The Woodford Folk Festival is like a sprinkling of fairy dust, a magical way to say goodbye to one year and welcome in the next.
The iconic, annual event has been running for decades. It opens its gates each year on the 27th of December, and closes them again on the first of January. For those six days, festival goers experience not just music, but circus, expert talks, workshops and a wide variety of arts.
People-watching too is a great pastime of Woodfordians – elf ears, antlers, psychedelic swirls, sequins and steampunk are all on display, and can all be bought at market stalls, side-by-side with health tonics, organic oils and mushroom-infused coffee. The food is excellent – many of the same pop-up stalls come every year, and everyone has their favourite dumpling place, empanada stall or coffee nook.
While people enjoy the festival atmosphere, it's the music that keeps the crowds coming back year after year. This year had a heady mix of top-notch performers, from homegrown headlines such as Sarah Blasko, Katie Noonan and Briggs to a constellation of international talent.
The best thing about Woodford is following your ears. Very few people will have heard of many of the acts; the fun is discovering a new band or a new sound that you haven’t heard before. If you’re not enjoying a vibe at the larger Luna pavilion, head on down to the Bob’s Bar area to see if there’s something there more to your liking. It is a smorgasbord of zany, extraordinary musical gems.
Scottish band Talisk was massive – getting hundreds to their feet in the hot, sweaty mid-afternoon to bounce and stamp along to their beefed-up traditional Celtic music. The energy was overwhelming, and caused many in the audience to believe they were, in fact, Scottish dancing protégés.
For those who prefer their Celtic music to be a little more intimate, the Craic venue served up jam sessions for anyone with an appropriate fiddle, flute, guitar and talent.
Another hit this year was Bobby Alu, a Samoan-Australian singer who brought his mum up on stage for a traditional dance at the beginning of his set. The crowd embraced his easy, feel-good style as he performed in both Samoan and English, showcasing the music of his heritage.
Toshi Sakamoto also beamed out happiness and a feel-good vibe.
Originally from Japan but now settled in Northern Queensland, Toshi sings mainly in Japanese, with some English phrases sprinkled throughout. One earworm was the lovely “May we all be happy,” which garnered enthusiastic audience participation and stayed with concertgoers for days.
Indigenous artists Dobby and Barkaa set their respective stages on fire, although with very different attitudes. Dobby raps about heritage and politics, as does Barkaa, but the latter is more in your face, more “fuck you.” Both are unmissable, and deserve to be household names across the country.
Spooky Men’s Chorale also deserves a big fat mention for being generally excellent. Not only did this bearded, black-clothed a capella ensemble take to the stage, they also wandered the festival, offering to serenade anyone who stood under their giant “Manbrella.” People could choose a song from a pre-approved menu, and then they were surrounded by beardies singing in transcendent harmony. You wouldn’t get that at Coachella.
Other Australian artists claiming the stage at Woodford this year were Lior, celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his debut album, Autumn Flow, and up-and-coming Sunshine Coast singer-songwriter Tom Neilson.
Lior came on Woodford’s largest stage just as the sun was setting, lulling the audience into the night with soulful tunes. Tom is the former frontman of Queensland Music Awards' winning band Standby Empire, and was supported by a five-piece band. With his blend of folk, indie and alt-country influences, Tom seemed to have found a perfect musical home at the festival.
What makes Woodford so special, however, is that it is not just a musical festival. Everywhere you look there is art, from the towering “Elder” puppets wandering the grounds, to the giant beetles crawling up trees and the parades of people dressed as butterflies. This is the magic that crackles in the air.
Giant, chaotic bamboo structures provide shelter from the blistering sun, community art projects grow as the festival unwinds, and at 4am, New Year's morning, hundreds of crazy patrons climb the festival’s hill to greet the dawn of the new year.
It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s Woodford. See you next year.
