L.A. Outback Didgeridoo Blog

LA Outback at Didgeridoo Jam at the Neighborhood Cup in Orange County, California

2008-08-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

LA Outback was proud to join in with Karen Greeley to co-host the latest didgeridoo jam at The Neighborhood Cup coffee house in Aliso Viejo, California.

The didjeridu jam session was the third event of a monthly meeting of didj players at every skill level, getting together to play, visit and share pointers on playing the didgeridoo. The session was held on July 26th, 2008 and will hopefully be an ongoing monthly event there as long as The Neighborhood Cup coffee house is willing to have it there.

Karen was kind enough to invite LA Outback down to help out with some beginner players that were going to be attending. Both Barry and I were very excited to participate and see some familiar faces.

We've set up a gallery of his images in Flickr to share with those interested in checking out the afternoon of good coffee and didgeridoo vibes.

Check out the Didgeridoo Jam gallery in Flicker
Visit www.laoutback.com to see our selection of Australian Aboriginal didgeridoos

100,000 Catholics Gather for Youth Event in Sydney

2008-07-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

News from the Associated Press for July 15, 2008

Okay, I know this on the surface doesn't appear to have anything to do with didgeridoo, and I'm in no way endorsing the Catholic relegion, but when I read into the article I noticed a quote from Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Rudd addressed the crowd by acknowledged the Aborigines as Australia's original owners and read welcomes to pilgrims in various languages, including Italian, French, Korean, the Philippines' Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia. This is a continuing extension of good will after his "Sorry Day" speach earlier this year in which he acknowledged the wrong doings of the Australian government in their handling of the countries indigenous people.

Aborigines in traditional clothing and white body paint danced and chanted to the strains of a didgeridoo. I'm trying to find out who the didj player was just out of curiosity so if any one knows pass the word on.

DidgHead Radio Festival - Instow, Devon in the UK

2008-07-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

DidgHead Radio Festival 2008

1st - 3rd August 2008
Tapeley Park, Instow, Devon
United Kingdom

Just ran across this didgeridoo festival site online and wanted to make a post about it. For those of you over in the UK or Europe there's still time to pick up your favorite didgeridoo and make the trek.

Here's a brief excerpt from their site:

"The aim of the festival, past and present, is to bring to the public the best of new UK and World didgeridoo music in all its forms.

The festival seeks to display didgeridoo music and didgeridoo playing styles ranging from its origins as a ceremonial instrument in Northern Australia, to its inclusion into almost every musical genre and context."

Looks like they are going to have some pretty cool players this year including Frank Heinkel, Mike Edwards, Kev Howard, Dubravko Lapaine and many more.

Visit the official DidjHead Radio Festival site for more information at www.anticfestivals.co.uk

Didgeridoo Player Ron Crose, From Austin Texas

2008-07-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

As a resource for didgeridoo sales here in the US, we always get customers asking how they can connect with other players, or find didgeridoo instructors in their area. I've begin to seek out players online with websites to collect them here on this blog to make it easy for people to one another. Here's my first entry.

Ron Crose from Austin Texas

Ron has earned respect among both the didgeridoo and world music communities. He has a true gift of playing the didj and has a tremendious passion for sharing the traditions of the didjeridu.

He has performed in numerous music festivals, taught at elementary schools, shared the stage or studio with many musicians, and loves to share his knowledge by holding workshops, classes.

He offers group classes, workshops, and private lessons which are offered throughout the year in the Austin, Texas area and are to be announced.

To visit Ron Crose's website click here

Ryka Demonstrates Didgeridoo Animal Sounds

2008-07-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

For those of you out there wishing to learn how to create those unique animal sounds on your didgeridoo we just posted this great video on Youtube to give you some ideas. Ryka demonstrates Bookaburra, Dingo, Kangaroo, Crocodile, Boomerang and more. This is should give you some basic ideas that you can apply to your didgeridoo to accent your basic drone. Remember it's all about your own unique ideas and playing style so just have fun and let your mind and mouth create some great new sounds.

