Community & Business
18 October, 2022
Bringing music to the folks
THE streets of Yungaburra will be filled with folk music, dance and laughter over the weekend as Queensland’s longest running folk festival kicks off again for another year.
The Tablelands Folk Festival has bought the talents of different folk artists from across Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand to Yungaburra where they are set to perform from 21-23 October.
Secretary and program director Bronwyn Hogdkin has been involved with the festival since day one and is excited to welcome back “the family”.
“The very first festival was held in 1980 in Herberton and then it was moved to Yungaburra and continued to be centred around Yungaburra,” she said.
“That makes this year our 41st birthday – you could say we are middle aged now!
“I have never missed a festival except one and it is just one big giant family reunion when you get people who keep coming back every year.”
This year the festival will welcome international acts for the first time since Covid, with border closures forcing the festival committee to cancel last year’s big artists at the last minute.
International headliners Albi and The Wolves from New Zealand and Jake Spicer from the United Kingdom will travel to Yungaburra to perform some of their best folk hits for audiences.
Alongside a variety of international and interstate acts, local folk talent will take the stage to showcase their talents and dedication to folk music.
Local acapella group BellaCapella will be taking centre stage during the festival, with their first performance being on Saturday at the Yungaburra Community Hall from 10am.
The audience is encouraged to come and sing along during their “Big Sing” performance, with music director and conductor Christina Bahrdt set to entice the audience and teach them the basics.
At 2pm, the group will take to the community hall stage again and perform a variety of songs alongside Woyaya choir from Cairns to create their “Mega Choir”.
To see who is performing and at which venue, visit www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org.au/performers/
So far, thousands of people have already purchased tickets, with more expected to make the trip to the Tablelands to enjoy the “people music”.
With a full program, Ms Hodgkin promises a packed house across the 13 venues, eight stages and three major stages across Yungaburra.
A full weekend pass is $130 with access to all venues and stages. They can be purchased at www.tablelands-folkfestival.org.au/ticket-sales/
As well as bringing in the tunes, a variety of workshops and special activities will keep participants entertained.
A lantern workshop will welcome creative minds to make lanterns that will light up the skies at the street parade on 22 October from 5.45pm.
The streets of Yungaburra will light up with the specially made lanterns, song and dance to kick off the weekend fun. The “fashion police” will also be out and about, making sure patrons are not committing fashion crimes and providing entertainment all weekend long.
For more information on activities and workshops, visit www.tablelandsfolkfestival.org.au
