Port Fairy Folk Festival

Happy 40th birthday, Port Fairy Folk Festival, I hope you enjoy your colonoscopy. Yep, it’s the big 4-0 for the festival next year – and celebrations are truly in order.
It was back in 1977 when a group of friends – co-founder Jamie McKew had restarted the Geelong Folk Music Club at the time – cooked up their grand plan at Geelong’s Bush Inn Hotel. Thanks to the success of their club nights and bush dances, the ‘Bullockies Balls’, the crew took a shot at the big time. The first three festivals took place in December, before switching to March. Some 10,000 acts and artists have appeared at the festival since. Port Fairy was chosen as that was the home of co-founder Jamie McKew’s grandmother.
We have a way to go yet, but the festival has already revealed a few of the artists set to appear. The early birds include Ayleen O’Hanlon, Claymore, DakhaBrakha, Dave Arden, Eric Bogle, Fourplay, Grigoryan Brothers, John McCutcheon, Katie Noonan’s Vanguard, Lloyd Spiegel, Mànran, Mary Black, Moxie, Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento, Pierce Brothers, Ruby Boots, Sara Storer, Shellie Morris, Steve Poltz, Suzannah Espie, The Bushwhackers, The East Pointers, The Ugly Uncles, The Woohoo Revue, The Young’uns, Three Kings and Truckstop Honeymoon. Port Fairy – March 11-14. Tickets are on sale now. Further information is available through portfairyfolkfestival.com.