Woodford Folk Festival
The Woodford Folk Festival is an annual music and cultural festival held near the semi-rural town of Woodford,[1] 72 km (45 mi) north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the biggest annual cultural events of its type in Australia.[1] Every year approximately 125,000 patrons attend the festival. Approximately 2000 performers and 438 events are programmed featuring local, national and international guests.
Woodford Folk Festival
Various
27 December – 1 January
Woodford, Queensland, Australia
1994–2019, 2022–
Queensland Folk Federation, Bill Hauritz, Amanda Jackes
Woodfordia (previously Queensland Folk Federation), Amanda Jackes
Format[edit]
The festival takes place over six days and nights from 27 December to 1 January each year.[1] It features a wide range of performance styles, musical genres and nationalities, with artists playing at over 25 different venues within the festival grounds.[1] Along with musical acts, the festival offers a wide spectrum of entertainment such as circus, cabaret, comedy, street performance, workshops, debate, a Children's Festival and more. The streets are lined with restaurants, cafes, stalls, bars, street theatre and parades. The festival supplies both Season and Overnight camping ground to patrons, with most attendees staying for the entire week of festivities.
The 3 Minutes Silence is a recurring Woodford tradition, part of the New Year's Eve celebrations where festival goers within the grounds gather for 3 minutes of candle-lit silence to welcome the new year. A Sunrise Ceremony then takes place on the Woodfordia hilltop on New Year's Day. The whole community greets the Sun as they listen to Tibetan chants and guest musicians on the grassy hill. The final evening of the festival culminates in a spectacular New Year's Day closing ceremony, The Fire Event.[2]
Awards and nominations[edit]
National Live Music Awards[edit]
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
Controversies[edit]
In 2011, organisers of the festival were criticised for inviting known conspiracy theorist Meryl Dorey,[17] president of anti-vaccination pressure group the Australian Vaccination Network to speak at the festival.[18][19] The Australian Medical Association (AMA) described the group's views as "dangerous", and said organisers "had a responsibility to add speakers who could provide the medically approved side of the argument" so the audience were aware of "the risk of the information being presented [by Ms Dorey]". In response, festival director Bill Hauritz defended Dorey's appearance, saying "We've had a number of speakers, environmentalists and such, who have been discredited by some people in the past, this is no different."[20] Queensland Health Minister Geoff Wilson advised attendees "not to take [Meryl's] nonsense too seriously".[21]