This festive season, Woodford Folk Festival will once again be the place to be to welcome in a new year with a connected community of loving souls at Woodfordia (Sushine Coast) and an expansive programme featuring a diverse line-up of music, art, circus, cabaret, yoga, dance, comedy and ceremony - and that's only the beginning.
The largest gathering of artists and performers of its kind in Australia, Woodford Folk Festival showcases more than 2,000 artists, musicians and presenters in over 400 acts, over 25 venues to an estimated aggregate audience of 125,000 people.
On the music tip, Woodford will welcome an eclectic range of headliners including The Cat Empire, The Waifs, Xavier Rudd, Kimbra and Dan Sultan.
There'll also be a healthy mix of veteran and emerging performers from Stella Donnelly, Nattali Rize, Jen Cloher, Alex The Astronaut, Estere and Screamfeeder. To REMI, Julia Jacklin, The Teskey Brothers, Irish Mythen, Hat Fitz & Cara, Mel Parson, Emily Wurramurra, and Electric Fields.
This year’s international visitors include The Fretless, Old Man Luedecke, Les Poules a Colin and podcast Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids. As well as Rura, Lindsay Lou, River Matthew, Sun Collective, Fru Skagerrak, Ross Daly Quarter, Tim McMillan & Rachel Snow and a plethora of street theatre, meditation in motion and Children's Festival artists.
The blues continues with the return of Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones, Tullara and multi-award winner Leanne Tennant joining the line-up alongside Chris Tamwoy, Montgomery Brothers, Vince Jones and the Astral Orchestra, Mick Thomas, Glenn Cardier and Christian Marsh.
Year after year studies at the festival show that patrons feel a strong sense of belonging in the Woodfordia community. It is a place where everyone is welcomed and connection is key. "I hope we never take the word 'folk' out of our festival's name," Head of Programming Chloe Goodyear says.
"When I hear folk anywhere in the world – at a club night, or a festival, or a conference, I know there's a place for me. I hope everyone feels that about Woodford."
The theme 'We're All Connected' weaves throughout the festival, with the return of the Spooky Men's Chorale marking its grand finale. Multiple guest appearances and sing-alongs are earmarked in special sessions from The Maes and Rob Longstaff.
Two of Australia's finest middle men, songwriters and voices, Paul McDermott (Doug Anthony All Stars) and Steven Gates (Tripod) will lock harmonies and minds at the festival.
Sampling the strange and strange-at-heart, a myriad of circus and cabaret acts join the programme this year including Spain’s Las Cossas Nostra who mix physical theatre with comedy, clowning and circus. Deja Voodoo is back with The Space Cowboy, Pain-Proof Pin Ups, Boneless Barbies and Daredevil Divas.
With collaboration and community at the heart of the festival’s success, there’s always an opportunity for you to get involved too - play Bling Bingowith Miss Ellaneous for an hilarious night of games, comedy, legs 11 and live acts; join the Festival Choir or Festival Orchestra or take part in almost 200 workshop in visual arts, circus, spoken word, dance or music.
Organisers at Woodfordia have been busy this year with not only curating a stellar programme of artist and presenters, attention has also been turned to the infrastructure onsite with some major improvements underway.
General Manager Amanda Jackes thanks the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council whose funding has made these works possible.
"While works are still underway on new bridges, amenity blocks and venue landscaping, we have completed the critical upgrades to our closed-loop water and sewage services that support what becomes the 67th largest town in Australia over the festival period.
"However, the most exciting works are still to come – over 5kms of sealed roads will be completed in the season camping grounds delivering greater comfort to our resident campers and welcomed relief from previously dusty roads. Now that’s something to celebrate."
2018/19 Woodford Folk Festival takes place 27 December to 1 January. Tickets available online now. Click here for more information.
2018/2019 Woodford Folk Festival Line-up
The Cat EmpireThe Waifs
Xavier Rudd
Kimbra
Dan Sultan
Nattali Rize
Julia Jacklin
REMI
Stella Donnelly
Electric Fields
The Teskey Brothers
Hat Fitz & Cara
Estere
Screamfeeder
Alex The Astronaut
Irish Mythen
Jen Cloher
Mel Parsons
Emily Wurramurra
Deja Voodoo
Steven Gates (Tripod) & Paul McDermott
The Fretless
Old Man Luedecke
Les Poules a Colin
Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids podcast
Rura
Lindsay Lou
River Matthew
Sun Collective
Fru Skagerrak
Ross Daly Quarter
Tim McMillan & Rachel Snow
Jo Jo Smith
Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones
Tullara
Leanne Tennant
Chris Tamwoy
Montgomery Brothers
Vince Jones and the Astral Orchestra
Mick Thomas
Glenn Cardier
Christian Marsh
The Maes
Wanderers
Stiff Gins
The Little Stevies
Teeny Tiny Stevies
Rob Longstaff and the Spooky Men’s Chorale
Plus many, many more acts. Visit the Woodford Folk festival website to explore the complete 2018/19 programme.
