The August Troubadour Weekend is two and a half days of pure indulgence for musiclovers of all ages, in particular baby boomers who cut their teeth on the music of the folk revival of the '60s and '70s, and all the Anglo Celtic, Australian and American country folk music and their many derivatives that inspired so many of us to own guitars, even if we never really mastered the playing of them!

The Weekend is a continuing celebration of the great music of both Australian and international artists that was presented at Melbourne's Troubadour music venue from 1978 to 1990, and each year it showcases both top artists from that
era and some of the best of today's new performers.

The music and entertainment is almost non-stop, except at meal times and in the wee small hours. But there is space and opportunity for a break, in our lounge bar and cafe, in the Dining Room bar around meal times, and in the 160 acres of park, and bush tranquility of Campaspe Downs. See map The entertainment is principally on one main stage in a cosy 250 seat venue, and quality breakfast, lunch & dinner is served in the Campaspe Downs Dining Room (advance meal bookings need to be made before the weekend) Wines, beers, coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc and finger food snacks are also available all day and evening in the concert venue's lounge bar.

REVIEW OF THE 2008 TROUBADOUR WEEKEND BY SANDY McCUTCHEON
Happy Birthday Troubadour
Writer Sandy McCutcheon was a guest at the Troubadour Weekend at Campaspe Downs and recovered enough to file this report.
Great music, food and fine wine – for music lovers it doesn’t get much better than this. The word “Troubadour” should have been enough to alert me to the fact that I was in for a good time, but the ambiance of the weekend exceeded expectations.
Between 1978 – 1990 the Troubadour was the musical Mecca of choice. The famous and the unknowns all came to Melbourne and on the odd occasion legends walked in off the street to play a set. What they and the audience were treated to was a venue dedicated to those who wanted to really listen. Over the years the “Troub”, under the direction of its much loved host, Andrew Pattison, became a movable feast, springing up everywhere from the heat of Woodford to the chill of the National. Everywhere it went it gathered new devotees amongst musicians and audience.
The smallest and probably best loved incarnation has been the Troubadour Weekend at Campaspe Downs Country Resort, outside of Kyneton. This year was no exception. The line up was a blueprint for a Folkies Hall of Fame with musicians coming from around Australia and overseas to be part of a gloriously intimate experience. The line-up included (amongst others), Kristina Olsen, Bernard Carney, John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew, Martin Pearson, Rose Bygrave, Doug Ashdown, Mike McClellan, Brent Parlane, Glenn Cardier and Danny Spooner.
Liz Frencham, Steve Vella , The Tiffany Eckhardt Trio, Jordie Lane and Tracy McNeil put the old guard on notice with some great performances. Vella’s voice was as fresh as his song writing and guitar playing was polished. Liz Frencham melded with her double bass in a performance that traversed the emotional and musical spectrum. Her double bass is an extension of her body and indeed to watch her play is to watch an erotic performance where musician and instrument are as one. Her extraordinarily chilling rendition of Suzanne Vega’s The Queen and the Soldier with Martin Pearson, was simply stunning.
Another stand out of the weekend was the hi-octane concerts by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew. Drawing on material from their Lawson CD and gems from the Redgum repertoire, they blew the audience away with tight dynamic delivery. The addition of Kat Kraus’s awesome vocals as a third harmony made even the most familiar songs fresh and exciting. Then there was Michael Kennedy, a gently spell-binding singer, songwriter and raconteur who not only interviewed Andrew Pattison but delivered some beautiful songs in his trademark low key style; sweet cream on the Troubadour’s 30th birthday weekend.
Then came the finale – a round-robin featuring five musicians who have been very significant to the past ten years of The Troubadour. These included Martin Pearson, Kristina Olsen, Liz Frencham, Michael Kennedy, and finally Colcannon's Kat Kraus, leading the whole room in a wonderfully nostalgic yet timeless sing out of Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'.
There are festivals and festivals but the Troubadour Weekend is unique. To mix and chat with musicians is not always easy at the large gatherings. But at Campaspe you can eat breakfast with them, sit around the log fires and even dance with them. As places are limited to around 250, I am booking now for next year.
Essential info: Campaspe Downs Country Resort is near Kyneton, an hour out of Melbourne, and next year's Troubadour Weekend dates are August 21st to 23rd. For more info call 03 5425 5400 or visit www.wineandmusic.net.

For booking and ticketing details click here.

Location
Campaspe Downs is 7 kms south west of Kyneton on the Trentham Road, between Kyneton and Tylden, and approx. 85 kms from Melbourne via the Calder Freeway, Woodend and Tylden.

For all Bookings and Accommodation please contact Andrew at;
The Troubadour Weekend
Ph 03 54 255 400 Fax 03 54 255 401
89 Coombes Lane
Mia Mia, Vic 3444
wineandmusic@bigpond.com