Saturday 19^th & Sunday 20^th May

Morpeth Jazz Festival features Traditional New Orleans Style ‘Toe Tappin’ Jazz, with Jazz bands playing in two historic main churches at either end of Morpeth village.  18^th, 19^th and 20^th May 2012.

Throughout the village there is Gourmet Food shops cafes, tearooms, restaurants & Wine Court, smaller more intimate jazz bands will be playing on the street, or roaming in and out of Morpeth’s craft complexes, for you to enjoy.  They re-create that traditional New Orleans Street Party atmosphere, at Morpeth each year.  Put in a song request, and it will have you dancing in the street or maybe in one of the churches!  With a historic village atmosphere and the Hunter River as a backdrop – great food and even better Hunter Wine & Cheese, what more could you ask for?

 Jazz Bands

Jazz bands confirmed for this year’s festival include Geoff Bull…New Orleans Quartet, Jack McLaughlin’s Preservation band, Le Toot Ensemble, and Chris Cady Blues Duet.

For up to date Jazz Festival Information log onto www.chapeljazz.com.  Use this website to provide you with a Jazz Program, bookings for Jazz Dinners etc…

Morpeth’s 186 year old  two Story Georgian Mansion Closebourne House has waited until Sunday 20^th May 2012 to hear the famous Geoff Bull Jazz band play on the front verandah.

Geoff Bull is a renown New Orleans style jazz trumpet player who has lead his own bands since the early sixties. Geoff is always in demand and has returned from Europe and Japan to play at Morpeth. Geoff would have to be the best exponent of the New Orleans style trumpet in Australia and among the last of them in the world.

Arguably the best New Orleans Style Jazz trumpeter produced in Australia Geoff Bull has sought and received his recognition on the world stage. A descendant of Norwegian genius, violinist Ole Bull who toured the world in the mid 19th century and played with Liszt & Greig, Geoff brings some of that genius to the trumpet.

Born in 1942, he didn’t take up the instrument until aged 17, took the one lesson that came with the instrument, and then proceeded to teach himself. Influenced by the New Orleans style recordings of King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, he finally adopted Bunk Johnson as his major influence. Two years later, Geoff took his trumpet to England sitting in with Europe’s best, Sammy Rimington and Barry Martyns Bands. Back in Australia, aged 20, Geoff formed his own band and over the next 8 years proceeded to popularize Sydney’s Rocks area with his sparkling performances at the Orient Hotel.

On his first visit to New Orleans in 1966, Geoff sat in with a profusion of master performers, George Lewis, Jim Robinson, Alec Bigard, Sweet Emma, Punch Miller, Willie Humphrey, Louis Nelson and also played a Mother’s Day parade with the then still active Eureka Brass Band alongside Kid Sheik and Peter Bocage. Since then Geoff has spent a great part of every year touring the world spending increasingly longer periods in his beloved New Orleans. Now adopted by the old hands, Geoff has received the singular honour of being the only Australian musician to have appeared professionally at Preservation Hall, which now occurs regularly on his visits. Apart from the USA, on his annual tours overseas, he has played in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and England.

When not on tour, Geoff regroups members of his old “Olympia” band in Morpeth and recreates some of the best and most authentic New Orleans sounds heard this side of Basin Street.

For more information log on to www.chapeljazz.com or phone 02 4833 3312.  E:
info@chapeljazz.com

In a backyard shed in Salt Ash, NSW amidst the sounds and colours of the Australian bush, an exciting new cottage industry is ‘firing up’.  Andrew Munden served over 30 years as a navigator flying on Hercules & PC Orion aircraft, and as an instructor on HS748 ‘Draggies’, during his career.  Andrew also saw active service in Somalia & the Middle East.  When he retired from full time service in the RAAF he started tinkering in his shed, like many an Aussie bloke.

Andrew designed and now makes pens from real .308 brass rifle shells. These rugged pens are perfect gifts in particular, for men. (The hardest member of the family to buy for).  Ideal for military personnel, outdoorsmen, hunters, shooters, anglers – any man really.

