Andrew plays White Swallow Banjos
RIP Luthier Alan Funk
Photo - Shot by Jake
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Andrew plays White Swallow Banjos
RIP Luthier Alan Funk
Photo - Shot by Jake
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"The Uncommon Non Dominator" :-) - Mal Webb
Scroll down here for a quick listing of Clermont's present touring bands & shows
and then drop into Latest News (above)
Awards | Bio | Mini Bio 1 | Mini Bio 2 | Andrew Clermont - Teacher |Bio Overview | Extended Bio|Old Bio | Fiery Fiddlers |
Questionnaire &Highlights
| Andrew Clermont is a chameleon multi-instrumental musician from Bluegrass to Indian, Scandinavian to Oldtime. Has toured with various essence of Australia & US country music and rubbed shoulders with the cools of jazz and classical. A 3 time Bluegrass Guitar Champ and a Director of the Golden Fiddle Awards in Australia |
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@ The North Tam Bowlo plus The Golden Fiddle Awards! |
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Andrew Clermont's International Supper Club
a Finale shot of the grand January week in 2016 @ North Tamworth Bowling Club
And during it's decades -
featured at Woodford, Tamworth & Fairbridge Festivals plus the National Folk Fest,
Clermont melds peoples musical strengths and inspiration into a "wild wood" with few limits
- in it's 23nd official year in 2021 with 2 Triple Live CD sets plus many DVDs of captures!
See the CD Shop
He finally created an all encompassing event, highly regarded & cherished across many Festivals
- not only originally hosting the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest, it also allowed the creation of most orchestration possibilities
in the name of Country(s) & Folk Music with a fellowship of youth & seasoned who stop at few borders or genres.
Andrew Clermont's International Supper Club included 100 players in 2013!
Sup Club Live Recordings are distilled into - 7 CDs and many DVDs (including Tuition)!
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BluGuru
Sounding like "Jeff Beck meets Ravi Shankar on the set of 'Oh! Brother Where Art Thou' while dancing in Rio!",
they feature the sublime voice of
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Parvyn Bennett (+ Percussion, Mandolin & Indian Dance); |
Special guests include cellist Rachel Johnston or Tim Bennett on Bass,
even Octave Violinist Shenzo Gregorio (Electic Stunt Orchestra & Fourplay)
with big smiles all round.
School Concert / Dance Workshop Youtube in Friland School Denmark
(Koncert På Feldballe Friskole)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2-Elui4ZBjo
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Totally Gourdgeous
"Joni Mitchell meets James Brown in Bob Marley's pumpkin patch via The Muppets!"
Above casually mid tour !
Voted Best Live Folk Act by Australian Folk Alliance 2008
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All are playing Gourd instruments luthiered by Penelope Swales - Legendary since young (Gourd Guitar, Gourdalin, Stomp, Aslatuas, Mal Webb - from Lano & Woodley to Glastonbury Solo (Gourd Bass, Mbira, Gournet, Voice-box), Carl Pannuzzo - Smallest Stadium Band in the world to Woodford Fire Event Choir master (Gourd Djemba, Percussion, Guitar), Andrew Clermont - a nutso player from Dya Singh to Tom T Hall (Gourdiddle, Gourdalin, Guitar) and all with Gourdatious Vocals to produce a manic, organic musical experience, punning pathos, heartfelt hilarity & messages of love, fellowship and environmental sanity. www.totallygourdgeous.com |
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on pause is
All Corners Covered
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Andrew Clermont touring with super cool cellist Rachel Johnston (formerly 7 years of the Australian String Quartet (!) and toured with Missy Higgins). Together they covered a selection from the tips of Scandinavia through UK to inner Outback & Oldtime. |
House Deck Concert in Budgong together with Mal Webb - Thanks Barbara & Adam
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Andrew Clermont - Teacher
| Gleaning from over 40 years of Festival Workshops/ Schools/ Private & Group lessons, Clermont has specialised in a bridge for the people who learnt violin at some time, likely classically trained but are perhaps stuck at a progress plateau. Clermont can come to you or you to him or even take a DVD path. This Crash Course to Fiddle gets your bowing rhythms & lilts up & running for the multitude of fun Bluegrass/Celtic/ Swing tunes, plus lowdown Fiddlin` Blues & Country. A simple introduction to modes of scales, reactive and interactive playing, going ballistic and easy improvisational possibilities (also available for Mandolin, Guitar or Didgeridoo). |
A further overview of workshops
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As Clermont applies the workshop hinged on the actual attendees needs, the following is just a guide. The aim is to get you beyond where you are, in the time available. A simple introduction to modes of scales; reactive and interactive playing; Pick techniques , achievable Chords, Accompanying, Soloing and a bit on how to go ballistic, musically :-) Includes a leaning to the blues |
6. A Song-writing Workshop
- having songs sound natural and a few other things you may not have checked on!
