Come Easter weekend 2022 the National Folk Festival will return to its spiritual Canberra home of Exhibition Park for their “biggest iteration yet” after exactly three years away.

Over 200 acts will perform across 12 stages spanning Exhibition Park’s substantive footprint, while all the usual food, market stalls, workshops, craft, dance and art that make the festival special will return.

The occasion will not just mark a return to normality for ‘the folky’ after one fully cancelled festival and this year’s pared back Good Folk in Queanbeyan. It is in fact the Folky’s 55 birthday next year, and 30 years of the festival has run in in Canberra.

‘Eclectic smorgasbord of artists’

The 2022 Folky will mark new Festival Artistic Director Katie Noonan’s first at the helm. Bringing passion, vigour, and a clear vision to the role, Noonan’s first festival will emphasise the themes of home and family.

“We’ll have an eclectic smorgasbord of amazing artists across multi-generations all coming together to celebrate home, belonging and family,” she said.

“These values of the festival have never wavered, starting all those years ago the goal was to create a meeting place of sharing of ideas, stories and songs.”

Noonan’s own vision comes to the fore via several initiatives including a strong First Nations focus.

“For me it was very important we chat to and be informed by our elders, the Ngunnawal peoples, and thankfully I’ve been very lovingly welcomed into those discussions.

“That sense of country where we are is embedded through the whole festival.””

Increased participation and community engagement is another priority to be implemented in part by the all-new Folk Family Choir (already 500+ strong), and an expanded workshop program.

A second Session Bar, a favourite of many late-night raconteurs, chanteurs, and chanteuses, will be another much welcomed addition.

While punters almost religiously gather from across the country for the festival, a strong contingent of its 80,000+ attendees are locals.

Noonan has sought to honour that in her programming by ensuring Canberra has robust representation in the musical line up.

Folky has ‘some hardcore fans’

One such Canberra performer set to is singer-songwriter Kim Yang. A festival stalwart, Yang has long loved the intimate, community-focused environment of the Folky.

“For me it’s all about getting back to the community again, gathering with other people and enjoying live music together,” she said.

“it’s just really nice to chat with people and hear how they’ve followed the festival over the years; there’s actually some hardcore fans,” she said.

“It feels like you belong straight away.

Yang also loves making the most of the Folky’s festival atmosphere by bouncing between venues to bask in the array of acts on stage at any one time.

“I’m fond of other singer-songwriters and this is the best place to be where you can jump to different tents and watch performers from interstate,” she said.

“This is the place to be where I can have that intimate environment and listen to songwriters tell their stories.

Alongside usual solo performances, Yang has been handpicked by Noonan to be a part of a 14-woman tribute performance honouring Joni Mitchell.

Other local performers include Omar Musa and Fred Smith, while headlining interstate acts like Kate Ceberano, Josh Pyke and gypsy-jazz ensemble Cigány Weaver are all booked for the 2022 National Folk Festival.

“We’re very excited to share our spectacular collection of artists with you soon,” Noonan said.

For more information and to register for early-bird tickets visit the National Folk Festival website.

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