Ross Smithard & Up Jumped Trouble

Ross Smithard and the Up Jumped Trouble’s performance features a fusion of Ross's award winning original Appalachian-style fiddle tunes and captivating renditions of traditional mountain songs and tunes. In our concert sets, Ross's blazing fiddle takes center stage, accompanied by Annette's skillful clawhammer banjo playing with Margaret's driving rhythm on guitar and Jackie's percussive banjo uke adding depth and energy to the sound. Ross and Jackie are on vocals. With toe-tapping, foot-stomping tunes our performance promises an unforgettable experience for all music lovers

With loads of experience performing at festivals both in Tasmania and on the mainland, pubs/clubs, community events, corporate functions, and private parties, Ross and the band have entertained audiences across Tasmania and beyond, sharing their deep love for old time mountain music and spreading infectious enthusiasm wherever they go.

The band performs at regularly at Mona, Willie Smiths (including the Mid Winter Festival 2022, 23,and 24) and  Frank's Cider House in the Huon Valley. We have also performed at the Franklin Folk Club, Mount Roland Folk Festival, Verandah Music Fest in Evandale in November 2022 and 2023, at the 2023 and 2024 Cygnet Folk Festivals and the 2023 Koonya Garlic Festival. 

Ross played at the 2023 Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass (NSW) festival as Ross Smithard and Friends and is booked to play at 2024 Mountain Grass Festival (same great music but a mainland not Tasmanian lineup backing him) 

WE are also a DANCE BAND! The band performs together at either Contra, Square and Bush dances. Ross calls the dances or we can organise a specialist dance caller. Dances are usually in a hall but we have done them on flat grassy surfaces outdoors with success. We play regularly at the Tasmanian Folk Federation dances, community and private events and have organised and played at three very successful dances in the Huon Valley in the past few months.
 

And A Bit About Ross!

Multi-instrumentalist and classically trained Ross Smithard cut his folk musical teeth playing with a NSW based bush band as a 15 year old.

Since then, as a testament to Ross’s versatility and skill, he has performed at multitude of festivals, including The National Folk Festival (numerous times) Illawarra, Uranquinty, Cobargo, Candelo, Port Fairy, Maldon, Dorrigo, Tamar Valley, Mt Roland  and Cygnet folk festivals with various bands across varying genres including folk roots, blues, Western swing, Irish and old time American tunes. Ross has also performed as a solo support act for Andy Irvine (Ireland) and Christina Olsen (USA) amongst others. 

Since moving to Tasmania, Ross has performed as a solo act, collaborated with a number of local musicians in duos, trios, bands and worked as a session musician. Ross has played his fiddle supporting other musicians in one band or another (often several) at every Cygnet Folk Festival since 2013 and some of those beforehand. 

A prolific tunesmith, Ross composes Appalachian style fiddle tunes and he received a grant in 2021 from the Tasmanian Folk Federation to help with the production of his CD of original tunes “Where's the Red Chook?” Ross put together “Up Jumped Trouble” to showcase his tunes and also to support women in music.

He launched this at the Mt Roland Folk Festival in November 2021. The CD has been well received by the old time music community in Australia and the USA with the Canberra Old Time pickers and Fiddlers playing and learning many of his tunes and his CD is being played on Bill Smedley’s Old Time Music Hour in the USA. 

Ross’s original fiddle tune “Done!” won the 2023 Tasmanian Folk Federation Tune competition.

Ross is currently working on a new CD of original tunes and continues to perform with his own and other bands, run regular old time jams and teach fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin in Cygnet and Hobart.
 

Testimonials:

“If you've ever wondered what the difference between a violinist and fiddler is, we have the answer: Ross Smithard is not only a fiddler, he's one of the best in Tasmania! Backed by Up Jumped Trouble these folkies from the south are guaranteed to get toes tapping and feet stomping at this year's Verandah Music Festival” (2022).

“We went to the dance last night and had an absolute blast. It was all my family friendly bush dance dreams come true! People of all ages, heaps of kids, accessible dances everyone could join in on, even my 4 year old, so many smiling faces and understanding of the inevitable chaos, lively music, a small person joining the band on stage.

Where can I find the next one?”  Jenny Bauer (happy bush dance attendee, July 2024)

“Ross is not only an exceptional musician, but his understanding of the genre is second to none as evidenced in his compositions. Great job Ross!” 

Matt W (Bandcamp)