Reformed GANGGajang and Beth Orton are two on the highlights of Day 3 of the Woodford Folk Festival.
GANGGajang are playing their first shows since the death of bass player Chris Bailey, who also played with The Angels.
The UK’s Beth Orton is making her first visit to the festival. Woodford Folk Festival is celebrating its 25th year this year.
Another highlight of the programme today will be the live streaming of MALPA at 7pm. MALPA is a specially commissioned piece by The Pormpuraaw and Injinoo clans. MALPA can be viewed live from 7pm Sunday December 29 from the Woodford Folk Festival website.
2013 is also a record year for the event with attendance figures up 15% on the previous year.
Woodford Folk Festival General Manager Amanda Jackes reports, “We’ve seen strong growth figures coming into this festival, which have not waned once since the release of our programme in October. It’s a great testament to our programme and to the way we’ve been engaging with patrons in the lead up”.
SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER – WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL
FOR DAD: GANGgajang –7pm Concert
Dad will remember GANGgajang from their hit song “Sounds of Then – This is Australia” back in the 80’s. Back together for their first festival gig since the passing of their bass player Chris Bailey, this show promises to be a special one.
FOR MUM: Clare Bowditch – 8pm and Beth Orton – 9.30pm Amphitheatre
The perfect evening of music for Mum, grab the picnic blanket and head up to the Amphitheatre and settle in for the evening. Catch Clare Bowditch indulge the audience with her big band and the gorgeous songs she’s so well known for… After Clare stick around and catch Beth Orton… All the way from the UK Beth, who built a loyal fan base in the 1990’s, is sure to wow the crowd with her fresh, distinct fusion of roots and rhythm.
FOR THE TEENS: The Illuminescence Party featuring Half Moon Run, Michelle Xen & The Neon Wild and Nova Heart – 10.30pm The Grande Folks who like to light the night can dress to party in whatever catches their eye- gold, glitter and sequins or fluorescent body-paint adornments . Setting the tone for a huge night in The Grande is Canada’s Half Moon Run, fresh from their European tour with Mumford and Sons, followed by Brisbane’s iridescent Michelle Xen and China’s Nova Heart, highly anticipated for their first show on Australian soil.
FOR THE KIDS: The Children’s Festival runs from 8am – 5pm every day and there’s plenty for the little ones to get their teeth stuck into. Sunday’s highlights include Play and Clay 10am – 4pm at the OUT THERE tent where kids will be able to get their hands dirty and let their imagination run wild. From Trash to Treasure 2.30pm at the Mish Mash tent where kids can learn the value of recycling and turn trash into treasure and Gerry Paul & the All Star Elephant Tree Band 11am at the Stardust Theatre, sure to get your kids up and dancing.
FOR THE GRANDPARENTS: In the Time of the Troubadour: Book Launch – The Young Lion – 4pm Folklorica
Blanche D’Alpuget celebrates her first fiction novel in twenty years. Blanche reads excerpts from the book, talks about the history of the time and the real life characters, accompanied by the troubadour music of the era.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: MALPA – 7.30pm Village Green. MALPA is a dance theatre performance specially commissioned for the Festival. The Pormpuraaw and Injinoo clans people perform ancestral dances, traditional songs and sounds from Cape York against stunning backdrops of traditional artwork and sculpture. MALPA is a journey with the clans people through the physical, spiritual and stories yet to come, a visual feast for the whole family.
The Woodford Folk Festival will continue through to January 1 at Woodfordia on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
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