Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic

Subject: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: freda underhill
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 10:11 AM

In Australia, we have folk festivals happening almost every weekend, somewhere all over the country.

The National Folk Festival in Canberra at Easter is a good one to check out. Big enough to have some of our best acts, and truly folk. Its well planned, all sites are within walking distance, facilities are good (hot showers, good camping on site). if you're interested, check out:

http://www.folkfestival.asn.au/

National Folk Festival
8 April to 12 April 2004, Exhibition Park in Canberra, Australia
Dissent, Victoria, and the High Country
The National has concerts, spoken word events, dances, classes in all sorts of performance (and sometimes home-brewing), and 2004 looks like being the best year yet, with a strong turn-out from Victoria, Western Australian, and some special guests from all over, including the USA, New Zealand, Sweden and Finland.

The National Folk Festival accepts applications year round. We give preference to Australian performers and usually do not accept an international band unless they are a unique performer or can add an unusual musicality to the Festival. We offer 16 venues, from large concert and dance halls to intimate wine bars and everywhere in between - so every performer can find a niche. We carefully balance performers from across Australia in the program.
...

regards

freda

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: moocowpoo
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 11:50 AM

The national IS an excellent fest! (especially for sessions). it's my second favourite. Majors creek wins for me though (I like the little fests). Have you been to St Albans?, It's one that lurks on my doorstep but I've never made it.
Also, I posted a message on another thread, asking if anyone is going (or has been) to Kaustinen festival in Finnland, I thought I may as well try here too, moi moi, andy.

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: kendall
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 12:35 PM

If not for those 24 hours in a plane, I'd love to see Oz.

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 02:50 PM

Kendall, once you cross the date line twice you get all those hours back! C'mon over to the other hemisphere.

I will be monitoring this thread. Maybe we can get a listing of all the festivals. I would fly to Oz from Guam for a festival held fairly close to Cairns. Maybe we can have a Mudcat gathering at one of the festivals.

My criteria for attending a festival:
Has to be over a weekend (I can take a day off on either side of the weekend except in September)
Has to be easily reached from Cairns (i.e., fly into Cairns and take a bus or train to the festival town.)

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Jan 04 - 06:15 PM

Darwin has one I think...

then get on the new train, and 48 hours later you are in Adelaide...

Robin

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 12:28 AM

G'day Brett (naemanson),

Foolestroupe is right - except I think it is "The Top End Festival" and does (did?) alternate between Darwin and Alice Springs. Either way, it's not too much of a trip from Guam. The new Ghan train connection to Alice Springs would be worth the trip in its own right!

Incidentally, back when the Australian National Folk Festival moved around from state to state (before the consistent losses this incurred threatened to bankrupt the Festival and the Australian Folk Trust), they did hold one - in 1990 - at Kuranda ... the the nice cool mountain right behind Cairns. It even had a really beautiful mountain railway to get you up out of the humidity of Cairns!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: freda underhill
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 01:11 AM

hey, you can't catch a plane to the dreamtime...

why not find some great place to stop over on the day before.

the national has four days of workshops before the festival proper starts -
slide guitar
englisg fiddle
irish fiddle
accordion
accompanying & arranging
setting poetry to music
harp

three sessions a day starting 10 am each day with breaks for lunch & avo tea, 6th-8th april. festival proper starts Thursday 8th april, pm.

lots of good folk (music)

and a window into another folk world and world of folk..

freda

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Bugsy
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 07:28 AM

Bob, I don't know if it still does, but the Top Half Folk Festival used to circulate between Alice, Tennent Creek, Katherine, Darwin and Mt Isa.

I've been lucky enough to be invited to Alice and Darwin, don't know if they go to the other centres now.

I've got to put a plug in for Fairbridge Festival in Western Australia, I think that it' rates with the best around the country. Not too big, not too small.

Take a look
fairbridge festival

It's reminds me somewhat of the National.

Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 26 Jan 04 - 07:40 AM

how did I know who started this thread??

see ya at the National!

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: GUEST,Scotty B
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 03:26 AM

Top Half Festival this year is at Mary River South East of Darwin. Top Half Fests are small, no paid acts, but most enjoyable. People come from far and wide.

See you there

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:09 AM

GUEST,Scotty B, Are you the one-eyed Stotsman of Bloodwood fame???


Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: cloudstreet
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:26 AM

For those who are interested, you can get a complete listing of all the Australian festivals (in poster form) check out www.7thdimension.com.au. 7th dimension are a Brisbane-based recording studio who started publishing this last year.

And don't forget woodford while you're looking at Oz festivals.

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: freda underhill
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 07:53 AM

Another good site is :

//www.folkalliance.org.au/AFD_Directory.cfm?category=festivals&AustInter=Australian

this site has everything you need to know about folk in Australia.

And

//www.folkfednsw.org.au/

about the folk scene in NSW


freda

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Valda
Date: 27 Jan 04 - 11:25 PM

Folk Australia has a monthly calendar of festivals around Australia. It may be useful to some.
cheers,

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Heely
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 03:30 PM

I hope you guys check this as well. . . www.http://simplyaustralia.mountaintracks.com.au
There are some great ideas there.
Plus I got a card for the "womadelaide - sounds of the planet 2004" on March 5-7 in the Adelaide Botanic Park. A sharing of folk music from around the globe. www.bass.net.au
Queenscliff has a great festival as well.
Not bad for a gal from the States. Heely

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: freda underhill
Date: 28 Jan 04 - 06:50 PM

El Greko.. lots of good info here!

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: rich-joy
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 01:08 AM

just found this thread after those storms forced us off-line for a week!

Bob Bolton - I THINK the Nationals held in Queensland were two that didn't make a loss - Maleny 1989 and Kuranda 1990. Many of the same crew now organise the fabulous Woodford Folk Festival each year from December 27th to January 1st inclusive - see other thread of that name.

Scotty B - look forward to catching up at the Top Half this year in June's gorgeous dry season weather!
And there'll be at least 7 of us from SE Qld :
Paul Lawler and Richenda Bridge, Alex Bridge and Carmel Givens = the a cappella harmony group called Work-in-Progress (aka C.R.A.P. - hey, it's our initials, all right??!!)
+ Noel Gardner (with Alex Bridge and Jenny Finnegan)
+ hopefully Irish singbird, Jenny Fitzgibbon too.
Not to mention Phil Beck and Sean Roche from Perth.
Add Darwin's Tony Suttor and Peter Bate - and the redoubtable Stewie! - and Alice Springs' Scotty Balfour and Dave Evans, all to the mix :
"once we found the key, Oh, what harmonies!,
those boozy voices would lend"
- surely it was writ about us!!!!!!!!
Yeah, who needs Canberra in the cold!!!!

Just a plug too, that our monthly ABOFOTS ("A Bit of Folk on the Side") starts again THIS Saturday, at Maleny's Up Front Club - on Election Night ...

Cheers!
Rich-Joy

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: Joybell
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 01:43 AM

We'll be at the National. It'll be fun to meet up with Mudcatters who are also there. Joy

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: freda underhill
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:39 AM

yes, I've got my ticket already & am looking forward to getting together!

fred

Subject: RE: Australian Folk Festivals - faantastic
From: alison
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:51 AM

If you like Major's Creek I am led to believe that it is very similar to St Albans... it happens every Anzac weekend....

as one of the organisers I am a bit biased but it really is a lovely little festival..... and plenty of sessions

slainte

alison