A Gathering was born. Over a two day period over eight hundred folk had collected in an attempt to lift the veil on the intrigue.

 

Didgfest respects the history and cultural tradition behind the didgeridoo.  In a contemporary context we do not play or teach traditional Aboriginal music and do not copy Aboriginal art. We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal people as the traditional owners of the didgeridoo.

Didgfest Now

Didgfest is now run by Raymond Mow and Vivienne Hamilton from the premises of InstrAmental Music Centre in Castlemiane.

2008 sees the second event in the 21 century at our new home of the Theatre Royal.

Website by Vivienne Hamilton email