Blue Grassy Knoll
Encyclopedia
Blue Grassy Knoll are a 5 piece gypsy-bluegrass ensemble that formed in Melbourne
in 1996. Original members were Steph O'Hara (violin, mandolin), Simon Barfoot (guitar, vocals, drums) Gus Macmillan (Banjo, Flute) Philip McLeod (accordion, cello, mandolin, harmonica) and Alex Miller (double bass). Other members have included Dan Witton (double bass, 1999–2000), Phil Collings (guitar/drums, 2001) and Mark Elton (double bass, 2007 - )
Over their 13 year career they have cemented their place as one of Australia’s most unusual, accomplished and enduring performance troupes, as their cross-over from music to live filmscore has set them apart from any other ensemble. They have created a body of work encompassing four feature-length live filmscores, five short live filmscores, have released 4 CDs, and have embarked on 15 international tours, performing at festivals on all 5 continents, the highlights being seasons at The New Victory Theater on Broadway, The Edinburgh Festival
, Lyric Theatre
in London, the Sydney Opera House
, and festival appearances in Ireland, China, South Africa
, Brazil, Korea, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
After a 4 month tour across the USA and Canada in 2003 the band were beginning to experience touring fatigue and only performed sparingly over the next 4 years, playing once a year at festivals such as Sydney's Rocks Aroma Coffe Festival in 2004 and 2005 and the Singapore Arts Festival
in 2006. A turning point for the band came in 2007 when they were commissioned by the Victorian Arts Centre
to create a new score for the 1922 Chinese silent film
Labourer’s Love, which toured to Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Australian Theatre Festival
. They found themselves reinvigorated by success of this project, as well as the following Australian performances at the Westgarth Film Festival
and 2007-2008 Woodford Folk Festival
, and the company have resumed their career as an ongoing venture.
In 2009 the band obtained funding from the Victorian Arts Centre's Full Tilt fund to develop a new score to Buster Keaton
’s classic 1926 film The General
and commenced 4 weeks paid rehearsal as artists-in-residence
at the Arts Centre in July/August. They performed this new score in 2010.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1996. Original members were Steph O'Hara (violin, mandolin), Simon Barfoot (guitar, vocals, drums) Gus Macmillan (Banjo, Flute) Philip McLeod (accordion, cello, mandolin, harmonica) and Alex Miller (double bass). Other members have included Dan Witton (double bass, 1999–2000), Phil Collings (guitar/drums, 2001) and Mark Elton (double bass, 2007 - )
Over their 13 year career they have cemented their place as one of Australia’s most unusual, accomplished and enduring performance troupes, as their cross-over from music to live filmscore has set them apart from any other ensemble. They have created a body of work encompassing four feature-length live filmscores, five short live filmscores, have released 4 CDs, and have embarked on 15 international tours, performing at festivals on all 5 continents, the highlights being seasons at The New Victory Theater on Broadway, The Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
, Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre (London)
The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.Designed by architect C. J. Phipps, it was built by producer Henry Leslie with profits from the Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson hit, Dorothy, which he transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to open...
in London, the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, and festival appearances in Ireland, China, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Brazil, Korea, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand.
After a 4 month tour across the USA and Canada in 2003 the band were beginning to experience touring fatigue and only performed sparingly over the next 4 years, playing once a year at festivals such as Sydney's Rocks Aroma Coffe Festival in 2004 and 2005 and the Singapore Arts Festival
Singapore Arts Festival
The Singapore Arts Festival is an annual arts festival held in Singapore. Organised by the National Arts Council, it is one of the most significant events in the regional arts scene. The festival, usually held in mid-year for a stretch of one month, incorporates theatre arts, dance, music and...
in 2006. A turning point for the band came in 2007 when they were commissioned by the Victorian Arts Centre
The Arts Centre (Melbourne)
The Victorian Arts Centre is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the inner Melbourne suburb of Southbank in Victoria, Australia....
to create a new score for the 1922 Chinese silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
Labourer’s Love, which toured to Beijing and Shanghai as part of the Australian Theatre Festival
Theatre festival
Theatre festivals amongst the earliest types of festival. Classical Greek theatre was associated with religious festivals dedicated to Dionysus. The medieval mystery plays were presented at the major Christian feasts...
. They found themselves reinvigorated by success of this project, as well as the following Australian performances at the Westgarth Film Festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
and 2007-2008 Woodford Folk Festival
Woodford Folk Festival
The Woodford Folk Festival is an annual music festival held near the small country town of Woodford, 72 km north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the biggest annual cultural events of its type in Australia....
, and the company have resumed their career as an ongoing venture.
In 2009 the band obtained funding from the Victorian Arts Centre's Full Tilt fund to develop a new score to Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".Keaton was recognized as the...
’s classic 1926 film The General
The General (1927 film)
The General is a 1926 American silent comedy film released by United Artists inspired by the Great Locomotive Chase, which happened in 1862. Buster Keaton starred in the film and co-directed it with Clyde Bruckman...
and commenced 4 weeks paid rehearsal as artists-in-residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
at the Arts Centre in July/August. They performed this new score in 2010.