Happy didjin'
www.laoutback.com

Didgeridoo Playing Could Improve Sleep Apnea

2008-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Sleep Study featuring apnea sufferers the didgeridoo.
Courtesy of radiologist "Not Totally Rad's" Blog

This clinical trial by Puhan et al was conducted in Switzerland, far from this ancient instrument's origin in Australia. Somehow the authors were able to convince 25 Swiss patients with sleep apnea to play the didgeridoo. Fourteen of these 25 played the instrument for 4 months, while the 11 controls were placed on a waiting list. The bottom line:

Regular playing of a didgeridoo reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and also improves the sleep quality of partners

Severity of disease, expressed by the apnoea-hypopnoea index, is also substantially reduced after four months of didgeridoo playing

As a radiologist, I spend most of my work days up to my clavicles in high-tech equipment. I therefore relish all the more avocations, such as folk music and hiking, that I can enjoy with low tech gear far from the power grid. Therefore, it's a pleasing thought that a $94 plastic didgeridoo might replace a $1500 CPAP machine in some patients.

On another note, perhaps Switzerland is not such an unlikely place for this particular clinical trial at all. If anything, people who have already been playing alphorns for the past 1,800 years should be naturals at the didgeridoo.

For more information on didgeridoos contact www.laoutback.com

Pablo Cunqueiro Takes An LA Outback Didgeridoo On A Global Walkabout

2008-06-25T14:56:00.000-07:00

LA Outback's employee, Pablo Cunqueiro recently traveled from Egypt to Italy with family including his brother Fernando (in photo). He knew while he was away he would definitely want to do some didgeridoo playing. Carrying around a heavy eucalyptus didj would have been too cumbersome so he asked about taking one of our Modern Didgeridoos.

We all thought it would be cool for him to take the style called "Walkabout", which only seemed appropriate, and take some photos along the way to document it's travels, or walkabout.

We've set up a gallery of his images in Flickr to share with those interested in seeing Pablo and the didj on their journey. See Pablo travel from the pyramids of Luxor to the canals of Venice with his trusty didj in tow.

Check out the Walkabout Didgeridoo gallery in Flicker
Visit www.laoutback.com to see our didjs including the Walkabout

Didj 'n Beat Fest: Didgeridoo Festival in Austria coming August 23, 2008

2008-06-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings all out in the didgeridoo world! I just ran across information for another International Didgeridoo Festival and I wanted to let everyone know about it.

This fest is located in Schlossberg, Austria and is coming late summer. The Didgeridoo Festival has been going on since 2000 and judging from the photos on their site, it looks like a pretty wild time. Unfortunately both the offical site and their Myspace pages are written in German so I can't tell you a whole lot about them, but you can at least get an idea of the vibe they have built for you to enjoy.

So if you plan on being in Europe come August 23rd, make sure to pack your didgeridoo and join them in the festivities.

For more information visit wither the official webpage www.didgeridoo-festival.at
Or check out their Myspace Page www.myspace.com/didgeridoo_festival
For information on US didgeridoo festivals visit our site www.laoutback.com

Didgeridoo CD: Stephen Kent's New Work "Living Labyrinths"

2008-06-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Living Labyrinths is an improvised Solstice journey, a song of the moment with original real time processing designed and conceived for solo didjeridu by Gregory T. Kuhn and performed live by Stephen Kent, solo, on Didjeridu, Percussion and Processing. Living Labyrinths is the product of a series of unplanned conditions all lining up synchronously on the evening of the Summer Solstice, 2005 in Oakland, California’s Chapel of the Chimes - a mausoleum, designed by a series of luminary architects including Julia Morgan, that houses the remains of over 300,000 people.

The disc includes some amazing atmospheres that accompany Stephen's dynamic didgeridoo playing. There are some really unusual sounds that flow through out which make for nice surprises and the pieces develop. For those looking for more of Stephen's unique solo style, this disc has a number of pieces that you'll love as well.

To hear an MP3 sample or to purchase Stephen Kent's Living Labyrinths visit www.laoutback.com

Mike Jackson Plays "Steam Train" Didgeridoo Solo

2008-06-14T08:05:00.001-07:00

Here is the second solo didgeridoo piece that Mike Jackson played while visiting LA Outback. This piece is titled Steam Train which was named by some friends of his in Europe for it's fast paced, highly rhythmic playing style.

