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THE STORY OF THE FESTIVAL
Folk festivals are but one form of community festivals. The term folk appeared in the 18th century based on a German word "volk" relating to the common people.
The era of folk festivals as labelled emerged as early as 1934 with the National Folk Festival (USA); 1950 the Sidmouth Music Festival (UK); 1960 Cambridge Folk Festival (UK) and in Australia, the National Folk Festival began in 1967.
The first folk festival in Australia is still running. The small Nariel Creek Festival near Corryong started as a workshop weekend for enthusiasts keen to learn dances and music of the traditional style which had survived with musicians and dancers of the Nariel district.
The first National Folk Festival, then called the Port Phillip Folk Festival, was held in 1967 at Melbourne Teachers College, apparently with police in attendance in case the dancers rioted, as they tended to do in the swinging sixties!
And so the folk festival era in Australia was established. After a long period of rotating around the states, "The National" settled down in Canberra and has blossomed ever since.
The Nariel Creek festivals and "the national" inspired other country towns to create their own such as in Maldon and Chiltern. Some, like Nariel Creek, continue while others have disappeared like the Tasmanian Tiger. The Port Fairy Folk Festival began in December 1977.
There are, of course, many other festivals around Australia with new ones starting every year. The form and diversity of festivals is changing. A blues festival will have roots and folk music forms along with rock and maybe pop.
Folk Alliance Australia produces an excellent guide to folk music festivals, artists, clubs and other links.
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Music Music
At the first dance Dec 1977
& the Band Played On!
Family Gatherings
First Festival 1977
Guitar Factory Theme at 2010
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