Wellyfest, the Wellington Folk Festival, is 55 years old this year, making it the longest running festival of its kind in the country, and it’s still going strong.
Running over this Labour Weekend (Friday October 25 to Monday 28) at the Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre,in Moores Valley, near Wainuiomata.
Wellyfest 2019 will have a jam-packed programme of concerts, workshops and dance events, and has attracted an impressive line-up of performers from here and overseas. Acts include include the Kiwi-Aussie duo Victoria Vigenser and Lindsay Martin, who as “We Mavericks”, play wild, original folk.
Also from over the ditch the festival hosts The Good Girl Song Project and The Bearded Cat. Award-winning New Zealand song writer, Jenny Mitchell, will be there playing her own blend of alt-country, folk and Americana. Lower Hutt heros and Wellington-based trio, Across the Great Divide, will perform its unique fusion of Celtic, American and Scandinavian music.
The Chaps, from Dunedin, are give us some highly entertaining and energetic stage time. They describe their style of music as “cowboy lounge”. This we gotta see!
The Skiffy Rivets from Auckland deliver harmonies with a swing. Songwriter Alan Downes will bring his mostly true tales from the back country and the rising young New Zealand poet, Jessie Fenton will also be performing.
But for those who need to rock rock, there’s local band Grumblewood, who combine a unique mix of baroque, jazz and traditional folk elements with vintage rock. In true Jethro Tull style they produce electric folk and progressive early '70s vibes that'll have you spinning all night.
The Wellyfest is big on participation, with blackboard concerts, singarounds,the big Saturday dance with the hot young musicians from Vicfolk, a full youth programme and plenty of opportunity for jamming. Festival-goers can book for the whole weekend or come for a day, afternoon or evening.
There are plenty of camping spaces and facilities and there are also bunks available. The full programme and ticketing information is on the website: www.wellingtonfolkfestival.org.nz
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