Offering the unique and rare combinations of entertainment and delight... no other festival can connect you with Celtic dance rock, cabaret pop, salacious debates, reggae soul to make you dance up a fight, blistering indie folk chart toppers, the call of an English acoustic folk goddess, learning the Woodfordian Waltz, discovering Australia's most famous unknown band (a second musical home for Gotye), Monster Parades, witnessing the finest expressions of Indigenous traditional and contemporary music and movement, giraffes on stilts, grooving to 70's flavoured Bollywood surf funk, haunting slide guitar wizards, a grandmother of comedy, a nourishing collection of intellects; sharing their experiences and wisdom, circus and vaudeville flare and an organ salesman. And that is only day one.
The music programme highlights include:
Julian Marley (JAM/ENG), Busby Marou, Buffalo Tales, Chance Waters, Thelma Plum, Shelley Morris, Blue King Brown, Brendan Maclean, GANGgajang, Jordie Lane, Rose Cousins (CAN), Babylon Circus (FRA), Breabach (SCOT), Rachel Sermanni (SCOT), The TwoksBeth Orton (ENG), The Basics, Clare Bowditch, Matt Corby, Tim Finn, Half Moon Run (CAN)Beyond the music, this 'festival of festivals' has something for everyone...
Woodford is amongst the most adored festival experiences in Australia, and indeed the world. "We see our festival programme as a catalogue of offerings that might satiate the best audience a festival could hope for," said Festival Director, Bill Hauritz. "We aim to give our precious patrons a deeper cultural encounter. We offer the complete experience from great food, comfortable and stimulating surrounds with challenging presentations across a broad spectrum of spoken word, music, craft, dance, comedy and workshops." said Hauritz.
For the full festival programme go to www.woodfordfolkfestival.com
Some of this years' musical highlights include Australia's most famous unknown band, The Basics, the dynamic Clare Bowditch, festival favourites Blue King Brown, Australian rock royalty The Break, Wes Carr's Buffalo Tales and Triple J darlings Chance Waters, Phoebe Starr and Jordie Lane.Rounding out the Australian acts is Woodford first timer, Matt Corby who is set to make his mark on the festival. The programme also includes New Zealand's Tim Finn who will be making his Woodford debut.
Woodford's First Nations programme, will see some the country's best and brightest indigenous stars perform at the festival including Shellie Morris and the Borroloola Songwomen who are bringing their powerful traditional language songs to main stage, Thelma Plum who has had a stellar year since performing at last year's festival, the striking Leah Flanagan, newcomer Andrea Kirwin and APRA Award winning duo, Busby Marou who are looking forward to returning to Woodford and setting the Songlines stage alight.
Heading up the international crop this year is Beth Orton (ENG), Half Moon Run (CAN), Julian Marley (JAM/ENG), Babylon Circus (FRA), Rose Cousins (CAN) and Rachel Sermanni (SCOT).
The Folklines programme is a rich tapestry of traditional arts and ethnic cultures. From the Monks of Tibet, masters of chant, music and dance rituals to TaikOZ who draw on Japanese tradition and contemporary sounds for their drumming spectaculars, Folklines draws on the diversity within our Australian culture.
Woodford Folk Festival is a meeting of the minds and the Talks Programme has always been an important part of the festival. Festival veteran and former PM Bob Hawke heads the list of key current affairs speakers. His wife, Blanche d'Alpuget will take the stage to talk about her novel, The Young Lion, at this, her unofficial launch, while comedian Denise Scott will have everyone in stitches.The GREENhouse venue is a hive of activity for the environmentally minded. Network, share and expand your knowledge with hands on workshops, information sessions and debates on grassroots and global environmental issues with academics, farmers and innovators such as Professor Ian Lowe,Dr Jessica North, Robert Pekin and many more.
The Parlour and the Bazaar are a feast for the eyes and the imagination. With something for everyone, you can catch the extraordinary ladies of the Hot Brown Honey Burlesque, or The Birdmann's comedic one-man murder mystery, the sideshow stunts of The Dirty Brothers or the Festival of Fortune, Woodford's very own game show.
"Woodford Folk Festival has a magical atmosphere. Everywhere you turn there is something surprising, interesting or delicious! The music, art and audience are remarkably diverse and this truly makes for a festival experience like no other." - Wally De Backer (Gotye/The Basics)
Organisers at Woodford praise their audience. "Every year I perform the ritual of driving around the campsite after everyone has gone home. There isn't a skerrick of rubbish - its 100% clean. It's very moving. On New Year's Eve we ring the village bell at 11.30 pm and 22, 000 people in 14 licensed bars, 12 packed venues and in streets teeming with energy come to a complete halt. They light a candle in utter silence. The crickets and frogs never seem so loud. We watch grown men cry. We so love our patrons - they really make the festival what it is" said Festival Director Bill Hauritz, "they are the real stars".
So have a Shampine at the Pineapple Lounge, grab a bite to eat at one of over 40 eateries, or jump aboard the Mystery Bus. Whoever you are, whatever you're looking for, you'll find it at the Woodford Folk Festival.
For more information on the festival ticket pricing and camping options please visit www.woodfordfolkfestival.com
Sunshine Coast 'stay and play' event packages are also now available, offering a 25% discount on Festivaltickets.
Woodford Folk Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events throughout
the state.
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