Since 1971 The Original Downside and District Municipal Tin Shed Rattlers (With Vocal Refrain) have been entertaining crowds from the Riverina area and beyond, with a wonderful selection of folk songs, entertainment and music, from Ireland, Scotland, England, America and of course, Australia.. The Tin Shed Rattlers provide a top night of fair dinkum bush dancing. All dances are called and no prior experience could be an advantage! The "Rattlers" run a monthly bushdance at the Downside hall on the first Saturday of each month ( Except January- As its too close to the holiday season and too damn hot!)
The Hall opens at 7.00pm, Dancing begins around 8pm. Admission is a modest $5.00 ea for adults and children are $3.00 ea
Its generally BYO food and drinks, but Tea and Coffee is always available with a few biscuits or snacks thrown in for good measure. Even the water is free, so feel to bring your mates, family or relations: dress in some comfortable clothing and footwear and experience the down to earth fun and games that is the Downside Bushdance! To locate the hall simply travel north from Wagga Wagga over the Gobbagumbalin Bridge towards Junee, until you come to a large roundabout. take the Lefthand turnoff to Coolamon, about 9km from the roundabout Turn right to the Downside Hall (just past Houlighans Creek Bridge). There is a small sign pointing the way. About 200 meters turn right again, Its a large tin shed in the middle of a paddock....hard to miss l
See this map. https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=downside+hall+wagga+wagga&hl=en&sll=-32.830735,147.451465&sspn=14.41682,19.753418&hq=downside+hall&hnear=Wagga+Wagga+New+South+Wales&t=m&z=11
The Downside hall is arguably one of the best country halls this side of the black stump. The hall supports a fine dance floor and stage, a supper room with modern facilities, a brilliant open fire place and an atmosphere that is both unique and perfect for a true Aussie bush experience. It's even got a brand new dunny! The Tin Shed Rattlers are available for bookings for parties, weddings, functions, festivals or any other social event. A great many community groups (Mostly schools and P & C Committees) Have benefited from the Downside dance by way of using the dance as a fundraiser for their schools. For bookings or inquiries contact David Dunbar 0n 0427042686 or e-mail [email protected]
Since the bands beginnings in 1971 the band has seen over 40 odd musicians join the ranks of the "Rattlers" with a great variety of sounds and talents, such as:
vocalists, guitar players, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, bass, squeezebox, tin whistle , fiddle, bush bass, lagerphone, harmonica, electric bass, Uilleann pipes, washboards, Northumbrian small pipes, bones, Jaw harp, spoons, bodhran, drum, and more have all added to a wonderful array of sounds and tones. The Downside dance has an open mic policy for any prospective like minded folk muso's to strut their stuff to entertain the crowds in between dances and while the band is having a break. The band is often on the lookout for lead musicians who can play the dots or know the tunes and can improvise as required; Extraordinary stamina could be a bonus due to a strong demand for gigs. Having a bit of fun is part of the bands
ethos, so we have learned to leave our egos at home.
