Musicians, dancers, singers and listeners from Central Victoria and Melbourne will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the exciting world of Gypsy, Klezmer, and Eastern European Folk Music when the Zingaro Festival runs in Malmsbury on the 5th,6th,and 7th of November.

Zingaro will bring together musicians who are leading exponents in these forms with musicians who are developing their skills. Workshops will be held in instruments, dance, and voice, culminating in a combined ensemble experience led by Phil Carroll. There will be performances by professional exponents of Klezmer, Gypsy and other music styles, and informal music sessions for all comers. Much of this music is from aural traditions, but printed music is available from the tutors and the various community groups that regularly play this music. Anyone who is interested is welcome!

The Woo Hoo Revue, an exciting Gypsy / Klezmer fusion dance band from Melbourne, will headline at the Saturday night Dance in the Malmsbury Town Hall. They have been receiving rave reviews for their high energy performances, at places like Woodford Folk Festival and the Melbourne Gypsy festival, and will soon be appearing at the Maldon Folk Festival and the World Music Expo in Melbourne.

The Zingaro Music Festival is the first event in Victoria to celebrate this rich music in this way, with such an emphasis on sharing and participation.

The event has been organised by The Zingaro Organising Group of the Bendigo Folk Club and funded with assistance from Regional Arts Victoria and Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

Musicians leading Workshops include:

• Aria Award winning Kavisha Mazella who will be running a singing workshop. Kavisha has appeared on Rock Quiz on SBS.

• Ernie Gruner, and Phil Carroll, members of Jewish Folk Music band, Klezmeritis, and Arabic Band Yalla. Both bands have appeared on popular ABC TV Music Quiz show, Spicks and Specks. Ernie will run a violin workshop and Phil will run an ensemble workshop.

• Andrea Makris will run a contemporary Belly dance workshop which fuses traditional Balkan gypsy moves with modern Egyptian Belly dance technique.

• Dushan Mitrovic has spent his formative years in various parts of eastern Europe and has thus come into contact with its many varieties of music. He is currently running the Balkan brass band Opa! Bato. He will be running a clarinet workshop for Zingaro.

• Jen Hawley is a troubadour extraordinaire! She performs regularly at popular venues with Terry Cole in Topcat and Tall Poppies, and is also a member of other ensembles including Flirting Mazurkas, Great Chefs of Europe, Ruby and Ginger and Blue Drag. She is offering a guitar workshop at Zingaro, featuring gypsy swing styles.

• Percussionist Matt Stonehouse is a specialist in middle Eastern frame drums and darabuka, and has helped thousands of drummers all over the world realise their true potential. Zingaro is yet another opportunity !