Thursday April 13
The opening concert sets the scene for weekend, held in the Budawang Pavillion at 7pm. A surprise international guest will be joined by acts from every Australian state and territory. Canberra's Guyy & the Fox will be the first act to play at 6.30pm at the Scrumpy Bar, followed by Adam Scriven. Party till late at National Folk Club. And for those who like to participate there are instrumental and singing sessions at the Bohemia Bar.
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Friday April 14
Good Friday's program is jam-packed with music from around the world from New Zealand's hottest new star, Mel Parsons, to award-winning Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí Farrell and the youngest ever winner of the BBC Young Folk Award Jarlath Henderson.
The music heats up through the afternoon and into the night with five-part harmonies from Flats and Sharps from Cornwall and the compelling addictive edge of Quebec with Les Poules a Colin. Australia's First Peoples program highlights include the 2017 National Folk Fellow, Jessie Lloyd with her Mission Songs Project at 6pm at the Lyric. Another Australian act not to miss on Friday includes Golden Guitar winner and Aria nominee Fanny Lumsden.
Friday also sees the start of the new playground for the cool and the quirky, FringeWorld. The talks program kicks off with Kerrie Davies on her new book A Wife's Heart that explores the underbelly of Henry Lawson's life. The workshop program includes Martha Tilston on songwriting and Harpeth Rising on beginning clawhammer banjo.
Saturday April 15
On Saturday begin with a Dru Yoga, pump it up with an early Zumba session or sing your heart out at the daily ukulele muster. From 10am the Festival hits full tilt. Catch British Indie Award nominee Katey Brooks at the Lyric, Irish singer/songwriter The Aoife Scott Band of iconic Mary Black folk royalty, or discover the new faces of folk, The Bean Project and Ben Whiting.
Day turns to night with the dub and dancehall energy of Dubmarine, get bold and brassy with The Lowdown Riders or head into dark country with Heath Cullen. As part of the workshop program, The Bridge Project will look at "recording via the internet" and the festival director Pam Merrigan takes to the stage in the Director's Forum as part of the talks program.
Sunday April 16
Easter Sunday is a day to unravel slowly. Special events to look out for include the forum chaired by Ginger Gorman on "Family and Identity" with Mutti Mutti man and artist, Kutcha Edwards, in conversation with Nukuna man and author Jared Thomas or engage in a discussion about recognition and constitutional change in the Recognise Forum with Jason Oakley, Rob De Castella, Katrina Fanning and Justin Mohammed.
From 12-2.30pm don't miss out on hearing the hot new sound of folk with the Folk Alliance Australia Young Performer of the Year concert over at the Lyric. Sunday night concerts are a must. Don't miss the bluegrass barn-raising with outstanding US act The Galax Bogtrotters, the harmonies of folk favourites The Mae Trio or the Afro world jazzy feel of Himmerland from Denmark.
Monday April 17
Easter Monday is the last day of the festival and a last chance to dive in and immerse yourself in this "perfect world" event. See the finals of the Infinite Song Competition which this year will see festival artists reimagining the songs from the Beach Boys. It will be the last chance to catch the high-energy traditional French-language Mélisande or Bortier Okoe from Ghana, a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.
Programming continues throughout the day and well into the night with fantastic Australian acts from around the country such as the pizzazz and panache of Mic Conway's National Junk Band, Melbourne dream folk sisters Charm of Finches or party late with Crazy Old Maurice. Make sure you get a good seat for the Farewell Concert with some very special international and national artists taking to the stage and, the announcement of the festival Award-winners.
What to do with the kids?
Every day of the Festival there's KidzFest with a dedicated children's program to ensure plenty to keep young folk enthralled from puppets to stories, songs, music and craft. Around the festival precinct there's a surprise on every corner to delight the young and the young at heart from street theatre, acrobats and DIY orchestras to the festival's iconic Stock Camp with its roaring fire, traditional billy tea and tasty lamb stew and damper.
