Folk music is gaining a growing following among young performers, who will be supported by Federation at the Sydney Folk Festival in August.
The union has signed on to support the youth program at the festival, which runs from 16-18 August at venues in the Sydney CBD.
“If there’s one area where the term ‘folk music’ has gained respectability, it’s with younger performers, especially songwriters,” festival artistic director Warren Fahey said.
“Our festival will celebrate younger performers including singer-songwriters Allegra Dunning and Amber Stanton, both young songwriters and seasoned performers.”
At 11 years old, Allegra Dunning is a singer-songwriter from the Blue Mountains, who has been awarded the Folk Federation of NSW Junior Folk Artist of 2019, and performs a mix of rearranged covers and breathtaking originals.
The Folk Federation of NSW is a not-for-profit established in 1970 that aims to broaden interest in the musical genres that fall under the folk music “umbrella” — songwriting, traditional songs, Australian bush dance music, Indigenous and world music. This year, with the help of Federation, the festival is promoting “the next generation of folk music”.
“As a special treat we will also present the 15-member strong Hunter Signing Choir, who prove hearing disabilities are no barrier to music-making,” Mr Fahey said.
A feature of the festival will be a performance by one of folk music’s greatest living singer songwriters, Eric Bogle, best known for his song The Band Played Watzing Matilda, at the Pitt Street Uniting Church on the evening of Saturday, 17 August. The gig is mooted to be Bogle’s last.
The Sydney Folk Festival will feature more than 220 performers and weekend (all access) and day tickets are now available. The Eric Bogle Saturday night concert is included in the weekend ticket although a limited number of concert-only tickets are also available. More information is available at http://www.sydneyfolkfestival.com.au.