The ‘Digger’ bullet pens are lovingly hand turned and assembled by a small team of craftsmen who are all ex-servicemen and women, including Andrew’s wife Carol, who served in the army reserve, then later in the full time RAAF as an administration officer and platoon commander.

The bullet pens make a practical, locally made, unique Australian gift that will be cherished for many years to come.  You can even engrave a name on the shell casing of the pen to personalise it.  A high standard of quality is guaranteed by a two year warranty.

‘The mighty ANZAC tradition is a time for reflection: our first diggers sacrificed everything for their nation and families.  It is because of them that we are able to tinker in our sheds’, remarks Andrew.

In keeping with the spirit of the Aussie digger, a portion of all profit goes to Legacy and other war orphan charities.  Most war veterans will tell you there is no real glory in war, however there is lots of camaraderie and life-long friendships are forged.  There are also some great yarns to be told, usually embellished over the years… 

As the Munden’s fledgling business gains flight, the need for more ex-servicemen and women grows to make bullet pens.  If you are ex-military and interested in joining the team, please contact Andrew or Carol. No experience is necessary as full training is given.

For everyone else interested in supporting a worthy cause, your purchase of a bullet pen will make a difference to the lives of others.

Standard ink refills are available at most newsagents.  Keep your pen clean with metal polish to maintain shine and prevent tarnish.  Just remember that airport security may refuse to allow rifle shell pens in your hand luggage, so it is wise to check them in, when travelling or post them by mail if they are a gift.

Oz Bullet Pens are currently available from Fighterworld, Williamtown,  Campbell’s Store Craft Centre, Morpeth or phone Andrew & Carol: 02 4982 6777. Bullet Pens retail for around $30 each.

Press release issued by Trevor Richards, Campbell’s Store Craft Centre

175 Swan Street, Morpeth NSW 2321  Ph: 02 4933 1407  E: info@morpethgallery.com

‘FIRE UP!’ at Morpeth Fiery Food Feast

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th April 2012

Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory, 5 Green St, Morpeth

It’s Free Entry. 10am – 5pm. Ph 02 4933 1407.

Free Concert at Morpeth.

City and Country band run by Rex Skinner who is a guitarist and composer, who has composed songs for bands such as “The Joy Boys”, “Kamal”, “The Seekers” and “Ronnie Lee”, will perform in a 3 hour concert at Morpeth on the weekend.  Between 11am and 2pm on both Saturday 14^th and Sunday 15^th you hear this classic band play a vast repertoire of instrumental music.

He has composed instrumentals for famous bands such as “The Beach Boys” and includes well known hits such as Highway 69, Undertoe, Illeura and Across the Nullabour.

More recently Rex has composed songs for Australian villages such as Morpeth and Berrima and a song for the King of surfing “The Duke” who visited Australia from Hawaii and introduced surfing into Australia in the early 1900’s.  The Duke was the inventor of longboard surfing.  This CD has just been released at Morpeth and is now being heard on all Hawaiian airlines flights between Australia and Hawaii.

Morpeth’s tune arose from Rex enjoying a coffee in one of the café’s near Morpeth bridge and as he sipped the coffee he heard the cars crossing the rattle wooden planks on Morpeth Bridge.  He strolled outside and he could see the mist rolling over the farmlands and nearby hills and river.  This combined with the beautiful sandstone buildings gave him a tune that popped into his head and so the Morpeth tune was born.

Rex says that he always likes to compose catchy tunes that can be remembered…Morpeth is one of these tunes.  The tune called Morpeth1821 is on his latest CD.  Morpeth’s first land grants were issued in 1821.

Rex Skinner and his band will be performing at Morpeth this weekend 14^th and 15^th March 2012 for the Fiery Food Festival.  His band will be at Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory, 5 Green Street Morpeth both days and it is all free entry.

The Band consists of:

Drummer; Bill Williams

Key Board: Keith Minton

Bass; Jedd Browne

Lead Guitar; Stephen Cowley

Lead Guitar; Rex Skinner

Rex has been in the music industry for many decades and is living in the Hunter and has an amazing knowledge of the bands from many decades.