Sound Production
Clermont annually includes sound-sorting at numerous Festivals
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- and head of production at his "epic" 35 hours over 8 days Supper Club at Tamworth Festival, or inclusive of Sandford Bush Fest, Yarra Junction Fiddlers Convention, Wirrina Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Fests, all but one of the 20 Frances Folk Gatherings, a decade of Mildura Country MusicFests, The Penola Folk Fests - and now the last few years of St Albans Folk Fest |
Andrew Clermont Bio
Clermont has finally "settled down", Solo or nestled in a happy handful of bands with 5 or 6 instruments. They appeared in Austria/ Kenya/
USA/ Canada/UK/ Germany/ Taiwan/ Malaysia/ Hong Kong/ Singapore/New Zealand/ and Australia wide through the last decades!
For over 20 years now he's been 'pumpkin powered' in Totally Gourdgeous (Voted Best Live Folk Band '08); distilled a magical trio BLUGURU from epic tours with Australia's multi-awarded/cultural Dya Singh World Music Group (LA to Toronto to London Royal Albert Hall) ; 3 time Bluegrass National Guitar Champ and straddled the 'cutting hedge' with The Lawnmowers, and soaring widely with his Supper Club gatherings since 1998ish recent collaborations with Paul Wookey in the Apostle String Band Tours and now also touring with Goldheist with the years of The Borderers (SA) coming to a close.However since the Covid pause Clermont has become a most diligent Piano Tuner, bringing near 100 of them back to happy harmony - from a well over century old Collard & Collard 9 foot Flügel to easy going recent releases!
Clermont initiated the NoHoldsBarred Fiddle Contest and is a Director to the Golden Fiddle Awards.
These are both sponsored by Epoch Strings with Andrew touring the unique 5-string models while also sponsored/ assisted by
Maton Guitars, Gilchrist Mandolins and White Swallow Banjos plus seasons of sponsoring his Supper Club by Clearview IT and Better Care Central NSW.
There are up to 30 CDs & assorted Tuition DVDs (Fiddle/Mandolin/Guitar/Didgeridoo) with a recent addition of the"Being There" Big Pics multi-photo series prints. These pics can blow up to vertical door size & house wall widths & dimensions though typically the A3 size is bought.
All in all a true smorgasbord of sound and visionSee his bank of Awards here
The Supper Club (Supp Youtube)
The years since 1998 have seen Andrew Clermont’s International Supper Club grow to full swing with artists from Tibet, Italy & Nepal to Texas, Oklahoma & Taiwan and many of Australia’s own unique Voice to Dance & Instrumentalists presented. Andrew is delighted to have this ‘Fringe Festival’ (often 15 shows!) develop in his home town - via the Tamworth Country Music Festival primarily, but also gathered at Woodford Folk Festival for many years, National Folk, Pt Fairy, Fairbridge Festivals and way up to Tallin in Estonia and even Berlin!
Family, Awards, Causes & fine Friends (Facebook link)
Born in Adelaide in 61 and soon a ‘legend’ at his Primary School concerts, Andrew has now resided near Tamworth for most of his life; trained horses to ride off into the sunset on and taught/ mentored a string of adventurous musicians across the country through workshops, visits & lessons both direct & on Video.
His love of acoustic music gained him 3 Bluegrass Guitar Championships (now a judge) and a Golden Guitar with the Three Chord Wonders at the beginning of his working life. Then there was the Noses of Fame & Hands of Fame (Tamworth & Barmera) inclusions in cement!
There is a bold bunch of beautiful daughters & grandsons plus family from Adelaide through Tamworth to Berlin, Germany. Funnily enough it’s the regular touring that keeps a large element of family contact rolling along.
He is a tall, colourful and exuberant regular at many festivals - even providing sound production to suit some of them. The only Artist to Fairbridge Folk Fest to be invited to all four showcases of Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar & Gospel + Musicianship Award winner at Frances Folk Gathering + a regular host of Fiddle Round Robins around the country.
somewhere near, or with, you soon!
Recordings, Internet, Videos & Photos (youtube link)
There are some 30 or more CDs which present Andrew in the various groups, Solo and with various collaborations. Most can be sampled at the extensive www.andrewclermont.com.au website with many travel stories, photos world wide, and Concert Emovies to download. Also waiting there are samples of the 4 Tuition Videos, and an entire ‘House’ of photos & linked pages to glean a more personal insight to the last decades of world traveled music from the chameleon, Andrew Clermont.
