Spirit Alive by Didgeridoo (yidaki) player Kristian Benton

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Recent Didgeridoo Happenings for May 2008

May is shaping up to be a great month for didgeridoo players. First, there are so many performances; from Ganga Giri to Tyler Spencer to Stephen Kent all over the west coast. Plus, Mike Jackson is flying in from Sydney to perfom a concert and advanced playing workshop right here at L.A.Outback. All this month! Visit our Calendar Page for full details on these events and more.

Tjupurru from Brisbane, Australia, blew into L.A. last week for gigs at The House of Blues and Temple Bar, as well as a guest spot on renowned radio stations KCRW and Indy106. Tjupurru plays the Didjeribone with electronic effects and is a protege of Charlie McMahon, the instrument's inventor. Tjupurru is a helluva nice fella with a big personality and he really grooves on stage which gets everyone up and dancing. Watch a high quality video of his KCRW gig.

Lastly, I've just put a phat pile of new didgeridoos on the site so have a look. There's some truly rare ones as well. We currently have nearly 300 eucalyptus didgeridoos in stock so let us know if you're looking for something not listed on our website. And if you live here in southern California stop by and try 'em all!

Good vibrations,

Barry

Tree Man Gathering: Didgeridoo and Drum Festival; July 11th-13th, 2008

I just ran across the website for a brand new didgeridoo festival being held on the east coast. Check out the official Tree Man Gathering website. If you enjoy the primal sounds of didgeridoo, drums, and other indigenous world music instruments, then this festival is for you!

Their first annual gathering will be held July 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2008. Festivities will be located at the stunningly beautiful Robert H. Treman State Park in Ithaca, New York. You will have the opportunity to meet other didgeridoo and drum enthusiasts, participate in workshops, listen to concerts in a modern pavilion, browse arts and crafts, and enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and fishing.

For additional didgeridoo events check out LA Outback's events page.

FREE Didgeridoo Class: Saturday, May 24, 2008

Learn all of the basic playing techniques including animal sounds, creating rhythms and circular breathing. This class is for all ages and it's heaps of fun. If you don't have a didgeridoo then you can borrow one from us, no worries. Length of class is about 1 hour. All ages welcome, in fact, bring along all your family and friends! A happy pup named "Dingo" will greet you at the door. Stay for a bit after the class and check out all the new didgeridoos and gear.

Saturday, May 24, 2008
3:00 to 4:00 PM

Classes are held at L.A.Outback's canyon home located up on "Dingo Mountain" in Studio City, CA.

Visit www.laoutback.com for more info.

Deadly Didgeridoo Duet!

Check out this video featuring Jeremy Donovan and Ryka Ali as they improvise a 7 minute didgeridoo duet on LA Outback!

13th Annual In-Didj-In-Us Didgeridoo Gathering: August 8, 9, 10, 2008

A 3-day campout with workshops, jams, performances, crafting, vending, sharing, and as much fun as you can shake your stick at. Hosted on private land. Totally free. Vegetarian meals provided. Attendance is limited to about 300 people, so reservations are accepted and appreciated. No booze and no dogs help keep the vibe safe and mellow. Totally volunteer and donation supported so bring your own ideas, props, towels, toys, camping gear, instruments, etc.

August 8, 9, 10, 2008
This is the oldest and most gracious gathering of didgeridoo players and beautiful spirits in the U.S.

Hosted by Chad Butler and his family in Oregon. It's all about community.
Where: Private land in Scio, Oregon
Admission: Free, but please reserve ahead.
Info: www.BhumSiva.com

For information on additional didgeridoo festivals visit LA Outback's events page.

Mike Jackson Concert & Workshop at L.A.Outback: Saturday, May 31 & Sunday, June 1

This will be Mike's first trip to the States and we're stoked to host his concert and workshop right here at LA Outback's canyon home in the hills above Studio City, CA. Mike is arguably one of the most innovative and accomplished didgeridoo players in the world. His mastery of the instrument allows him to explore tone, texture and rhythm at speeds and in ways that are totally unique. To hear him play is to experience a connection to Australia's myriad untouched lands where the spirit and heart can still reside with a certain degree of peace. 

Seating is very limited: 20 people for the concert and 15 people for the workshop, so reserve today or visit our Calendar Page for full details and online reservations.

Concert: Saturday, May 31
6:30 PM Reception
7:00 PM Mike's Rock Art Digital Slde Show
Intermission
8:00 PM Concert

Advanced Playing Workshop: Sunday, June 1
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Not for beginners, this workshop is for those that are ready to discover the secrets of speed, structure, and articulation. Limited to 15 people.

G'Day Didgeridoo Folk

Greetings all,

This is Barry over at LA Outback and I want to welcome you all to my new didgerdioo blog. Here I'll be commenting on all the cool stuff I've sussed out on the web pertaining to this amazing musical instrument. I'll be hoping to post everything from the latest didgeridoo events, CD reviews, festivals and also special offers at our online shop.

I'm hoping that this little spot on the internet can become a hub to keep everyone informed as to what is going on out there in the didgeridoo world and bring everyone in the community one step closer together.

Peace and enjoy!

Barry

"Walk softly and carry a loud stick"

www.LAOutback.com