Contact Rex on: 0438659263 or Email: rex.skinner@bigpond.com

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Gordon Hanley discovers how to draw with ingots of Gold to make paintings.

Morpeth Gallery is pleased to showcase the stunning works of Queensland artist Gordon Hanley in a mini exhibition where he will demonstrate how Goldpoint is done from 15^th April until 16^th April 2012. The display will highlight Hanley’s exceptional skill in perfecting the art of metalpoint drawings, which are crafted using rods of 24-carat gold and pure silver.

This technique allows for such precision that, on first glance, Hanley’s works resemble black and white photographs. However, Hanley encourages his viewers to inspect the works closely, even with a magnifying glass. This way they can see the incredible detail of each drawing, so vivid that they can be described as photo realist works. Further, when viewed in the right light, the drawings reflect glints of silver and gold, contributing to their uniqueness.

Metalpoint was a popular technique used by many Renaissance artists including Da Vinci and Raphael. Hanley became interested in the technique by reading about its use in this period and was taken by the incredible subtly and beauty it allowed the artist to create.

“Unfortunately metal point died out with the introduction of graphite in the 16^th Century,” said Hanley.

Hanley’s deep curiosity resulted in six years of experimentation until he eventually perfected the technique. Now he is the world’s only practicing metalpoint artist. Unseen to the viewer are the hours of preparation that he must undertake before he can even begin to draw. Each sheet of paper must be coated in Hanley’s special formula, a rabbit skin glue mix. This is essential to the process to ensure the silver and gold will take to the page.

“Silver and gold are unforgiving mediums, as mistakes cannot be erased, but their benefits are immeasurable,” said Hanley. “These drawings will remain untarnished and unchanged for up to 1000 years as metal and gold do not oxidise.”

Further, purchasers can be guaranteed the fact that extreme patience, precision and time has been given to each work. The drawings on display cover all subjects from portraits to still-life and each are executed with equal beauty.

Art enthusiasts and members of the public alike are encouraged to visit the exhibition for a rare opportunity to see the metalpoint medium up close. Hanley’s skill has already been recognised internationally and his popularity begins to grow so this may be one of the last times you can view his works in Australia for some time. Come along and meet the artist. Admission is free.

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We love this weekend: it’s the only time of the year we are allowed to make our visitors cry!

The lids on 63 Fiery Hot & Spicy Products will be cracked open at Morpeth Gourmet Foods, and put out for tasting all at once.  It’s a Fiery Food Lover’s delight.  We must warn you though, many of these Fiery Foods are not for the faint hearted, cry babies, wimps or sooks.  To give you an idea of the types of foods on offer lets start with the worst, oops – I mean the hottest.

This would be a locally grown and produced chilli sauce called Scorpion Sting, made by The Chilli Factory at Morisset, Lake Macquarie.  It’s a 15+, made from the hottest chilli in the world, called Trinidad Scorpion Chilli.  Notoriously hard to grow, even in Australia’s hot climate, the Chilli Factory team have been propagating plants and harvesting them for three years now, with mixed results.  In 2011 they produced enough Chilli’s to create this new product.
Because of limited supplies it’s only been available for sale direct from the Chilli Factory, but we have twisted Marcel’s arm, and he agreed to deliver a limited quantity especially for the Fiery Food Festival.  We have just 48 jars for sale. There’s plenty to taste – if you dare.

Other Chilli Factory favourites will be available to try: The 14+ Devils Delirium, Taipan Venom, 10++ Habanero Paste, 10+ Wasabi Mustard and various other Mango, Smokey, Sweet, Salsa & Satay Sauces.  They have heat factors that range from a 10 to 2 out of 10.  From New Zealand comes a ‘Hot As Explosive’ Sauce in a bottle shaped like a stick of dynamite.