Sponsorships/assistance -
Maton Guitars, Gilchrist Mandolins and Epoch Violins
with close relations to Tucker Barrett Instruments, White Swallow Banjos and Swales Gourd instruments
- plus a few years from Clearview IT and Better Care Central NSW for performer travel for AC Supper Club
- and always seeking friendly accom .
The Bands -
Andrew Clermont's Supper Club (Across Australia to Estonia!)
BluGuru (including tours to Europe/ Borneo)
Goldheist (with Hester Fraser)
Totally Gourdgeous (OZ & Europe) / The Borderers (Oz to Denmark) (till they retired!)
Zen Tripitalia & The Apostle String Band (occasionally)Even the odd rccording / performance with The Pigs in Oz, Germany & Denmark !
and previously
The Lawnmowers/ Fiddlers Festival (Tamworth to Tokyo)/ Terra Australis (Multi-Awarded Bush Band) /
Dya Singh (Nationally Awarded World Music Group - SA to USA, UK, India & Malaysia)
Celtic Conundrums (Snow band!)Other occasional collaborations through the years -
Elizabeth Lord & Leigh James/ Tania Elizabeth (Canada)/ Kavisha Mazzella/
Greg Champion/ Pat Drummond/ Donna Reynolds/ The Waifs….
Mini-Bio #1
ANDREW CLERMONT:
The borders of music tumble as Clermont challenges the musical moment. History has seen him with Troy Cassar Daley; The Waifs, Tom T Hall (USA) and Jeff Lang literally threw his guitar off when their Xmas duel at Woodford could go no higher. However Andrew did slip in with India(n) group Dya Singh soaring the ragas which morphed into BluGuru, and now All Corners Covered Tours.
His CD - The Longing - is a smorgasbord of acoustic finery. There's also the over 20 years with “Totally Gourdgeous” & his "International Supper Club " . Folk to jazz, bluegrass, blues, and a little down home country Bluegrass with "The Lawnmowers" - after all he did win 3 Bluegrass Guitar Championships as well!
Watch him go from calm to berserk with flair!
updated 2016
ANDREW CLERMONT: The borders of music tumble as multi-instrumentalist Clermont challenges the musical moment with his unique ability to be a chameleon with a host of artists, whether on Violin, Viola, Guitars, Mandolin, Bass, Double bass, Tenor Banjo, Didgeridoo, Dulcimer, or Voice, all played with equal fervour and style.
From cutting crazy tunes with the jester of Jazz guitar Ian Date, to choreographing with violin demon Ian Cooper, or rinsing lines with jazz violinist George Washingmachine. Jeff Lang literally threw his guitar off at Woodford when their duet performance could go no higher! Beside the songwriters - Pat Drummond, Norma O’Hara Murphy, Brent Parlane, Elizabeth Lord, Greg Champion, and Beccy Cole, USA’s Tom T. Hall & Kate Campbell, creating sound-scapes to their stories, he also recalls a cherished duet with Paul Kelly.
In another breath Andrew delivers Indian music with Dya Singh’s group - favourites of the Woodford Festival, soaring the ragas. Amongst a myriad of recordings for others, he has an acclaimed solo CD ‘The Longing’, and over 30 band & solo releases through as many years!
FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH
- FOUR FIERY FIDDLERS - as presented by BEMAC, Brisbane, August, 2001 CLERMONT withAs it turns out, Clermont & Graham had been meeting up at festivals across Victoria through to Queensland for quite a while at the time but now in 2021, a full 20 years later, he’s strong friends with Shenzo as well and appear at each other’s events regularly. They all hit it off very well throughout the night
ANDREW CLERMONT (left), chameleon player with Epoch Strings sponsorship and soon became Director to the Golden Fiddle Awards was this night letting his hair down with
FRED GRAHAM (Far Right):
One of Australia foremost fiddle players, Fred Graham plays with Brisbane-based Celtic group Tulca Mor and is a founder member of the jazz-fusion/ original music quartet Mystrel. Whilst graduating with a degree in Jazz studies, Fred has nurtured his interest in Irish fiddle playing, which recently culminated in his touring Ireland on a Lord Mayor’s Cultural Fellowship grant, to study Irish fiddling. Fred has played at many major festivals throughout Australia, including Woodford Festival, Canberra National Folk Festival and Port Fairy Festival. Fred has recorded two critically acclaimed CD’s: ‘Rise a Mile’ with Tulca Mor and ‘What Borders’ with Mystrel. For the BEMAC ‘Four Corners of the Earth’ World Music Café, Fred will be accompanied by long-standing musical colleague and friend, Steve Cook on Bouzouki and Guitar.
