National Folk Festival powers up for 2025 with first artist list

National Folk Festival organisers may have to find savings to stage next Easter’s event at EPIC but they don’t appear to be skimping on the artists.

Festival-goers will be well pleased with the first offering of artists, which covers the broad church of the folk community and includes Australian and international luminaries.

The early list includes multi-ARIA award-winning Australian musician Josh Pyke, First Nations duo The Stiff Gins, singer songwriter and founding member of Canadian trio The Wailin’ Jennys Ruth Moody, Irish singer-songwriter Daoirí Farrell, and Scottish-born, Canadian-based folk legend David Francey.

It’s a list that oozes serious folk music cred and should have fans salivating at seeing them all over the one weekend at the one venue.

Co-Artistic Director Holly Downes said it was a credit to the National Folk Festival’s reputation and global reach that these artists had applied to perform at the Nash, not been wooed.

She said the signings showed the festival was responding to the community’s desire for a diverse line-up that was true to its folk roots.

Award-winning artists such as Farrell and Francey – “a wonderful songwriter” – were coming unaccompanied but more than likely to collaborate with other performers.

Moody – a beautiful soprano and multi-instrumentalist – won’t be alone, performing as part of a trio. She will also be a feature artist with the festival choir, showing how festival-goers can be more than just spectators but rub shoulders with performers to be part of the musical experience themselves, something that is a unique and integral part of the event.

Josh Pyke will be bringing just himself and a guitar, and he can’t wait to be part of the festival community again.

“I love the National Folk Festival. This will be my second time playing at it, and I can’t wait to feel that awesome sense of community again, wandering through the site seeing amazing artists at every turn,” he said. “It’s a truly special festival and I’m honoured to be part of it again.”

Pyke first made his mark on the Australian music scene with his debut album Memories & Dust in 2007, and released his seventh studio album, To Find Happiness, in 2022.

Irish Music says Dublin-born Farrell, who plays the Irish bouzouki, is “singlehandedly spearheading a resurgence of the authentic in Irish folk music”.

He is considered to be one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years. Expect to see him in the Sessions bar.

Francey worked as a rail yard worker and a carpenter for 20 years before deciding at 45 to chance his arm at performing but made an immediate impact.

His working experience fuelled his songwriting as well the beauty of the Canadian landscape and traditional themes of love and loss.

Moody has performed at the Nash before as part of The Wailin’ Jennys but has also carved out a solo career, including recording and touring with Mark Knopfler.

Young Victorian singer-songwriter Daisy Kilbourne will also bring her timeless tunes to Canberra.

Pipes will feature next year with US musician Elias Alexander wielding bagpipes and whistles, and Greek group Kadinelia bringing their fusion of traditional Greek instruments like the Cycladic bagpipe and Pontian lyra with beatboxing and guitars.

Organisers have gotten creative with the festival dance program, announcing an Autumn Equinox Bridgerton Ball, a Chilean Fiesta featuring Melbourne artist Vanessa Estrada, and the return of the highly popular all-inclusive Queer Céilí, led by Brisbane group Amaidí.

Downes said there would be more announcements soon, particularly on the next wave of artists to be confirmed.

“We’re not done yet,” she said.

Indications are that the community is rallying behind the festival, which found itself in a dire financial situation after this year’s event.

Downes said early bird tickets were nearly sold out and camping bookings solid.

She said the festival was in a much stronger position from that perspective than at the same time last year.

To learn more and buy tickets visit the website.

The festival will run from 17-21 April 2025.