With names like Flamin’ Hot Chilli, Turbo Supercharge, Dynamite Chilli, and Dragon’s Blood, you know that the Chilli is Hot!  These concoctions will bring tears to the eyes of even the most hardened of chilli lovers. If you’re game… you’ll enjoy your endorphin rush!!

For those who like their chilli with a little less heat, may we recommend you try the Chilli Lime Sambal, Mango & Chilli Dressing, Spicy Hommus, Fart-a-lot Dip, Chilli Beefjerky or the Chilli/Garlic Olives.  Even milder still are, Chilli & Passionfruit Mayonnaise, Chilli Satay Sauce, Chilli Lava Honey and Chocolate Chilli Fondue.

Still not fired up?  Why not sizzle the tastebuds with chilli pasta, spicy tomato sauce, hot chilli jam, mustards & a divine Chilli & Kaffir Lime Salad Syrup.  This Salad Syrup is the creation of Bolwarra based chef Chris Lloyd.  Drizzle over salad with salt & pepper squid or pour over pancakes, waffles & icecream.  Chilli coated nuts and others warmed in a hot pan, will keep the chills away.

When it’s time to dry out, the Chilli/Lime Cordial manufactured at Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory is a must and the Honey & Ginger (non alcoholic) Wine will quench your thirst.  At Morpeth Wine Cellar sample Chilli Liqueur Wine, Peppery Hunter cheese & hot olives.  Warm up with Morpeth Moonshine and a Woodfired pizza with lashings of chilli.

Our Fiery Food Feast Special: Spend $30 on Fiery Foods & we’ll gift you a big 230g bag of Byron Bay Cornchips for free.  Valued at $5. (While stocks last.)

Morpeth Fiery Food Festival is a chilli lover’s paradise.  Chillies that take you beyond the edge of your plate will be available for Free tastings there will be 63 different chilli products to sample.

Life is too short… for boring food!

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th April 2012

Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory, 5 Green St, Morpeth

Free Entry. 10am – 5pm.

www.fieryfoodfestival.com

We love this weekend:

it’s the only time of the year we are allowed to make our visitors cry!

The lids on 53 Fiery Hot & Spicy Products will be cracked open at Morpeth Gourmet Foods, and put out for tasting all at once.  It’s a Fiery Food Lover’s delight.  We must warn you though, many of these Fiery Foods are not for the faint hearted, cry babies, whimps or sooks.  To give you an idea of the types of foods on offer lets start with the worst, oops – I mean the hottest.

This would be a locally grown and produced chilli paste called Devil’s Delirium, made by The Chilli Factory at Morisset, Lake Macquarie.  It’s a 14+, made from the hottest chilli in the world, called Jolokia.  Notoriously hard to grow, even in Australia’s hot climate, the Chilli Factory team have been propagating plants and harvesting them for three years now, with mixed results.  In 2009 they produced enough Chilli’s to create this new product.

Because of limited supplies it’s only been available for sale direct from the Chilli Factory, but we have twisted Marcel’s arm, and he agreed to deliver a limited quantity especially for the Fiery Food Festival.  We have just 22 jars for sale. There’s plenty to taste – if you dare.

Other Chilli Factory favourites will be available to try: The 10++ Habanero Paste, 10+ Wasabi Mustard and various other Mango, Smokey, Sweet, Salsa & Satay Sauces.  They have heat factors that range from a 10 to 2 out of 10.  From New Zealand comes a ‘Hot As Explosive’ Sauce in a bottle shaped like a stick of dynamite.

With names like Death By Chilli, Turbo Supercharge, Dynamite Chilli, and Dragon’s Blood, you know that the Chilli is Hot!  These concoctions will bring tears to the eyes of even the most hardened of chilli lovers. If you’re game… you’ll enjoy your endorphin rush!!

For those who like their chilli with a little less heat, may we recommend you try the Chilli Lime Sambal, Wasabi & Ginger Dressing, Spicy Hommus, Fart-a-lot Dip, Chilli Beefjerky or the Chilli/Garlic Olives.  Even milder still are, Chilli & Passionfruit Mayonnaise, Chilli Satay Sauce, and Chocolate Chilli Fondue. 

