Well this is it, the last words of anticipation about the return of the Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival.
Sitting in on the final meeting of the organising committee, it really is an incredible insight into how much passion and experience is behind this community event that has a history nearing two decades. From the technical team building seven plus stages and sound systems to the food stalls and bar, the scheduling of performers and their movements to and from the valley, including where they will stay, the ticketing, the traffic management, parking, signage, waste management and sustainability and the valuable role of publications like the Valley Voice and ABC Illawarra. It takes about 160 volunteers to make this weekend festival happen and, as we go to print, there is still opportunity to be part of the team that will bring this festival to life.
At 3.30pm on Friday 14 October, the gates will open and the sounds and smells of the festival will set the scene for the weekend ahead where 36 music acts, four poets and 12 dance groups will perform in venues across the showground. A welcome bush dance at 8pm will get toes tapping while the tap at the bar serving craft beers will be flowing and will continue until curtains at 5.30 pm on Sunday.
As well as traditional folk, there’s blues, gypsy jazz, world music, indie, 60s and 70s pop and creative fusions. Having just released a new album on good old-fashioned vinyl, local band 19 Twenty are bursting at the seams to bring back their “high energy, unpredictable, loud and fun” performance to our festival stage. Famous for their motto “Ask for forgiveness not permission”, lead singer Kane Dennelly says “It’s great to be back doing it!” And it is, bringing their incredible talent back to the stage post-Covid with a focus on “family vibes.”
On family vibes, twin sisters Alanna and Alicia from Bendigo in Central Victoria are excited to be returning for their fourth festival. “KV is one of our favourite festivals. It’s a real boutique festival, with intimate venues and always with a high quality line-up. We love catching up with other artists and the folk community. It’s such a friendly town with beautiful surrounding countryside. We always wish we could stay longer.”
A duo from the NSW Snowy Mountains who debuted in 2017 are back with a band and a baby! Montgomery Church are Cielle Montgomery and James Church, and this review from music journalist Gareth Hipwell is super evocative: “Montgomery Church make a rare kind of hill country magic – spinning gossamer tapestries with timeless acoustic sounds, quicksilver vocal harmonies, and the kind of unassuming storytelling that burrows deep into the subconscious”. Cielle says they are really looking forward to our festival. “KVFF has such a fabulous family-friendly community vibe; it’s also a great size (not too big, not too small) and takes place amongst the most stunning setting in Kangaroo Valley”.
With 36 music acts to sample, a weekend ticket represents great value at $125 for adults, youth tickets at $60 and kids under 12 free with a ticketed adult. And there’s plenty for the kids to do with all-day craft and workshops and an entire venue setup for teens. The Happy Nest will be run by Balinese Spice Magic and offers our 12-17 year olds a place to hang and a stage on which to perform, with blackboard sign ups on the day, so no need to pre apply.
There is an incredible offering of workshops for festival goers of all ages, from dance to drums, didgeridoo and ukulele. There’s shape note singing with The Fossickers, vocal harmonies with Good Tom Wallace, songwriting with Jane & the Rain, vocal confidence with We Maverick, Sea Shanties with the Canberra Shanty Club and much more.
So with the finishing touches being applied and the final countdown on, fingers and toes are crossed for a weekend of perfect KV weather. For all the latest information and updates, keep an eye on the website or follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kangaroovalleyfolkfestival.
Julie Ward