SHENTON GREGORY (Right):
A graduate from Queensland Conservatorium with a Bachelor of music in classical Violin, Shenton Gregory’s style combines sheer virtuosity, amazing versatility, and an entertaining touch of eccentricity. Shenton has toured with Queensland Arts Council in schools across 7500km of Queensland; Participated in the “Jazz in July” course at University of Massachusetts, USA Composed music for La Boite Theatre and the band George, Toured with Natalie Cole. Performed a world premier Violin Concerto with a 35 piece amplified orchestra as well as dangling from a roof in Queen St mall as “Shenzo Gregorio Stunt Violinist” live on Ch 9 “Today”. Perfomed in
“Shenzo’s Electric Stunt Orchestra” at opening of Roma Street Parklands. Played African and Afro-Cuban music with Keith Caisey at the 1999 Pinnacles jazz festival; Vulcana omen’s circus, Smokey Dawson, Savage Garden, The Whitlams, Kelway String Quartet, Musica Viva, and with ‘SARS’, the Gypsy, Jazz, Tango fusion quartet, at the Powerhouse for BEMAC World Music Café and at Brisbane Festival 2000. Shenton has recently recorded a CD with SARS.SPIROS RANTOS (Far Left):
Violinist and Conductor, was born in Corfu, Greece, grew up in Athens and pursued his musical studies in Vienna, Austria, where he met his wife and musical partner, Israeli born pianist Brachi Tilles. Spiros has won the International Violin competitions of Colmar, France and Forte dei Marmi, Italy and commissioned and promoted over 400 performances around the world as a soloist, chamber music player and conductor. He has recorded over 55 records for many labels including Deutsche Grammophon, Harmonia Mundi, Adelcord and Grevillea Records. He has been a frequent guest performer for National broadcast companies in Europe, Asia and Australia. Spiros came to Australia in 1976 as a member of the Vienna based group Ensemble 1. He is the founder, artistic director and conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, and has taught at the Victorian College of the Arts, the University of Southern Queensland & University of Melbourne. He has appeared recently as a soloist with several regional Victorian and Queensland Orchestras in concertos by Bach, Haydn, Lalo, Chausson and Saint-Saens. Spiros has received the Hellenic Distinction Award (Melbourne 1987 and 1990).
TWAS A BIG, BIG NIGHT
Nominated to Top 5 ‘Best Instrumental’ for Golden Guitar Awards with Once Upon Arrival with Steve Berry in 1998 & The Crest of Gilmont with Steve Gilbert Harmonica in 1999 – both from THE LONGING CD. Awarded ‘Album of the Month’ in September 1998 Capital News. USA Tour in Oct/Nov 1999 with India(n) cross-culture group, Dya Singh. Now in Top 5 for 'Best instrumental' in Golden Guitars 2000. Reeling in the Big One with Parris McCleod. Andrew Clermont - the essentials ( solo or with band ) - plays Didgeridoo, Dulcimer, Fiddle, Viola, Guitars, Mandolin, Bass, Double bass, Tenor Banjo and Voice with equal fervor, style and technique. Has a CD package to offer – a feast of Clermont's recorded musicology - link Andrew has produced a dozen definitive albums for assorted artists and can design recordings for albums, ads or private memoirs . . . even restoration. Just call to discuss your musical needs for a solution. |
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1998 began with an Indian music perfomance at Woodford World Music Festival with Dya Singh - international perfomers from Adelaide SA. The year wound through many festivals peaking with a combined family tour joining Elizabeth Lord & Leigh James with kids, (6 all up), together with each others new CDs "The Longing" to "Share" tour. 9000km - Byron Bay, Tamworth, Queanbeyan, Mildura, Adelaide (Festival Theatre), Spud's Roadhouse, Alice Springs, Uluru, Devil's Marbles, Camooweal, Carnavon Gorge, Redlands Bay Fiddlers Fest (Brisbane), and back to Tamworth . . .phew! See story page. See him somewhere soon! Gympie Muster for a Bluegrass Breakfast, Fiddlers Festival or soaring with the other artists. Northern NSW with Pat Drummond - check Pat's site for further details. Andrew is also available for long distance lessons - recordings, performances too! ...on with the show! |
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Andrew was born on June 5th, 1961 in Adelaide, South Australia and from his early efforts on the guitar and singing Seekers songs when just six years old, he has progressed to become one of Australia's leading musicians and Bluegrass exponents - a virtuoso on instruments as diverse as the fiddle, the mandolin and the didgeridoo. He has toured extensively right across Australia and through the outback with the likes of Johnny Chester, Brian Young, Tammy Wynette, Tom T. Hall, Allison Durban and James Blundell. A regular performer at Tamworth and other CM festivals and at many folk festivals, Andrew has worked with numerous artists including The Dead Ringer Band, Beccy Cole, Troy Cassar-Daley, Greg Champion, Brent Parlane, Jim Haynes and Pat Drummond.
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July 2024
