The Easter long weekend is significant to Christians and means a couple of extra days off work, time with family, and a bunny that brings chocolate eggs. However, in Canberra, we have another reason to be excited about the four-day break, as it means one of the country’s favourtie cultural events is back. The National Folk Festival (NFF) returns to Exhibition Park this year on 6-10 April.
President of the National Folk Festival, David Gilks, was appointed to the top position last year after being involved in various positions for the past 15 years. He says he has kept coming back each year as it offers more than your standard festival experience, which he believes is why it also has a loyal following.
“It’s about creating an environment to learn and to practice; it isn’t about massive reinvention and change. It’s continuing to put on what we think is the best festival in Canberra and one of the best events in Australia,” Gilks says.
One of the biggest drawcards of the four-day event is the musical entertainment organisers bring to the stage. For 2023, the festival has secured UK’s Billy Bragg and Aussie legends The Waifs as the headliners. Canberra’s Fred Smith is set to perform, while others will travel from across the sea, including Canada’s Tony McManus, USA’s Brittany Haas, Greece’s Apodimi Compania, and UK’s Chris White & Julie Matthews. Joining them is a number of other artists making waves in the folk scene; Gilks says folk is more than just the music.
“Folk is something that is deeply personal, the telling and sharing of stories. Most people have in their minds the stereotypical image of folk … It [NFF] shows how broad it is and how much it is then one form of music,” he says.
Along with the great tunes, good eats, and quirky stalls, the festival offers the opportunity to get hands-on and learn more about creative endeavours. Gilks believes the workshops are a big part of the welcoming community organisers have worked to create in the 50 years of the Festival.
Running from the afternoon to the early hours of the morning, the workshops encourage guests to pick up an instrument for the first time and learn some tunes, or share their skills and use their voices to share poetry and songs.
The National Folk Festival returns to Exhibition Park in Canberra, 6-10 April; folkfestival.org.au
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