Mike is a pretty amazing didgeridoo player and we're thrilled to be able to showcase this video which was shot back in the LA Outback tiki hut. He's played didj all over Australia at various festivals and clubs, but mid 2008 was his first time ever to the USA. His visit here included stops in Seattle and Denver as well where he performed, gave lectures and workshops. We're hoping to get Mike and his band Didgeridoo Dingo back in 2009 for the Australia Fair LA festival we'll be throwing here in Los Angeles.

To purchase Mike's didgeridoo solo CD visit www.laoutback.com

Karl Kalbaugh on Myspace: Electronic Music Composer with Didgeridoo

2008-06-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to point everyone to a new Myspace page with some great compositions featuring didgeridoo. The space is owned by Karl Kalbaugh who lives on the Eastern seaboard of the US and has been composing and playing didj for well over a decade.

Karl released his debut recording "Terra Nova" back in 2000, a self produced work featuring 10 cuts written and arranged in Karl's studio. A piece from the album called "Nocturne" is currently represented in his playlist but it appears he'll be rotating his works to keep the set fresh, so keep checking in to see what new works might be represented. Karl's site also features some of the didjs he's crafted from native hardwoods.

Karl's music incorporates beautiful piano melodies with grand washes of strings, didgeridoo and percussion. His work accented by is very cinematic and inspire great landscapes of far off lands. My favorites are "History" and "Outbound".

Check out Karl's work at www.myspace.com/karlkalbaugh
For more didj music visit www.laoutback.com

Mike Jackson Plays Didgeridoo Solo "Control Freak"

2008-06-13T10:08:00.001-07:00

Mike Jackson visited us here at LA Outback a week ago for a weekend didj series including performance, lecture and workshop. Mike is an accomplished and well respected didgeridoo player from the Blue Mountains just west of Sydney and has been playing didgeridoo for over 10 years. When he's not playing didgeridu solo, he's performing with his band or working as an archaeologist in search of ancient Aboriginal sites near his home.

For those who were unable to attend the events LA Outback hosted for Mike, we will be posting them on Youtube and sharing them with you here on our blog. This will include excerpts from the performance and his solo presentations of "Control Freak" and "Steam Train".

For more information on didgeridoo related happenings, check out the events page at www.laoutback.com for more information or stay tuned to our blog.

Jammin Tree Didgeridoo Festival in Central California: August 15, 16, 17 2008

2008-06-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

Jammin Tree Didj Fest

The 8th annual JT Didgefest is an International gathering of the didgeridoo community. Didgeridoo players and performers, hand drummers, and anyone interested in indigenous music from around the world are encouraged to attend. Concerts, lessons and workshops are scheduled throughout all the days. Vendors will also be on hand offering some of the best instruments and handcrafted wares available.

August 15, 16 & 17th 2008

Didgeridoo Festival Headquarters
49522 Road 426
Oakhurst, CA. 93644

Visit the official JT Didgeridoo Festival Site

Spirit Alive by Didgeridoo (yidaki) player Kristian Benton

2008-05-29T17:28:00.001-07:00

This is a cool animated video our buddy Kristian Benton that I just ran across on Youtube. Kristian created this work to promote a cut from his latest didgeridoo CD Spirit Alive. The song is a beautiful melody for didgeridoo, guitar and vocals and the video incorporates images of Aboriginal paintings, the natural surroundings near his home and other Australian icons.

Kristian is such a talented guy not only as a musician, but also a crafter of fine highly sought after didgeridoos (also known as yidaki). We're always happy to do what we can to support him in anyway we can and had the pleasure of meeting up with Kristian Benton and his wife while visiting Bellingen, Australia back in 2006.

To pick up a copy of the Kristian Benton CD Spirit Alive check out www.laoutback.com as well as many other didgeridoo CDs covering numerous genres.

A Version of Didgeridoo History: By Ed Drury

2008-05-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Read an interesting study on the history of the didgeridoo and it's slow introduction to modern culture. Written by Ed Drury, a multi instrumentalist, composer, teacher, instrument maker and author living in Portland, Oregon. Here is just a quick introduction to the article but visit our website to read the complete article.

"When I talk about the history of the didgeridoo, I'm talking about the awareness of non-Aboriginal people of an instrument. The greater history is really only known by a relatively small number of people - the traditional owners. The traditional owners history is far older and can not be told by outsiders. It perhaps can be told to outsiders, but not by them. This is because the culture the didgeridoo comes from has its own way of keeping history and of passing on information. Our way is different, and in that different way I can only speak of what has been reported about the instrument since knowledge of it spread beyond the safe keeping of the traditional owners.

