Warming up for Winterfire

Wild Willie the Flamin’ Piano and Warren Marshall the flamin’ piano player. Warren has performed for most of his life, playing with such notables as Gary Bennett and Nev Nichols. Warren backed the Highway Men on their last Australian tour. Photo supplied

Keeping warm in winter in Deloraine should not be a problem on July 10 this year when Arts Deloraine present their annual Winterfire Festival on the night of a new moon.

Winterfire is much anticipated following its absence last year because of COVID-19.

Many community groups assist in the organisation of the night, such as Apex, Lions, Pony Club, Show Society and Meander Valley Council. The Tasmania Fire Service and SES will be in attendance.

There will be hot drinks and a variety of scrumptious food including gluten free and vegetarian. Marshmallows will be available for toasting.

Entertainment will be ‘fiery’, of course, with Wild Willie the Flamin’ Piano, Meander Men’s Choir, Miasma (world famous belly dancers) and much more.

Wild Willie is a 1912 John Brinsmead piano bought in very poor condition several years ago and now converted into something quite special.

Wild Willie was named at the Huon Valley Mid Winter Festival held at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed in the Huon Valley.

Sam Reid, one of the Willie Smith partners, asked Bruce Trappe if he could build a piano that could breathe fire.

Warren Marshall is the ‘resident’ pianist, and has been for the last four to five years.

Bruce said ‘Warren is well known down the North West coast where he has been performing (originally with his parents in dance halls), since he was five or six years old.

‘He will be playing at Winterfire, but I’d also like to extend an offer to any other musician who would like to either play a few solo tunes, do a duet with Wazza, or join in a jam session. We love audience participation and actively encourage it.

‘We intend to bring two pianos to Winterfire. Wild Willie MKII is still under construction, but hopefully complete or near completion by Winterfire. It has a bigger keyboard and more sound effects.’

Rug up with winter woollies and gumboots, and bring a torch. Gates open at 4pm.

Ticketing will be online at Trybooking and attendees will also be able to check in with the COVID-19 QR code on their phones.

Arts Deloraine on Facebook will provide more details and registration for the drumming workshop (for both children and adults) with rhythm sticks available on the night.