4. FOLK

National Folk Festival, 2023

Morris Dancers?! Yup! Internationally renowned musicians?! Yup! Astonishing musicians from all over the world who just jam together over whiskey and cider into the wee hours?! Yup! An actual sword swallower?! Yup! Unbelievable! Nope.

Held on Easter weekend the National Folk Festival marks the start of autumn in Canberra every year. It has a phenomenal program of music, food and art and is powered by a horde of volunteers. Electricians, bar staff, construction, security, recycling, production crew, sound engineers and even photographers!

In 2023 I put my hand up to join the photography team and it was a blast. You get free camping and full access across the festival in exchange for your best shots. My main purpose that weekend - other than catching up with Canberra mates and enjoying the music - was to throw myself in the deep end with a new camera. It went pretty well!

Billy Bragg and the Waifs were headlining. Other highlights were the 25 or so bands and solo musicians, the street performers and the dancing, the Riff Raff Marching band and the Raio De Sol marching band and the Session bar.

Truth be told the Session bar is probably my favourite spot. The fun begins around 11pm when the festival program winds down for the night. All comers are welcome to bring their instruments and jam along while drinking buckets of whiskey, Guiness and cider. As a photographer it was a feast for portraits and action shots of people doing what they love. Volunteering is a fabulous way of throwing yourself in the deep end and seeing how well you can float.

K x