As we edge ever closer to the return of the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival on the weekend of 14-16 October, the broad offering is becoming more exciting and the opportunities to get involved are many.
A festival really is the best smorgasbord, a degustation of small tastings for all the senses.
Ten stages play host to music, workshops, poetry and dance, and you can wander from one to the next, picking up a drink and some enticing bites as you do.
We’ve talked about the line-up and introduced a few of the newcomers who, along with the head-lining favourites like 19 Twenty, The Bushwackers, Mic Conway & Robbie Long are chomping at the bit for our festival comeback. Ben Fowler of Benji and the Saltwater Sound System has a long history with the event. “I was at the first one when I was a wee little fella and I think I’ve played at the majority of the KVFFs in one band or another” He adds “It has a great community vibe and very relaxed and family friendly feel. There’s always a great spread of music genres.” A great way to get a feel for the spread Ben talks about it is by having a listen to the Spotify playlist we’ve put together: you can search KVFF 2022 or use the QR code on this page.
Performance poetry is a growing art, and we are delighted to welcome back some of the country’s best. Robyn Sykes joins us from her farm in Binalong NSW. The multi-award-winning writer is not your average rhyming poet, it’s said: “ A flick of her pen makes words twist, tuck and double-somersault with pike.” She hosts the Poet’s Breakfast with award-winning Bush Poet, Peter Mace, performing their own work but sharing the stage with anyone who would like to have a go. No matter what age, whether it’s your own work or not, festival goers can sign up to step up and recite some poetry. Newcomers to this year’s event are Luke Robinson and Gabrielle Journey Jones, both of whom have musical strings to their bow that combine to create unique poetry performance.
When it comes to dance, the line-up this year is a veritable step-ball-change around the world and another great chance to get up off your seat. Margaret & Bill Winnett head up the Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers and have taught dance workshops up and down the eastern seaboard at numerous festivals for many years. This will be their first since Covid and Margaret can’t wait: “It will be a joy! The interaction between the two of us plus the guaranteed fun of the workshop.”
If hip swinging is more your thing, then a highland fling, Sapphire Tribal Bellydance from the Far South Coast of NSW, have channelled the original gypsies of Egypt and is bringing it to our Valley. Founder and Artistic Director Nicole Stenlakje promises colourful and elaborate costumes with lots of variety with props including skirts, shawl, fan, finger cymbals and swords. “We love the sense of community that dancing at a folk festival brings.” Watch and learn. Macedonian Dance, Scottish Country, Nordic Folk and good old fashion Aussie bush dancing will complete the offering and give good reason to head to the bar for a refreshing drink.
With about six weeks to go, we are still putting out the call for volunteers to join the team. All sorts of roles are still available, from bar staff to site management, performers support and general admin. Eight hours across the festival week, including setup and pack down, is all it takes to get a free ticket, free camping (with own gear) at the Showground and some free food and drink at the volunteers’ wrap party. If you’d like to join us, or know someone from out of town who would, all of the information is on the website.
Tickets are only available online so, while you’re at the website, follow the links to get yours: www.kangaroovalleyfolkfestival.com.au.
Now, let’s just keep the sun shining and round three of La Niña at bay.
Julie Ward
image: Sapphire Tribal
