In 1992 Dave Clark & his friend Jim Fletcher purchased the former
Congregational Church in McLaren Vale on the Fleurieu
Peninsula in South Australia.
Having toured as a folk singer for many years, Dave wanted to
establish a Music Centre where he could present concerts & foster local music & culture.
THE SINGING GALLERY WAS BORN!
It is now recognized as a unique performance space for acoustic
music with local, interstate & overseas performers. It also hosts spiritual & healing workshops, markets, live theatre, music groups, weddings, festivals…….

I’m glad you took a trip today,
Down to the Southern Vales of SA
Half way between the hills & the sea,
Where there’s vineyards & beautiful old gum trees.

Of this lovely old church you walked in the door
We all sang & you asked for more
After your stay in this beautiful space,
You went on your way with spirit & grace.

Dave Clark

 

 

 

Photographic image by Deiter Hauptmann
NEWS
Samra Teague is The Singing Gallery's official photographer. See more in the Photo Gallery
Hi folks,
I am Yani the 8 year old beagle dog & I have been delegated the task of compiling this news page because Dave & Kathy are still chasing their tails. I joined The Singing Gallery work force 2 years ago when Alby their old dog died. Alby the blue heeler you will recall had very sensitive ears & had the task of sound monitoring, howling if set decibels levels were exceeded. I am more a people dog & see my main task is to make patrons welcome. As a beagle whose previous owner was a police woman, I have great sniffing skills which may concern some people.

However my main job that I really enjoy is helping Dave hoover up the food scraps after each concert. I have a great appreciation for music & you will find me in the arm chair next to the piano. On crowded nights I am prepared to share my chair so long as any sitter realises I will sit on their lap.

The Singing Gallery was very busy last year with a host of wonderful overseas, interstate & local performers including Chris Finnen, Ted Egan, Neil Murray, Wandering Minstrels, Vardos, Jen Cloher, Sacred Tribal Dance, Hilary O’Neil, Loren Kate, The Poetry Festival, Tibetan Concerts with Dolkar & Wangyl, Folk Club Concerts, Art Exhibitions, The Wildes, Linda Rankine, Billy February, Sally Dastey from Tiddas, Sufi Soul........ & our own Rum & Raspberry. We also had a great house concert with American political & social commentator David Rovics. Since her retirement in June, Kate (Mum's music pseudonym) has been helping Dave & story teller Tony Wight with day time concerts for bus groups at The Gallery

Dave & Kate went to Ireland, Scotland, England &Wales mid year, taking their guitar & accordion respectively & joining in the music scene, especially in Ireland with Philip Taylor, Rum & Raspberry's long whistle & bass player. I stayed home with my Aunties Emma & Heidi & broadened my fitness regime. Dave & Kate made wonderful new friends in Ireland & met up with special family & old friends in England. They even found the birth home of Kate's Dad in Aberdeen Scotland.

Since their return, The Gallery has hosted a month long Namaste (Indian) Festival with amazing classical & Bollywood singers, dancers & musicians. Dave once again sponsored Negi his Indian trekking guide to Australia for several months. Negi has cooked wonderful meals & run several successful cooking classes.

26 years ago Dave inaugurated an annual January canoe trip with friends down the River Murray. This year they were joined by son Woody & girlfriend Nic & the 3 grandchildren, plus a total of 14 canoes & 30 people. The river looked great & bird life was abundant. Fortunately I stayed home because Dave & Kathy had a capsize in the fast flowing river & I would have been washed away for sure.

20011 is already looking very busy with the upcoming Tour Down Under stage 5 commencing in Ellis Park across the road. The Gallery will host a day time concert with MY very talented Auntie Heidi Rilstone & friends, plus Rum & Raspberry & the beautiful Indian dancer Mudra. Negi will cook up a feast (before departing for India the next day)& in the evening there will be a concert by the Melbourne group Little Stevies.

I will be there so check me out.

Cheers Yani
Concert Performances at
THE SINGING GALLERY with
Dave Clark & Kathy Townsend

You will be treated to a smorgasbord of wonderful songs played on accordion & banjo ...
foot tapping jigs, Australian songs, Irish & old tyme ballads plus popular sing-a-longs.
Special guest….Story Teller Tony Wight

To book your visit call Dave 0413 358 618
email dave@singinggallery.com.au
Check out our website www.singinggallery.com.au for special concerts during the year
Irish concerts in March for St Patrick’s Day, Christmas & Australia Day concerts
Homemade soup & crusty bread concerts in winter round the wood stove

Keep singing, Dave & Kathy
Multicultural Folk Show
for children with
Dave Clark & Kate Townsend
Dave Clark has been presenting concerts to children for many years.

Sometime ago he decided to slow down and only perform if teachers rang to book a concert… the phone has not stopped!

It is fortunate that his wife Kathy Townsend is about to retire from kindergarten teaching.
As well as being a highly respected teacher Kate is a wonderful musician and singer.

So now Dave and Kate have decided to work together presenting a varied selection of multicultural songs for young children.

Please give us a call if you would like a concert at your centre
Multicultural Show..50 minutes in length

The concert starts with Suli Ram, a welcoming song from Malaysia, followed by Through The Woods We Go about Dave’s childhood in the English woods. We play concertina & guitar and the children demonstrate their skipping skills.

Then it’s an Irish Children’s song I’ll tell Me Ma & some Irish Lilting Music played on the goat skin drum (bodhran) and accordion. We all do some Irish dancing.

Next Kate & Dave sing 2 bush tucker songs from the Adynamathanha people of the Flinders Ranges ,,,,Children of the Bush & Oh My Wallah.

Indi, Bindi, Shindi ... a puppet song from Bangladesh and The Elephant Dance from Vietnam are next. Dave learnt these songs from his Asian friends living in South Australia.

Dave & Kate regularly visit India to work in Tibetan Refugee Schools and trek in the Himalayas. The concert continues with the children joining in with Hindi dancing while we all sing Climbing Up The Mountain & Tibetan Song.

We finish our concert with a couple of simple circle dances accompanied by banjo and accordion.