A folk festival is marked by its laidback nature, loving crowds and eclectic musicians. Cygnet Folk Festival (9-11 Jan) embodies all of these and more as a festival steeped in an environmentally, community-charged town called Cygnet.
This year’s festival sold out, with over 120 acts, a killer poetry program and musicians from all over the world. Where other festivals gladly oversell tickets to turn the profit monster, Cygnet retains its intimacy and small-town vibe by keeping ticket sales limited to the capacity of its venues.
Image by Eden MeureWhat shines through this volunteer-run, profits-going-directly-to-a-charity atmosphere is the generosity of it all. The generosity of the volunteers (some in the driving seats of the festival) who happily give their time away; the town which happily (not in all cases, but most) let 2,500+ people in – the scouts, churches and schools lend their halls; a mumma duck and baby ducklings lend their home to the campgrounds.
Image by Eden MeureLastly, the generosity of the musicians – for the more successful folk artists are those who share their most intimate stories. This is a festival where I felt relaxed, down-to-earth, happily chatted about the weather to locals every day, wanted to explore the amazing surrounds more and was impressed by local café art, including one place that was selling Tony Abbott voodoo dolls.
DO sample the local produce
DON’T forget to buy a Tony Abbott voodoo doll
In the lead up to the festival, the excitement in town is tangible. However, the set-up comes with a melancholic weight as a much loved chef in the community has died days before the festival. The famous Lotus café is shut and flowers pile up outside as locals pay their respects. By festival time, the café has re-opened, run by volunteers – testimony to the respectful and giving nature of the community and festival relationship.This relationship has not come without issues – it’s one that is always fraught with difficulties. It is well-known local knowledge that the festival brings neighbouring town boys in from Huonville, creating punch-ups with the locals, and sometimes the punters too – town pride is no small virtue.
Image by Eden MeureBy 1pm on the first day I notice the party’s already happening next to school grounds, where a group of teenagers are drinking JD and blasting techno. One dude's already passed out and vomiting. I did not expect the sheer number of drunken teenagers who weren’t so much interested in the festival as finally having a reason to get drunk in the area.
You cannot drink in the majority of venues so the drinkers tend to stay outside, or in the licensed venues (Willie Smiths Cider Tent and the Ex-Servicemen’s Club). Saying that, this would have to be one of the festival's better events during its 33-year history, with police only breaking up one, major fight in the notorious Bottom Pub (which fences angry locals in) on Friday evening.
My friends who were staying there did vaguely fear for their lives as drunken, country men lurched, sneered and mocked festival-goers. The festival allows this to continue in part, because it wants to retain its open and laidback nature. With security on call, it seems to work – creating a folk-festival zoo of sorts.
DO drink Willie Smiths cider; so fresh, so tasty
DON’T mess with the drunken locals - you will lose
Tasmania is an island, and a festival that pulls acts of this calibre is no mean feat. The programming of this festival is truly unique, putting international, big names on stages right next to local acts. This has mixed success as most people follow the names they wish to see, however some audience stay on to be introduced to emerging musicianship, often to their delight.
Image by Eden Meure
Going back to the generosity diatribe, festival knowledge is exchanged along with hugs and local produce, so finding out which acts are buzzing is easy work. The best of the fest plays on the final night in the notoriously popular Festival Cabaret.
Folk is a broad genre these days, and this ranges from pop flavours (Emma And The Hungry Truth), to gypsy stomping (Bea And The Boys), to prog-electro (Innes) to the more Celtic-kicking tunes (The BordereRs) – the later of which I’m not the biggest fan of, and it's easily avoided for the more experimental/ fusion acts.
Image by Eden MeureLoop pedals impressively featured in many stand-out sets this year. Festival favourites include the stunning Daniel Champagne, The Mae Trio, The Spooky Men Choral (old-time folk legends) and Jason Freeman Fox And the Opposite Of Everything.
Image by Eden MeureFor anyone who doesn’t already know, we have a bucketload of folk talent in Australia. Proudly, local bands and Tasmanian bands in particular delivered the majority of the talent pool. And the poetry program, which I briefly mentioned before was killer - notably featuring Candy Royalle and Irish Joe Lynch.
DO get to the venues early and keep that seat - once they’re full, they’re full
DON’T bypass a chance to talk to the locals – they’re overflowing with stories and local knowledge
Cygnet Folk Festival has to take the cake for cutest, festival kids. The kids program is under-utilised. The children are adorable and I wanted to sweep them all into my arms and make for the hills. Seriously!
Image by Eden MeureThere’s something about children who know how to dance to music and have been allowed their free-range freedom from an early age. One baby crawling in front of me on the dancefloor in a hemp dress paused to show me her blue steel before continuing her leg kicks.
Speaking of dancing, I had no idea what was happening with jerking movements in one corner of the room before I realised people dance differently here. You just kind of move to the music in whatever passable way you know. It’s at once hilarious and disarming, making for a wicked time on the D-Floor.
Image by Eden MeureDO play games with the festival children
DON’T be self-conscious on the dancefloor – anything goes
The festival mellows out as it goes on and by Sunday everyone is feeling at home among the lovely, festival vibe. The hand-made instrument displays were a highlight; I especially loved the banjo made out of an Arnotts biscuit tin.
Image by Eden MeureAt one gig, I see a band ask the room to raise their hand if they are in love. No one did. Perhaps this is why they were at a folk festival, or perhaps the question was phrased the wrong way – we were all in love: with the town, with the festival and by the end of a big weekend, with each other.
Image by Eden MeureWe leave the lovely town of Cygnet for another year, as they come together once more for pack-down and reflection as the festival and community grows in strength and complexity.
