A Festival Season In the Time of COVID

With the first warm weather of early Spring we start to think folk festivals, connecting up with old friends, making music together or just soaking up the atmosphere and being part of the wonderful spirit of inclusiveness that is synonymous with our festival scene. From the big to the small, folk festivals spring up in show grounds, by rivers or just about any place where people can come together and, for the most part this typically involves a road trip and camping.

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  Woodford – Australia’s largest folk festival.

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  Nariel Creek – Australia’s first and longest running folk festival

Who knew this time last year that in 2020, come the start of Spring when our festival season traditionally kicks off, that we’d be suspended in a COVID time warp. And, even when we saw the early impact of COVID, shutting down festivals at the tail end of our 2019/20 season, the sector was buoyant and positive that we’d come through it and be back to normal by the end of the year. Fast forward to now and even 2021 is looking like a pipe dream. Forget the perils of weather and compliance, COVID is the bogeyman at the gate and it’s starting too wear us down.

With the season awry some festivals are exploring options though the situation is varied across our States and Territories. Fairbridge (WA) is planning an “inspiring, community-focussed event which promises to be an amazing, cathartic celebration”. Of course, unless things change dramatically by April 2021 no-one from the east will be attending. Cygnet FF (TAS) has cancelled its January 2021 festival but is looking to run a community based one day event and Fleurieu FF (SA) has a similar plan for this October. Woodford FF (QLD), creatively thinking outside the box, is holding an inspired camping experience called “Bushtime”, making excellent use of their 500-acre site and incorporating elements synonymous with their festival event. Sydney FF (NSW) recently hosted SFF@HOME, a highly successful, albeit small, online event to support performers.

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  Festivals working creatively within COVID restrictions to connect with their communities

Festivals are the hubs of our folk communities providing a reason for us to come together, to engage in shared experiences. They provide the opportunities for us to connect and network with our peers. Indeed, during my time as Director of the National Folk Festival I always saw that event as a major get-together for exchange and interaction, a gathering place for the celebration of all things folk.

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  Concerts celebrate some of the best of folk

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  Sessions are a focal point for sharing music

While festivals have been at the epicentre of the main shock, COVID has shaken our very foundations sending devastating waves across every facet of the folk sector. Performers have been severely hit seeing their gigs and tours just evaporate and that has had a flow on effect for agents and managers. Community music groups such as choirs and sessions that are at the heart of the folk ethos and amongst folk’s most dedicated and committed supporters are struggling to keep in touch. Volunteers that are critical to the success of the sector have been left high and dry… what about our audiences? Staying connected with our folk communities has never been more important than now if we are to avoid the possibility of a huge disconnect as COVID continues to prevent us from coming together. To this end FolkFedNSW has been hosting a series of forums titled State of Play, bringing together folk advocates, festival organisers, performers, agents and interested individuals to tease a way through the COVID fog.

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  State of Play 2 Forum bringing together folk advocates, festival organisers, performers and agents

The State of Play forums have brought together an amazing cohort of people keen to support the sector and keep things moving through a difficult time and, to ensure that when we finally emerge from COVID we can rebound in control and with a strong voice. In fact, unwittingly COVID has presented our Folk Sector with a unique opportunity to review and reassess the value of folk, both culturally and economically. A recurring theme from State of Play 2 was the call for an audit of “folk”, an honest appraisal that would also address its needs and shortcomings. Another was for a national body that could provide knowledge and insight about the Folk Sector and represent its interests to government and public agencies. And, there were also a myriad of ideas and detail on how we can support each other and make those all important connections.

Our sector has often struggled to mobilise with one voice and folk is frequently viewed as traditional and amateur. Yet the very nature of folk is contemporary and ours tells a very distinct Australian story, it’s music that carries our core identity. Bringing people together has shown us that there are many with the commitment, skill, talent, expertise and experience to see this through and, to articulate a vision for the Folk Sector.

This is folk and we love it!

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To view the most recent State of Play Forum see the link below and if you would like to join the conversation or receive forum updates leave you name and email details and we’ll add you to our growing list.

View State of Play 2 Forum 

Folk… the next instalment

As we are all well aware, folk music and its related activities are very social experiences. Whether playing it, singing it, watching / listening to it, dancing to it, talking about it or simply just hanging out with friends on the listening end of a session the social interactions are a big part of what makes “folk” special. Hopefully you’re all managing to negotiate these rather interesting times in degrees of isolation and still finding plenty of folk music on line to keep you engaged. For the present however scenes like those depicted in the photos below are just a thing of longing.

 
     Festival goers packed tight enjoying the show                                  A social night of the set dancing

I recently zoomed into a meeting with a few festival organisers to catch up and talk over the current state of play and, the big question that is on everyone’s mind is… what will our folk festivals look like in a future where COVID-19 is still prevalent in our communities. And, even beyond that point, should a vaccine be developed, what will our folk festivals of tomorrow look like? Mind you, thinking and discussion about what “folk festivals” might look like has always been on the agenda even going right back to those first so-called national festivals held in the late 1960s. An article in Australian Tradition No. 22 May 1970 titled “Folk Festivals – Which Way”, following on the heels of the Port Jackson (3rd national) Folk Festival  attracted much comment and discussion on what constituted the main ingredients of a “folk” festival. The common theme both then and now is that folk festivals are more than just a series of concerts.

Back in the 60s the “folk revival” in Australia, was a fledgling movement.  While “folk” festivals were few and far between an interest in collected material, traditional songs and styles was growing. By 1973 Shirley Andrews wrote in Australian Tradition (No. 31 March ’73) that “folk festivals are burgeoning all over Australia. As well as the 7th national festival, 1973 will see festivals in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Alice Springs, Wagga Wagga, Newcastle, Nariel and Nimbin”. In present times, up until COVID-19 hit us for six we have been spoilt for choice with more festivals available to the Australian folk enthusiast than ever before.

From the big to the small, festivals are the lynchpins of our folk scene. Not only do they provide the stages where performers collectively share their art, more importantly, they are the gathering places for our communities and a common ground for sharing and participating in folk in all its diverse forms. So, in these unpredictable times of social distancing, strict rules for gatherings and degrees of isolation, how can we plan for our festivals to come back, if indeed, they can come back? Some may not. Nothing is certain and there is no manual on how to achieve this.

While restrictions may be relaxing in some parts of the country the coronavirus is still wiping our folk festivals off the 2020 calendar, the most recent cancellation being Maldon in October/November. Many festivals scheduled in the early part of 2021 are also holding back on announcements as to whether they might go ahead albeit on a smaller scale. It may well be that, with the additional costs of ensuring the safety, wellbeing and health of audiences, organisers and artists, running smaller events may not be viable. Some festivals may find themselves operating at a loss just to maintain a presence.

The danger for our folk festivals is that, if these scaled down events become primarily concert driven, our vibrant and inclusive festival communities may diminish or be lost entirely. Folk festivals cater for broad audiences and age demographics and there is a risk that the scaled down festival experience might miss the mark and please no-one. What is the alternative? Fold or go into hibernation or, look for creative ways to engage. Easier said than done but many festival organisers are exploring options.

The scaled down session – from 17 down to five. Do they need to register? Who misses out?

Folk festivals survive and thrive because of the networks of people who support and engage with them and, who collectively shape the characteristic spirit of each individual event. It may well be those festivals that can build their COVID survival programs around their distinctive and individual identities will have the best chance of enduring the current crisis. There may be a cloud hanging over our festival communities but we must remain positive. We’re all hanging out for that silver lining. Let’s hope we see it soon. Can’t wait!