Still not fired up?  Why not sizzle the tastebuds with chilli pasta, spicy tomato sauce, chilli jam, mustards & a divine Chilli & Kaffir Lime Salad Syrup.  This Salad Syrup is the creation of Kurri based chef Chris Lloyd.  Drizzle over salad with salt & pepper squid or pour over pancakes, waffles & icecream.  Chilli coated nuts and others warmed in a hot pan, will keep the chills away.

When it’s time to dry out, the Chilli/Lime Cordial manufactured at Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory is a must and the Honey & Ginger (non alcoholic) Wine will quench your thirst.  At Morpeth Wine Cellar sample Chilli Liqueur Wine, Peppery Hunter cheese & hot olives.  Warm up with Morpeth Moonshine and a Woodfired pizza with lashings of chilli.

John Leon from the Central Coast will be on hand to talk to you about growing your own chilli plants.  They range in colour from blacks, red, yellow, green, purple and white.  Take home a plant from 82 different varieties, including Atomic Heart, Black Hungarian, Macho and Heart Throb or some seed to grow your own gastronomical chilli delights.

Restaurants, cafes and other Morpeth stores will have some ‘red hot specials’ in store and on the menus.

Morpeth Fiery Food Festival is a chilli lover’s paradise.  Chillies that take you beyond the edge of your plate will be available for Free tastings there will be 53 different chilli products to sample.

Life is too short… for boring food!

A Palatable Weekend for Art, Wine & Food Enthusiasts at Morpeth 10^th & 11^th March 2012

Morpeth Gallery will again play host to The Hunter’s Ultimate Art event, Festival of Two Palettes, held Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11 March 2012. Morpeth Gallery is on the banks of the Hunter River at Morpeth, just 5 minutes off the New England Highway turn at East Maitland.

Festival of Two Palettes is the perfect recipe for gourmet glamour, entertaining and inspiration. Over 2 days, you will be able to see famous artists create their ultimate paintings while you sip, sample and graze your way through the festival. Take part in wine tastings and art tutorials. Learn from the experts in one of the many painting demonstrations or have a glass of wine with your favourite artist.

In a celebration of every good thing concerning fine art & fine food, Morpeth Gallery will come alive this second weekend of March.  At Morpeth Gallery you can see 10 artists painting their specialities.  A smorgasbord of delectable delights will greet you.  Eat your way through a tasting of Nicholson Fine Foods from the North Coast of NSW.  Their eclectic range of innovative food products, having won 28 medals Australia wide during 2011 alone include Fruit Finishing Vinegars, Hibiscus Flowers, Belgian Chocolate Mousse & a Bio Burger.

Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory will conduct tastings of it’s famous home style cordials, whilst at Morpeth Gourmet Foods the team will conduct tastings of a Vanilla essence – the first ever, produced in Australia, and a local range of olives, oils & dukkah’s.

Fresh grown Morpeth produce for sale at Campbell’s Store, courtesy of Morpeth farmers Chris Pillidge & John Wright.  Seasonal produce includes Rockmelons, red & green tomatoes, pumpkin, sweet corn, beetroot & if you’re quick, some gramma!

Inside Morpeth’s Fashion Boutiques wear your art on your sleeve.  Tom the jeweller will be hard at work creating new masterpieces, and all manner of antiques and bric-a-brac will line the pavements outside Morpeth’s antique stores.

At Morpeth Gallery it’s an informal weekend, where you are most welcome to stop by and chat to renowned traditional landscape & wildlife artists Ramon Ward Thompson from Sydney, John Vander, Ann Morton and John Cornwall from Southern NSW. Stephen Jesic from Queensland, John McCartin from South Australia and Hunter artists Natalie Parker, James Hough, John Bradley and Bill Freeman OAM.

Each of these artists will have new original works on display and for sale.  Some of our artists will be busy painting wildlife and portraits with palette and easel.  Each artist is widely published in Calendars, Children’s Books, Greeting Cards, Open and Limited Edition Prints and Giftware.  Why not have your print or book signed by the artist?

