Discover a whole new world of music and entertainment with today’s announcement from the National Folk Festival – it’s a journey through Afro soul to Greek Blues to Swedish dance hall and more with virtuosic and emerging talent from across Australia and the world.
The divine Harpeth Rising from the USA head the list, combining the shimmering sounds of Appalachia and Medieval Europe layering violin, banjo and cello into a unique mash-up of folk, newgrass, rock and classical.
Celebrating the sounds of Africa is Bortier Okoe. Revered as one of the most electrifying talents in African music, Bortier is a master drummer, multi-instrumentalist and pure musical force from Ghana, West Africa. Get ready to shake and shimmy when Bortier hits the Festival stage with his Afro soul.
Acclaimed BBC award-winners, the Cornwall-based, The Changing Room and exciting new talent Jack Harris both hail from the UK. The Changing Room’s debut album was listed in The Telegraph’s best Folk Albums of 2015 and lead singer Sam Kelly won the BBC2 Folk Awards ‘Horizon Award’ in 2016. Q Magazine called Jack Harris “a unique lyrical mind” and Folk Radio UK described him as “a lyricist of great descriptive precision and a flair for revealing observation”.
It’ll be all dreamy, swinging, pounding, sweaty madness when Norwegian-Swedish group SVER take to the stage. Appearing at countless festivals and clubs across Europe, they’re set to be the party band of the Festival igniting the relentless energy and seductive spark of Swedish dancehall.
Experience new landscapes of sound with the authentic Greek blues flavour of Apodimi Compania and the heartfelt vocals of New Zealand duo Gilly Darbey and Vikki Clayton. Take the Scottish high road with Alan Reid and Rob Van Sante or thrill to the comic classics of all yodellin’, thigh slappin’ The Sauerkrauts.
From Australia, don’t miss one of our finest exponents of Celtic music, the Irish trad powerhouse Trouble in the Kitchen. From Brisbane, with their trademark gypsy and klezmer infused music, don’t miss the wild extremities of Greshka, or from Melbourne the smooth indie folk rock sounds of rising star, Ben Whiting. Choose your own adventure with Australia’s favourite comic beatboxer Mal Webb with Kyle Morrigan, and catch the electronica beats of Canberra’s GhostNoises. Back by popular demand is acclaimed singer-songwriter Fred Smith singing songs and telling stories to launch his new book ‘The Dust of Uruzgan’.
With over 33 acts in today’s announcement be sure to check out the full list on our website. The 51st National Folk Festival takes place across five fabulous days in Canberra at Easter, 13-17 April, 2017. Discounted Early Bird Tickets are now available. Keep up with all the Festival news, masterclasses and announcements at www.folkfestival.org.au or on our Facebook or Twitter pages. @natfolkfest #ournff #5daysinaperfectworld