1 minute read
Folk Fest stages comeback
from January 2023
The 36th festival is on from January 20 to 22, Brian Kelly reports
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Fans will be thrilled. Not just because the Illawarra Folk Festival has a fantastic line-up for 2023, but that the event, which has got our toes tapping for nearly 40 years, is back for the first time since 2020.
Audiences are expected to raise the roof with whoops of delight that will be just that little more heartfelt. “Relief is what I’ve been hearing, giving way to excitement,” said new festival director Cody Munro Moore.
Rekindling the event has taken a mighty push, Cody said. “It is a volunteer-run festival, meaning thousands of hours have to be put in to even get it this far.
“I am immensely proud of this year’s line-up and I think people are going to have an amazing time.”
Sixty-four acts will light up five stages across three days from January 20, and Illawarra artists are again a major drawcard for local supporters, while acts from elsewhere play a large part in creating the festival’s sense of occasion.
The line-up reinforces what followers have long known – that folk is an incredibly broad spectrum of musical expression, with shades including world, indie, roots, Celtic, Balkan and bluegrass.
Illawarra acts include Luke Spook and his psychedelia-flavoured sounds, and high-achievers Shining Bird who, having honed their craft for a decade and supported rock legends such as Midnight Oil, will be among the bigger drawcards.
The harmony-laden Dear Violet – a Wollongong trio whose roots go back to their school days –graduate from the youth program to the main listing. Festival and school fete stalwarts Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance will bring traditional sounds and moves of the Middle East to Bulli Showground.
Thirroul singer-songwriter Kay Proudlove has brought her experience to the organising table, which she has shared with long-time director David De Santi. Some of the international acts will perform here fresh from Queensland’s Woodford Folk Festival, De Santi said.
“We also have acts from throughout Australia – from Ajak Kwai from Melbourne (via Sudan), Tasmania’s Wallaby Track Bush Band to The Papercollar Pickers from WA and fabulous Queensland band Cigany Weaver,” he said.
Other local acts include Az-I-Am, Black Joak Morris, Carefree Road Band, Combined Union Choirs, Curious Rendition Orchestra, Dru Yoga, Fiddledance, Friends of Steve, Gobsmacked!, Kenny Bartley and the Midnight Feast, Mally Moo’s Music, Maurie Mulheron & Pat Craigie, Maypole with Molly, Meridian, Mother Banshee, Nikriann, Peter Mace, Peter Willey, Robyn Sykes, Rusty & The Saint, Sapling Sessions Bush Music Club, Steampunk Vagabonds, Stonybroke, Storybeats, Super Kenny, The Con Artists, The Femme Fatales, The Other Noonans, The Swingaleles, Tribal Jewels Dance Co and Zlatkos Balkan Cabaret.
Visit illawarrafolkfestival.com.au