For more information contact:  Trevor Richards, Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth.  NSW 2321.

Phone: 02 4933 1407    Fax: 02 4934 2107     E: info@morpethgallery.com

W: www.morpethgallery.com

A Palatable Weekend for Art, Wine & Food Enthusiasts at Morpeth 10^th & 11^th March 2012

Morpeth Gallery will again play host to The Hunter’s Ultimate Art event, Festival of Two Palettes, held Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11 March 2012. Morpeth Gallery is on the banks of the Hunter River at Morpeth, just 5 minutes off the New England Highway turn at East Maitland.

Festival of Two Palettes is the perfect recipe for gourmet glamour, entertaining and inspiration. Over 2 days, you will be able to see famous artists create their ultimate paintings while you sip, sample and graze your way through the festival. Take part in wine tastings and art tutorials. Learn from the experts in one of the many painting demonstrations or have a glass of wine with your favourite artist.

In a celebration of every good thing concerning fine art & fine food, Morpeth Gallery will come alive this second weekend of March.  At Morpeth Gallery you can see 10 artists painting their specialities.  A smorgasbord of delectable delights will greet you.  Eat your way through a tasting of Nicholson Fine Foods from the North Coast of NSW.  Their eclectic range of innovative food products, having won 28 medals Australia wide during 2011 alone include Fruit Finishing Vinegars, Hibiscus Flowers, Belgian Chocolate Mousse & a Bio Burger.

Morpeth Ginger Beer Factory will conduct tastings of it’s famous home style cordials, whilst at Morpeth Gourmet Foods the team will conduct tastings of a Vanilla essence – the first ever, produced in Australia, and a local range of olives, oils & dukkah’s.

Fresh grown Morpeth produce for sale at Campbell’s Store, courtesy of Morpeth farmers Chris Pillidge & John Wright.  Seasonal produce includes Rockmelons, red & green tomatoes, pumpkin, sweet corn, beetroot & if you’re quick, some gramma!

Inside Morpeth’s Fashion Boutiques wear your art on your sleeve.  Tom the jeweller will be hard at work creating new masterpieces, and all manner of antiques and bric-a-brac will line the pavements outside Morpeth’s antique stores.

At Morpeth Gallery it’s an informal weekend, where you are most welcome to stop by and chat to renowned traditional landscape & wildlife artists Ramon Ward Thompson from Sydney, John Vander, Ann Morton and John Cornwall from Southern NSW. Stephen Jessic from Queensland, John McCartin from South Australia and Hunter artists Natalie Parker, James Hough, John Bradley and Bill Freeman OAM.

Each of these artists will have new original works on display and for sale.  Some of our artists will be busy painting wildlife and portraits with palette and easel.  Each artist is widely published in Calendars, Children’s Books, Greeting Cards, Open and Limited Edition Prints and Giftware.  Why not have your print or book signed by the artist?

Phone: 02 4933 1407    Fax: 02 4934 2107     E: info@morpethgallery.comFor more information contact:  Trevor Richards, Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth.  NSW 2321.

W: www.morpethgallery.com

Sat 10th & Sunday 11th March 2012.

Visit Morpeth Gallery, where you can chat to the artists who exhibit their works at the Morpeth Art Gallery in an informal relaxed environment. See them paint, watch their technique in action and spend a fabulous day in our historic village by the river. Hunter Wine & Fine Food will be available for tastings & sale.  It’s a Festival of Two Palettes!  Activities in Main St. too!

Where: Morpeth Gallery, 5 Green St, Morpeth.

      When: Sat 10th & Sunday 11th March 2012.

Contact: Ph 02 4933 1407

In our new site you will be able to search for your investment and decorative art by artist, Price and Genre. You will also have the option to shop online, leave comments, join our newsletters, become a member of the Gallery and access unique promotions, download guides and free brochures, be informed about the latest news and additions to our Gallery and more.

Please bare with us and come back shortly!