Federal String Band - 'Little Girl of Mine' from Radio New Zealand on Vimeo.
"I think to survive, festivals have had to broaden their horizons, and include lots of different sorts of musics. So you now see things like world music, indie music - I mean just about anything goes except heavy metal." - Longtime Festival Committee member Libby Stewart says.
Since 1965 Wellington's Folk Festival has been bringing together musicians and audiences to share songs, tunes, stories, and a bit of homebrew. This year they reflected on those who've been before, and those who'll follow in their folkie footsteps, with a range of ages and styles.
Among the representatives of the generation who were at the forefront of New Zealand's own folk revival, were The Windy City Strugglers, who had their first performance at The Wellington Folk Festival in 1968. Bill Lake of the band recalls that gig:
"It was just two songs, with a piano, a mandolin and a jug. We just wanted to play the country blues we'd heard on old records."
Kirsten Johnstone collected some of the sounds on offer.
Video
Returning to headline the festival were English folk royalty Martin and Eliza Carthy, who played as Waterson:Carthy with Norma Waterson a decade ago.
Martin and Eliza Carthy playing ‘Queen Of Hearts’ from Radio New Zealand on Vimeo.
Representing the new generation of folk artists were songwriters Into The East, Flix Rose, and fifteen year old self-taught fingerstyle guitarist Joseph Balfe, from Oamaru.
Joseph Balfe at the 2014 Wellington Folk Festival from Radio New Zealand on Vimeo.
Related Links
Klezmer band Bohemian Nights live in session
Martin and Eliza Carthy pre-festival interview
Bill Morris on NZ folk song 'Davy Lowston'
Playlist
Artist: Don Milne
Song: Shaking Down the Acorns
Composer: trad N. American
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Helena Faust, Peter Dyer
Song: Which Side Are You On?
Composer: Florence Reece
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: 2014 Wellington Folk Festival audience
Song: Where Have All The Flowers Gone
Composer: Pete Seeger
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Ruahine Rangers
Song: Fox On The Run
Composer: Manfred Mann/Tony Hazzard
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Martin and Eliza Carthy
Song: Queen Of Hearts
Composer: Trad/arr Carthy
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Joseph Balfe
Song: Medley - Love Comes Back/The Claw/Saturday Night Shuffle
Composer: C Atkins/J Reid/M Travis
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Monica Smith
Song: Patsy McCann
Composer: Trad. Irish
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
Artist: Homebrew Singers
Song: Unknown
Composer: Unknown
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
