MEDIA RELEASE – 26th December 2008

Illawarra Folk Festival
15th - 18th January 2009

WELCOME TO NO 24

Festival No.24 and we’re still hanging in there, in fact getting even stronger.  Despite last year’s torrential rain that beset the festival for three days and affected attendances the show went on.  In one way the weather last year was a trial for us, it proved that we could function at Bulli with artistic integrity, unimpaired and balance sheet only mildly affected. This despite the weather, which we no longer fear (though we hope for it to be fine and calm), all venues were dry and comfortable.  This was despite a bit of mud in the marquee which didn’t stop the dancers on Saturday Night.

This year will see some of our theme concerts add a multi media touch to their presentations.  The Pete Seeger concert, Pete turns 90 in may, will have exerpts from the highly acclaimed hit at the recent Sydney Film Festival, ‘Power of a Song’ while Keith McKenrys Ron Edwards (Ron died last year) tribute will have audio visual background. Others to have this support will be the wonderful Italian Silent movie with music ‘Dall’Italia All’Australia, Skorba with their sounds of Malta and the Middle East and Nick Rheinberger with his show “Galvanised’.

Another innovation is the introduction of the Music Train (or at least a carriage) which will leave Sydney on Saturday Morning for the Festival.  For long we have not exploited the public transport facilities that Bulli offers.  Brian Dunnett, railway historian supremo, has been busily working away to ensure the success of the train this year in the hope that it will become a regular feature in ensuing years.

As usual we have a good contingent of overseas artists this year including the return of the Berlin ‘Beez’.  Bettina Schelka from Switzerland, The Whitetop Mountaineers from USA, Ann Vriend from Canada, and Graeme Moore from the UK.

Of course performers are coming from all over Australia (as well as patrons) and you’ll find them in the pages of this programme.  The kids programme is particularly strong this year with the addition of Mic Conway, Mike Jackson and Nick Rheinberger.  There is an even greater swag of local performers this year which highlights not only the talent here in the Illawarra but also the fact that the folk club and the festival’s activities are working in encouraging this local development.

I said this last year and it still holds true.  This festival is run entirely by volunteers.  It’s probably the only festival of its size in the country that operates this way and burnout is a constant factor.  So I want to record thanks to all the people who have made this event possible.  Volunteer workers collect the garbage, clean the toilets, work in the office, stage manage events, erect stages, work the bar, staff the entrances and do all the things that are necessary to build and run a small town for a week.  It’s a truly amazing effort and I never cease to have admiration for our volunteers’ selflessness.

Dave De Santi as Director (for the 15th time) did a fantastic job- and it was all done in 10 weeks. I’m constantly amazed at how someone can have such a grasp of so many divergent strings and yet still pull them together when it counts.  I think the only thing that he gave up for the festival was sleep.  We hope he does not get run over by a bus. Ros Shieldhouse, our tireless Secretary and Theresa Gregory who handled publicity and marketing perform magnificently and are key elements in ensuring the festival is a success.

It’s a big thank you to all of our sponsors who have supported us with cash, in-kind and promotion. You will see their logos and ads spread throughout this programme.

Enjoy the festival, take in the great talent, celebrate the diversity and depth of the folk scene whether it’s your first time or your twenty fourth.

Let’s hope ‘Hughie’ is kind and the winds stay away- we can handle the rain. 

Happy folking and see you next year.  Next year, for those not numerically challenged, will be our silver anniversary so watch out for something special.

Russell Hannah – Festival President

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Theresa Gregory,
Publicist & Promotions Manager
4285 7417 or 0413 219 112
gregorytk@bigpond.com