Information about the didgeridoo came to the world in stages or "waves."

These waves were: discovery, anthropological studies, appropriation by contemporary musicians, instrument sales and finally, internet discussion lists and web pages. With each wave came different aspects or "spins" on the information which has taken on a life of its own."

Visit www.laoutback.com for the complete article

Visit Ed Drury's website for more information on his history, music and studies.

Ash Dargan Tour Schedule: Didgeridoo Concerts for Summer 2008

2008-05-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Ash Dargan is an indigenous Australian didgeridoo player and recording artist. His music is a great combination of contemporary world beats and traditional didgeridoo playing styles. His live performances are very diverse and engaging including his presentation of "Territory", a multi media journey into the mythological world of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia

If you want to catch this master didgeridoo performer live here are Ash Dargan's live dates for summer 2008.

June 24, 2008
Washington, DC
"Pacific Night", A Gala hosted by The Australian Enbassy at The National Geographic Society
ASH DARGAN's "TERRITORY: Journeys into Aboriginal Dreamtime"
Embassy of Australia
1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington DC 20036
PH: 202.797.3383
ian.whitney@dfat.giv.au

June 26 - June 30, 2008
Pennsylvania
Kennett Square/West Chester County area
To schedule or request individual or small group workshops and lessons with ASH DARGAN
Contact: Jessie
PHONE: 610.444.6333 jessiecocks@comcast.net

July 12th, 2008
Nederland, CO - West of Boulder, CO
Benefit Concert to support Grandmother Moon and Shooting Star Lodges
7:30pm
Levels: $45/$55/$65
Registration: Marie at 303-258-9263
or e-mail: grandmothermoonlodge@earthlink.net

July or August, 2008
Ft. Collins, CO
Date TBA
IN NATURE , new live solo performance
Friday Evening “After Hours” Courtyard Concerts
Ft Collins Museum, 5-7 p.m.
2—Mathews St. ( 2 blocks from Old Town, In Library Square)
Info and tickets: kdoyle@fcgov.com or call 970.221.9768

For other exciting didgeridoo related events and performances visit www.laoutback.com

Didgeridoo Player Xavier Rudd: North American Show Dates 2008

2008-05-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Just got word of Xavier Rudd's upcoming US show dates for summer 2008. If you've never seen this amazing didgeridoo player live then you are really missing out. His style mixes contemporary didjeridu playing with very contemporary pop/rock melodies and powerful, thought provoking lyrics.

Xavier really is a one man band as he plays percussion, beat box, guitar and effects all while playing didgeridoo. Don't miss out if you are in one of the areas where he'll be performing. Check back often as we'll be posting more dates as they become available.

08/29/08 Aspen, CO • Jazz Aspen Labor Day Festival

Tickets & Information

09/01/08 Seattle, WA • Bumbershoot Festival
Tickets & Information

09/28/08 Austin, TX • Austin City Limits Festival • Zilker Park
Tickets & Information

Awesome Didjeridu CD: Ondrej Smeykal Didgeridoo Solo 2

2008-05-21T10:17:00.001-07:00

Didgeridoo Solo II

by Ondrej Smeykal

The most anticipated new CD to hit the didgeridoo scene in many years! I'm writing this as I have my first listen and I couldn't be more pleased. Ondrej has been playing the didgeridoo for over ten years. His first CD wowed the didge community, and this one's gonna create an epic fan base for Ondrej. No one else plays didgeridoo like this! And if this CD doesn't stagger your sonic imagination then your probably dead. The four-fold cover is a didgipack made from recycled paper with artwork stone-printed by hand. Ondrej has also autographed each copy we have in gold leaf ink.

This CD spent weeks in my player as I couldn't get enough of it. To find our more about Ondrej visit his site www.smeykal.com/eng

To purchase both Ondrej's discs Didgeridoo Solo, and Didgeridoo Solo II visit www.laoutback.com for more info.

Barunga Didjeridu & Aboriginal Cultural Festival: June 6 - 9 2008 in Katherine, NT Australia

2008-05-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hear the stories and learn the culture of the Indigenous people.

