29/01/2026
The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, just a few steps away from the Carrington, hosts our Fringe Festival workshop rooms — and they come with some of the best views in Katoomba. With sweeping outlooks across the Jamison Valley, it’s the perfect place to relax, learn something new, and enjoy making music in one of the Mountains’ most iconic cultural spaces.
12:00 – Welcome to Ukulele Land!
Can’t wait to get strumming? This is the perfect place to start. In this relaxed and friendly session, you’ll learn the essentials — from how to tune your ukulele correctly, to holding it comfortably, to developing good strumming technique right from the beginning. We’ll get you playing some simple songs straight away so you can experience the joy of making music with others.
A fun, supportive introduction to the lovely ukulele, guided by the lovely Lindy and friends. Absolute beginners are very welcome.
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1:00 – The Things You Probably Should Have Known When You First Picked Up the Ukulele — But It’s Not Too Late
Most of us learned a few chords and just started playing — but there’s a whole world of technique and understanding that can make playing easier and more enjoyable. In this session we’ll cover posture, hand technique, instrument setup, string choices, and how to build good practice habits that actually help you improve.
We’ll then dive into demystifying chords — what they actually are, how they’re constructed, and how to make them sound rich and musical across the entire fretboard. This workshop is perfect for players who want to move from “just playing songs” to really understanding their instrument.
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2:00 – Introduction to Finger Picking
Ready to add texture and depth to your playing? This workshop introduces right-hand techniques that open up a whole new sound world on the ukulele. We’ll cover simple fingerpicking patterns, alternating bass, Travis picking, plus pinch, pluck and strum techniques.
You’ll also learn chord enhancements and variations that make fingerpicking arrangements sound fuller and more interesting. Ideal for players who are comfortable with basic chords and want to start exploring more expressive playing styles.
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3:00 – Buzz Bidstrup – No Secrets - in discussion with Serena.
Festival favourite Buzz Bidstrup returns to celebrate the release of his new book, with the Cultural Centre and Library hosting a special author talk to mark the occasion.
No Secrets traces Buzz’s remarkable musical journey — from getting his very first drum kit to becoming one of Australia’s most respected and versatile music industry figures. Across his career, Buzz has worked as a powerhouse drummer, session musician, songwriter, producer and manager, helping shape the sound of Australian music across multiple decades.
Buzz was a founding member of iconic bands including The Angels / Angel City, GANGgajang and The Party Boys. In this special session, Buzz will share stories from the road, behind-the-scenes moments from the studio, and insights into the people, music and experiences that shaped his career.
Whether you’re a musician, music lover, or just enjoy a great rock ’n’ roll story, this is a rare chance to hear first-hand from one of Australia’s true music industry legends.
All this is included in your Festival Pass, at just $15.00 for the weekend: https://www.trybooking.com/DDNLL
