THE figures are in for attendances at the 2014 National Folk Festival in Canberra , showing that over 50,000 folk lovers converged on Exhibition Park Canberra over Easter.
International headliners like Irish singer songwriters Damien Dempsey and Eleanor McEvoy, Hawaiian slack key the guitarist and ukelele player Jeff Peterson and US blues guitarist Woody Mann saw crowds packing out their venues .
Festival director Pam Merrigan had placed emphasis on the Indigenous program, which proved to be huge success, with Archie Roach receiving a standing ovation.
Melbourne artists took out the line sharing the awards. The National Film and Sound Archive’s award for the best CD by a performer at the Festival went to Melbourne group the Mae Trio for their new album “Housewarming.” The FAA Youth Award went to 4 piece Melbourne group Oh Pep, the Peter J Daly Memorial award went to Melbourne Celtic group, Tolka and folk legend Margret RoadKnight, who now lives in Victoria’s Lake Entrance received the National Folk Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Exhibition Park came alive with buskers, circus shows, child fiddle players, street choirs and ukelele bands, tango, clog and Morris dancing, while KidzFest and ArtefACT offered hands-on experiences.
At night time. The Majestic offered edgier acts like the Barons of Tang and Dubmarine.
1500 volunteers made the event possible and they’ll all be on hand to do it again from April 2-6, 2015.
Award.
Artists applications for 2015 close on June 30, visit folkfestival.org.au
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