FIRST ACTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2017 NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL

The National Folk Festival is delighted to announce its first round of artists, with a seductive 6 pack of international and national acts for the 2017 Festival.

Heading the list is the young, sublime BBC award-winning Rheingans Sisters, one of the hottest young acts of the English folk scene. Combining fiddle playing and sweet harmonies, their latest album ‘Already Home’ was recorded in a remote forest studio in Wales and has been critically acclaimed, winning Best Original Track at the 2016 BBC Folk Awards. With a violin-maker as a father, sisters Rowan and Anna grew up in the Peak District of England surrounded by traditional music. Rowan has played with the hugely popular Lady Maisery, Nancy Kerr and the ‘Songs of Separation’ super-group with Eliza Carthy; and Anna is now based in Toulouse, southern France, and teaches French music traditions. Don’t miss the otherworldly sound of these two sisters at the height of their powers.

Daoiri Farrell is one of the most important singers to come out of Ireland right now. The Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player cut his teeth as a singer in Dublin’s famous Góilin Singers Club and has toured from France to Germany, the US, Canada and India, performing with some of the biggest names in Irish and international folk music including Christy Moore, Martin Hayes and Julie Fowlis. Daoiri comes to the National with his trio featuring uilleann piper Michael ‘Blackie’ O’Connell  and Robbie Walsh  on bodhran.

Returning to the Festival after a lengthy hiatus is the popular and always entertaining singer-songwriter and ABC radio icon Greg Champion.

In 2017 a special feature at the National will be music from South Australia and the Northern Territory. First acts to be announced are Conchillia (SA) and Tracey Bunn and Her Band of Handsome Devils (NT).

The Drowsy Maggies were discovered on one of the many open mic stages of the National Folk Festival in 2016, dazzling audiences with their harmony-filled original songs and cracking tune sets, and were awarded the inaugural Gill Rees Memorial Award. Based in Victoria, these 4 gorgeous young women are up-and-comers to be watched, and will be launching their debut album at the festival.

The 51st National Folk Festival is just six months away. Across five fabulous days in Canberra next Easter, 13-17 April the 2017 festival will feature an A-list of over 200 international and national acts. 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