Festival brings global talent to coast

ROCKING OUT: British-Trinidadian artist Zee Gachette leads her rock band Z-Star into a Hendrix tribute at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Pictures: JASON WALLACE

ROCKING OUT: British-Trinidadian artist Zee Gachette leads her rock band Z-Star into a Hendrix tribute at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.
Pictures: JASON WALLACE

IT IS no wonder the South East’s own Kasey Chambers was thrilled to return to the Port Fairy Folk Festival as the artist of the year over the March long weekend.

The festival brings together a world-class selection of musicians from across the globe and opportunities for performers to combine for inspiring group shows, sharing their stories not only with the audience, but also fellow artists.

Close to 10,000 people made the journey to Port Fairy this year to enjoy 450 performers from Ireland to New Zealand and although “folk” is in the festival name, interpretation of the style is broad, making for a diverse range of entertainment.

This year’s festival over the March long weekend was no exception, with an extensive bill of performers including blues star Ash Grunwald and soul icon Renee Geyer among the well-known national identities.

They were joined by performers from around the world, including English rock frontwoman Z-Star with her high-energy Zeppelin-esque hard rock band and fellow UK countryman Ralph McTell, who wrote the well-known and touching popular folk song Streets of London.

NATIONAL TREASURE: Mick Thomas performs with an ensemble cast as part of the Vandemonian Lags show he wrote based on true stories of Australia’s convict past.

Also among the global luminaries was renowned American songwriter Melanie, who has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.

Half a century ago, she was one of three headlining women at Woodstock and 50 years on she was the lynchpin behind the Fairy Tale of Port Fairy two-hour tribute to the renowned American festival of 1969.

Guided by the narration of radio identity Derek Guille, various artists and bands walked onto the stage to deliver a song or two from the famed “three days of peace and music”, ranging from the strummed acoustic guitar of Tiffany Eckhardt to Z-Star’s high-energy blast of Hendrix.

The show culminated in many of the performers and the Port Fairy Festival Choir returning to the stage to join Melanie for her hit Lay Down (Candles in the Rain), inspired by her experience at Woodstock.

Such showcases are an inspiring element of the festival, with various artists from different nations and musical styles sharing the stage for unique performances not possible at individual artists’ shows.

This is delivered each morning of the festival with emotional panel shows featuring performers sitting on the stage together taking turns to tell their stories and sing their songs.

However, the highlight this year was Mick Thomas’ touching Vandemonian Lags concert.

Billed as “new songs from the prison without walls”, Australian and international stars as recognisable as Tim Rogers and Brian Nankervis through to the compelling Ben Salter of the Wilson Pickers took on character rolls in the dramatic stage production telling true stories through song and narration of Australia’s convict past.

While other elements of the festival featured treasured folk songs handed down through generations, this show expertly crafted by Mr Thomas demonstrated the cherished tradition of telling stories through song continues.

He has made a valuable addition to the nation’s collection of thoughtful songs reflecting on our history, which was fittingly celebrated at what was another outstanding festival in western Victoria that is truly a national treasure.