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Daylesford in Victoria, just 90 minutes from Melbourne, is one of those hip country towns that has a lot of cool culture. The scenery is fantastic, the shopping is awesome, the landscape is dotted with great walks amongst numerous mineral springs, even the coffee is good.
And on top of that, great stuff happens in this vibrant little town. Earlier this year flamenco composer, Diego Guerrero from Spain and percussionist, Nasrine Rahmani treated the Boite Singers’ Festival to some flamenco, including some fantastic workshops in flamenco singing and percussion.
This weekend Daylesford locals get another burst of flamenco by the way of Matthew Fagan and The Voyages World Music Group; Juan Martinez Ortega, Raju Sharma and Melbourne flamenco dancer, Fernando.
After a successful full house, CD launch at Spenserslive in Melbourne, Matthew Fagan collaborates with other flamenco performers to take you on a musical journey into the historical origins of traditional and contemporary Spanish flamenco; and Brazilian, South American and Classical Guitar.
SATURDAY 5th JUNE, 2010: The group – with a little belly dance thrown in – are putting on a special concert at the Daylesford Town Hall. The evening gets under way at 7:30pm, cost is $20 full/ $15 concession. Bookings on 0438 881 985
SUNDAY 6th JUNE, 2010: Matthew Fagan and Juan Martinez will conduct workshops in Classical Brazilian and Spanish Flamenco Guitar, while Fernando conducts workshops in flamenco dance. This unique workshop event will merge into an interactive performance with the whole event taking place from 1pm to 3pm. Cost is $40 full/ $35 concession and bookings are essential for these workshops, call 0438 881 985
SATURDAY 19th JUNE, 2010: This eclectic group of musicians and dancers will perform a repeat concert at the Daylesford Inn. 158 Ballan-Daylesford Rd. Call (03) 5348 2554 to make your bookings.
Matthew Fagan is a well-known guitarist and composer of over 25 years experience and has toured internationally with Billy Connolly, The Buena Vista Social Club, Shirley Bassey, Michael Crawford and Natalie Cole.
Having studied Spanish classical and flamenco guitar styles internationally as well as in Australia, Matthew has gone on to perform and study with great guitar and flamenco maestros such as; John Williams, Paco Pena, Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor and Bob Brosman. Matthew has explored plectrum-style guitar, especially in the style of John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Django Reinhardt and Albert Lee, developing a unique and versatile technique that crosses from Classical to Jazz, Latin to Flamenco, Country and Indian styles.
He was recently been signed to an American record label called Favoured Nations of famous American Guitarist Steve Vai, with Tommy Emmanuel – the only other Australian Guitarist signed to this label. Last September 
Matthew was a finalist at the Winfield Bluegrasss Finger Style Guitar Competition in Kansas USA, the leading bluegrass/finger style competition in the world. He has been invited to compete again in 2010.
The album ‘Voyages and Journeys’ that was recently launched by Matthew Fagan is a vibrant album which covers genres from world music and pop with flavours of Spanish Flamenco, Spanish Classical, American Roots and Blues, and Middle Eastern.
Fernando has been a professional Flamenco dancer since 1986. He began Flamenco Dance classes at the Hogar Espanol in 1979, with Conchita and Pepe Gonzalez in 1981. He then learnt new material and received additional tuition from many other flamenco teachers in Spain.
Fernando teaches Flamenco Dance at the Council of Adult Education, and has taught at the Geelong Spanish Community, Hogar Espanol, Kew Ballet Centre, Victorian College of the Arts and Carmen Bar Flamenco Studio.
Fernando performs at weddings, social functions, festivals, community functions and has performed with “Flamenco Fire,” Opera Australia’s “Carmen” in Taiwan and Melbourne, the National Art Gallery, the Andulisian Government, National Tourism of Spain, Crown Casino Melbourne, Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Victorian State Opera’s production of Don Quixote, playing lead role male flamenco dancer at the Victorian Art Centre.
Fernando danced flamenco in the Australian movie “AMY” with Rachel Griffiths, “The Man From Snowy River” series and numerous other television performances.
Juan was taught to play the guitar by his father at the age of six, shortly after he migrated to Australia in 1969. At thirteen he was introduced to the discipline of Flamenco by a friend of the family who, in his youth, studied with the legendary master, Nino Richardo. Quickly realising that flamenco was not just a music, but his new way of life. In Australia, Juan has had much acclaim for his music and superb technical ability, recording for the Nine Television Network, performing at major Music Festivals and recording his works on many a project.
Born in Delhi, India and learning classical Indian music with a focus on percussion, Raju Sharma now describes himself as a drumcussionist and is a virtuoso on the drum kit and also hand percussion.
He studied and mastered the virtuosic playing of the tabla and has also explored Western percussion, African music and Latin American Afro-Cuban styles.
Raju Sharma was prolific as a composer and performer for film studios, he toured the United States for four years as a performer and teacher and finally immigrated to Australia. Raju has performed with many artists including Kate Cebrano and Kavisha Mazella. Raju was a featured performer in concert at Ayers Rock, spending two years collaborating with Aboriginal dancers and musicians. Today he continues a busy schedule performing at major festivals and collaborating with other artists.
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Thanks to Kellie Grattidge for contributing to this article.
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