Dorrigo is about to come alive when the town’s folk and bluegrass festival brings musicians and music lovers together for its 24th festival from October 23 to 25.
With artists travelling from the United States, Scotland, New Zealand and India, alongside some of Australia’s best folk, bluegrass, old-time and roots musicians, the festival is built around bringing people and musical styles together.
Festival organiser Bridget Rees said this year’s international line-up included US bluegrass artist Seth Mulder and Midnight Run, Martha Spencer Duo and Eli West.
This year’s festival also features Scottish artists Alan Reid and Rain of Animals, New Zealand’s Jenny Mitchell and You, Me, Everybody, and Indian trio Grassy Strings, alongside Australian acts including multi-award winners David Bridie, The Davidson Brothers, The High Street Drifters, Midnight Chicken and the Haystack Mountain Hermits.
The collaborations between the artists, as well as the styles of folk and bluegrass, are aspects that set the festival apart. Rather than programming completely separate genres, the festival organisers purposely looked for ways to connect musicians and audiences.
“I’m very conscious of trying to connect the music and genres,” she said.
“So, you don’t just have country, or bluegrass or folk; we bring it all together.”
The connections between musicians, the camping and being billeted in the town were some of the reasons performers kept returning to the Dorrigo festival.
“It’s a festival where bands can actually meet each other.”
Behind the scenes, a small, dedicated committee bring the festival together and relies on the volunteer teams who help across the weekend.
The festival is mostly at the Dorrigo Showground, but also encompasses the town’s cafes; there are school workshops, a children’s program, the Made in Dorrigo market and other community activities across the weekend.
That community connection is particularly important, with families returning year after year and different generations attending together.
“You’ve got grandma, you’ve got the parents, you’ve got the kids,” she said.
There is also an educational aspect to the festival with an Old-Time Music School returning for its eighth year, running for three days before the main festival and bringing together musicians and students for workshops, concerts and jams. International tutors including Eli West, Patrick McGonigal, Martha Spencer and Lucas Pasley will then stay on to perform during the festival.
After 24 years, there is still something new to discover each time the festival comes together.
“I love the way that each year the festival comes together and encompasses everybody who’s there on site,” she said.
Tickets are still available for this year’s festival, with plenty more to be sold before the gates open on October 23 at https://www.dorrigofolkbluegrass.com.au/tickets/
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