About the Bendigo Folk Club (so far):

On a pleasantly rainy Thursday evening in June 2004 a group of like minded people met, most of us for the first time, at the Goldmines Hotel to discuss the formation of a folk, acoustic and/or roots music club. The attendees were from a diverse background. There were some traditional folkists, some contemporaries, a poet (non-bush), a squeeze box player, a former punk and some who were just appreciative of the traditional styles of music and who had some energy to make things happen.

By the end of the evening the Goldmine's proprietors Ray & Grace slipped the cork on a bottle of sparkling wine to allow us to toast the formation of the BFC.

One of the very first decisions was to establish the Bendigo Folk Club name, and importantly the tag line: 'Bend it your way'. The term folk music itself includes possibilities across a wide range of styles. It may be Celtic or other culturally based music, it may be blues, country, bluegrass, acoustic or roots. It may also be performed in traditional or contemporary style. The 'Bend it your way' tag line is intended to establish the principle that this club will not lock itself into any particular style of music but embrace the whole gambit that might fall within the scope of folk music.

The Club also has an aim to foster a listening environment; where-by those attending a function will devote their attention to the artist’s performance. We see this as a significant difference between what we are aiming to provide and what is typically the case in say pub venues.

Other key decisions from the all important first meeting:

1. The attendees elected themselves as the inaugural committee, to have a time in office limited to the first 3 months.

2. During the first 3 months we will commence the groundwork for all those important but tedious things like incorporation and getting the business affairs established;

3. The first Wednesday of each month will be the club night. On these occasions informal music sessions will be organised from those who attend. The third Friday of each month will be our concert evenings where a professional, semi-professional, local, national or even touring international artist will perform along with local support artists;

4. We will encourage support of local acoustic performers;

5. We will engage in a variety of different styles of music and also provide a forum for the promotion and performance of traditional cultural music;

6. We will provide avenues for improving skills and learning. Promoting workshops may be one way this objective may be achieved.