A perennial in the Australian festival calendar for 36 years, the iconic Woodford Folk Festival has announced another massive programme.

The Woodford Folk Festival is a week-long celebration of incredible creative depth and cultural diversity.

It’s a place where lawyer, academic and Indigenous policy advisor Noel Pearson takes to the stage to address festival-goers. DeJa Voodo hosts Juju Jungle, a mesmerising menagerie of marvels where cabaret meets mind-bending art. And where multiple Walkley-Award winning journalist Tracey Spicer AM warns of the bigotry embedded in AI technology.

Australia’s Queen of Burlesque Imogen Kelly runs a talk and workshop on breast health and burlesque. And where Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke discusses the magic of art. Austral teach Irish dance steps; Dr Karl lectures on great moments in science; and artists like Regurgitator rev up a crowd up.

It’s also where beloved Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis performs with his band, The More Please Orchestra.

Some big names in music are on the Woodford Folk Festival bill

Household names include first time visitor, Ben Lee, who is also dropping a DJ DadBod set. Locals will love the Brisbane-centric line up of Resin Dogs. And Regurgitator (pictured) with Custard, as well as the massive AFRO DIZZI ACT all-star show.

Voices you’ll recognise from television also have a strong presence – Karise Eden (The Voice) and Isaiah Firebrace (The X Factor Australia, Eurovision – Australia Decides).

A cavalcade of incredible musicians and returning artists include: Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke and  ARIA nominee Mo’Ju, Yirrmal. Then there’s FourPlay String Quartet (pictured), Leah Flanagan, and Wanderers. 

They will be joined by Go-Jo, Odette, A.Girl, Haiku Hands, Bumpy, Aya Ives, Steph Strings, Loretta and Late November. Not to mention Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham (The Waifs).

International visitors The East Pointers (Canada) are returning to their Australian ‘home’ of Woodfordia. The traditions of Scotland are represented by wonderful singer/songwriter Dougie Maclean. Multi-award winning contemporary traditional three-piece Assynt will be there and incredible fiddler Ryan Young.

Aaward-wining vocalist Hannah Rarity, and Irish/Scottish outfit, Dallahan, also play shows. And they will gather together on New Years’ Eve for a Hogmanay celebration.

Formidable singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill and the legendary Andy Irvine are visiting from Ireland. Trekking out from the US are psychedelic Panamanian Kansas City-based band Making Movies. And sensational cabaret star, Rizo. 

A cultural melting pot of speakers and entertainers

Bosnia’s intriguing, ground-breaking Sevdalinka interpreter and composer, Božo Vrečo visits for the first time. And from Tibet, the beloved Monks of Tibet, Tenzin Kunsang and Tenzin Choegyal present rituals, song and dances.

In collaboration with What the French… Woodford welcomes Colours in the Street (Alex Colours), Cécile Lacharme and Hugo Barriol.

“Because we’re open to expressions of interest, there’s a sense that the programme is creating itself each year,” Programme Manager, Courtney Wild says.

“As well as curated elements including our ceremonies and signature in-house events like the Comedy debate, Poet’s Breakfasts, and our cultivation of elements that are important to us – such as 65% new content each year alongside previous favourites, continuing gender parity and inclusion – we also take an organic approach, listening to what artists themselves want to be presenting.”

Pictured: The East Pointers are coming to Woodfordia from Canada.

Indigenous representation is integral

One programme where this is evident is the Talks and Ideas programme.

Indigenous representation has always been a foundation of Woodfordia. And this is evident with powerful speakers including; Noel Pearson, Linda Burney MP and Leeanne Enoch MP. And also Lyndon Murphy, Mary Graham and Morgan Brigg.

Rhoda Roberts AO presents her perennially popular series, Ancient Culture, New Conversations. She explores artist’s creative work and cultural experience. This year she includes; Yirrmal; Charlie Needs Braces; Isaiah Firebrace and Dr Shellie Morris AO.

Sharing the experiences and culture of remote Australia are Dr Shellie Morris AO and the Borooloola Cultural Songwomen. The Traditional Healing Women of North East Arnhemland visit to share important cultural traditions. A huge undertaking and important part of this year’s event. 

Functioning art gallery and laundromat The Blak Laundry is activated by Libby Harward and Dominique Chen. It revolves around a simple concept: bring your dirty linen, pop it in a wash, and engage in conversation. Traditional custodian and Jinibara delegate to the festival, Uncle Noel Blair releases his autobiography, Man on a Mission. But not before popping in to meet this year’s crop of Woodfordian kids at the Children’s Festival.

It’s not just about the adults at Woodford Folk Festival

“It’s important that our children grow up with access to all of the inspiring ideas, people and art that a programme like Woodford offers, while still remaining kids,” says Becky Wandell. Becky is a long-time creative producer of the playful and popular space for babies to 12 year olds.