The annual Barunga Festival is held in this remote Aboriginal community over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend and is one of the major and longest-running Indigenous community festivals in the Northern Territory. The festival showcases contemporary indigenous musicians, including didgeridoo players, from the Territory in a battle-of-the-bands event on the Saturday night and a full concert on the Sunday with some of the Territory’s top indigenous bands. There’s also a sports program that runs throughout the weekend and attracts participants from remote communities throughout the Territory.

Cultural activities include traditional didjeridu workshops and performances, traditional dance, arts and crafts demonstrations and exhibitions, bush tucker tastings and spear throwing are all regular elements of the festival. You can purchase art direct from the local artists.

Visitors can camp in the community during the alcohol-free festival and interact with residents who will share their stories and culture.

June 6 - 9 2008

Katherine, Northern Territory,

Australia

Visit the Barunga Festival site for further details

Also visit www.laoutback.com for more didgeridoo event info.

Didgeridoo Featured in Future Guitar Hero Franchise?

2008-05-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

File this one securely in the "Rumor Mill" category. I just ran across a small blurb in an online Music Industry journal that the computer gaming company Activision is working on a new expansion package for their acclaimed Guitar Hero franchise. According to this article Activision is considering including a few wind instruments to the line up including, are you ready, didgeridoo. If true, the game should be ready by early 2009.

We'll have to wait and see if this one is true or not. If it actually comes to be, this could be very cool combo for us didjeridu players who also happen to be gamers.

Ganga Giri Live Didjeridu Performance

2008-05-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

Check out our buddy Ganga Giri, electronic didgeridoo wizard, performing a killer show at one of his recent live gigs!

For more information on Ganga Giri visit his site www.gangagiri.com

To purchase Ganga Giri CDs visit www.laoutback.com

World Music Festival: Featuring Didgeridoo Performances by Ash Dargan & Mike Jackson

2008-05-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

You are all invited to attend the 2008 Colorado World Music Gathering held near Dacono. This year’s event will be a one day outing. All are welcomed, from the curious to the beginner to the professional. At this year’s gathering we are including the didgeridoo, ethnic flute and drum, tribal & fire dance communities. All pertinent info is now posted on the Yahoo Group (link in right column). Volunteers are welcome. Please use the Yahoo Group page as your primary vehicle for event communications. One point of reference will reduce confusion, increase response time and prevent info from getting lost.

Saturday, June 7, 2008
12:00 PM to Midnight

To find out more about Ash Dargan please visit his home page.

For more didgeridu events in the US check out the LA Outback Events page.

Didgeridoo Tribe Online Community

2008-05-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a great resource for all you didgeridoo players out there looking to connect with others. Check out the Didgeridoo Tribe which is a cool site featuring over a hundred players from all around the United States. Create an account, log in, post messages and find out what other didjeridu players are up to. You may even find other didjers in your local area to jam with.

Go to www.didgeridootribe.com for more info and account creation.

LA Outback's Didgeridoo Myspace Page

2008-05-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Check out LA Outback’s MySpace space we also hope to develop over time as a hub to bring fellow didjers closer together.

Our Myspace didgeridoo page, combined with LA Outback's Didgeridoo blog, when fully underway, will hopefully be your way to connect. You'll be able track down other didj payers in your area, find a didjeridu instructor or find out about the latest didj happenings. We are always getting didjeridu players asking us if we know how to connect them with other didjers and with the broad scope of Myspace and the blogging community, this should be the perfect way to do it!

And if you have a MySpace site, let's take the time to add each other as friends!

New Solo Didgeridoo CD by Jake Duncan

2008-05-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

Sound Trigger's Memory is the title of this new CD by Jake Duncan in Oregon. At only 18 years old, Jake delivers solo didgeridoo riffs with confident yet soulful echoes of Ondrej Smekal and Tyler Spencer. Not an easy thing to do, but his raw talent and a professional approach to the recording and mastering allows this freshman effort to truly shine.

Jake tells us, "I have been playing didjeridu since I was 11 years old. I feel deeply privileged to have met some amazing people and didge players through this instrument and wish to thank them for being so open to sharing with me their techniques, advice, friendship, and support." Congrats, Jake, and I love the title as well.

Listen to and buy the Jake Duncan CD Sound Triggers Memory here!