The National Folk Festival (www.folkfestival.org.au) kicks off on the Thursday evening of Easter, at Exhibition Park in Canberra.
In the days leading up to the National Folk Festival, the National Library of Australia (www.nla.gov.au) is hosting two events.
On Wednesday 12 April 2017, beginning at 6 pm, The Rheingans Sisters (winners of the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Original Track) are performing a free concert in the Theatre, Lower Ground Floor, National Library of Australia, Canberra. Bookings can be made via: www.stickytickets.com.au/49112/national_folk_festival_concert_the_rheingans_sisters.aspx
On Thursday 13 April 2017, beginning at 12.30 pm, Genni Kane and her brother John Kane (of the Australian bluegrass band, The Flying Emus) and Genni’s husband Jon Wilby will be in conversation and in concert with National Library of Australia folklorist Rob Willis. Bookings for this free event, which is also being held in the National Library’s Theatre (lower ground floor), can be made via: www.stickytickets.com.au/49114/performance_birds_of_a_feather.aspx
During the National Folk Festival, the National Library’s Folk Fellow, Jessie Lloyd, will be presenting the Mission Songs Project (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). The National Library is also presenting The Music of Mawson’s Men concert on Friday, a family history session (Everyone Has a Story (Or Maybe Even a Song)) on Saturday and The Emu has Landed concert on Sunday. In addition, the National Library is again hosting Live @ The Lounge sessions.
The National Folk Festival program in now available online: www.folkfestival.org.au/2017-program-downloads/
The National Library of Australia has a large and significant folklore and traditional performance collection, including around 6,000 hours of recordings, of which around 800 hours come from festivals. Around 500 hours of its folklore recordings are available online.
Recently, the National Library acquired a large collection of recordings, made between 1971 and 1989, from the Top End Folklore Club, Darwin. These recordings include performances at the Top End Folklore Club, Top End Folk Festival and 14th National Folk Festival (Alice Springs, 1980).
For those of you interested in providing financial support for the ongoing work of the National Library of Australia, the Library has a Patron Program and a Bequest Program: www.nla.gov.au/support-us/become-a-library-patron
www.nla.gov.au/support-us/make-a-gift-by-will
The National Library of Australia is a Distinguished Partner of the National Folk Festival.
Rhythms magazine (www.rhythms.com.au) is a Media Partner/Supporter of the National Folk Festival.
SUE BARRETT