“Our space provides opportunities for everything from circus to e-waste dismantling to bush crafts and dance parties.

It’s a special, magical place. The kids are somehow both worn out and energised at the end of the week – and so are we!”

“While there are a lot of broadly recognisable names on the programme, as a community-based festival it’s really important to us that there are lots of opportunities for patrons to interact with artists, presenters and ideas that they can keep up with post-Woodford,” Courtney Wild continues. 

“We are a folk festival, after all.”

And it’s not just about the biggest names either

This is where curated events and series like the Music Camp come in. Which is put together by Alan and Kristin Kelly from the award-winning Barleyshakes. And also the Sunny Coast Feature, which is presented in collaboration with Andrea Kirwin and PeaceRun Records.

There are opportunities to see new projects from beloved artists, such as Kooralbyn, Kacey Patrick (Stringmansassy), and Flamenco Fire’s Andrew Veivers, and Yirinda, a powerful and timely collaboration between Butchulla songman Fred Leone (pictured) and well-known musical innovator Sam Pankhurst.

Singer songwriters telling the stories of contemporary Australia include Michael Waugh, Kelly Cork, Maggie Rigby (The Maes), Alana Wilkinson, and those making jokes about it include comedy programme curator Sandeep Totlani, Fiona Scott-Norman, Harley Breen, Urvi Majumdar, Ting Lim, Nicolette Minster, Dane Simpson, Michael Connell, Nick Capper, Mandy Nolan, and Daniel Muggleton. 

The Spoken Word programme explores an enormous diversity of age, gender, sexuality and cultural experience, and includes poets Gabrielle Journey Jones, Sarah Lock (pictured), Lucy Wylie, Peter Mace, Oliver Roweth, Luke Robinson, Jason Roweth, CJ Shaw and one of Australia’s leading folklorists and performers, Keith McHenry.

Also a time for renewal

On the night of the 1st January 2024, the festival community will gather for one of the festival’s most beloved ceremonies, which is now titled The Renewal. This year organisers have moved away from the burning of a spectacular fire structure to a ritual where the village expresses its dreams for the future. Directors Linsey Pollak and Mark Bromilow along with Visual Projection Artist Craig Walsh will work with a large cast to bring the festival dreams to life with “A Village Dreams”, a ceremony marking the significance of the renewal of the new year and hopes for all our future.

If you’ve never been to the Woodford Folk Festival, you won’t understand how programmes like morning Hilltop and Village Green yoga and tai-chi sessions, and a full programme of cultural dance and movement classes can exist alongside sparkling circus and rambunctious cabaret explosions from the Cirque and Parlour venues (this year includes – Head First Acrobatics, Betty Grumble, the 3rd year of the Queer Ball, Imogen Kelly, The Birdmann and Egg, Dr Hubble’s Bubbles, Kaput, Backbone Young Creators, Rema: To Emit Light – the premiere of a collaboration between Rako Pasifika, Rindi Harradine and Chelsea McGuffin Productions – and more).

It won’t be 100% clear how the strings of fiddles, guitars and mandolins ring out constantly in sessions at The Craic while the beloved Pineapple Lounge hosts crams nine-piece band onto a stage made for three and dances the night away with hours of some of the best local DJs. How can Woodfordia’s streets be constantly alive with giant puppets like The Elder and Emir, stilt-walkers, fantastical creatures and ambassadors from other lands

(The Fae, created by Folly Games) while Robin Clayfield’s ceremony builders lovingly tend visitors walking The Sacred Union Labyrinth in quiet contemplation?

Woodfordia’s Festival Director, Managing Director and Co- Founder, Amanda Jackes:

“We see the end of the year – Woodford time – as a time for revelling and reckoning. For recreating ourselves and gathering hope and goodwill around us to bring into a new year. We do this, along with our community, by inviting intelligent debate, creating diverse opportunities for reflection, and fuelling brilliant celebration.”

“The much-loved Woodford Folk Festival is a highlight on our state’s cultural calendar, showcasing the exceptional work of local, national and international artists and inviting audiences to participate in rich conversations, workshops and ceremonies.”

A word from the Minister for the Arts Leaane Enoch:

“The Queensland Government supports Woodfordia to realise the key priorities of our Creative Together 2020-2030 roadmap including elevating First Nations arts, sharing our stories and celebrating our storytellers, and activating local spaces and places.”

As always, the schedule is staggering in its diversity, quality and expression of the cultural zeitgeist.

The Woodford Folk Festival programme is available online along with all the information needed on how to do Woodford here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme.

Buy tickets to this year’s Woodford Folk Festival here: 

https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/tickets/.

The 2023 Woodford Folk Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.

The event is held on Jinibara country in the Moreton Bay region.