Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 13. 12th June 1975

Old folk, New folk, Every-one came

Old folk, New folk, Every-one came

About 350 talented and enthusiastic folkies gathered at V.U.W. during Queen's Birthday Weekend. The occasion was the National Folk Festival — otherwise known as the Port Nicholson Folk Festival.

The weekend got under way with a big jam session on Friday night. Groups with people from all parts of the country were formed for the festival and combined to play some fantastic music.

Photo of two people, one playing a guitar and the other a violin

During the day on Saturday and Sunday, workshops were held on aspects of folk music. This year the organisers decided to present workshops revolving around themes that folk music described rather than the usual instrument workshops. However, resident musicians were available for any lessons.

The first workshop was on Underground music and featured a lecture on coal mining and the songs sung on and about coalmining and coalminers. As with most of the workshops that followed, individuals and groups presented songs live rather than play tapes of an overseas artist. This made the festival appear to be one monstrous concert with everyone taking part. Tom Warren then presented a workshop on instrument-making showing why he makes some beautiful mandolins, fiddles and guitars. The Blacks, Whites, and Blues workshop featured three of New Zealand's most knowledgable blues men — Colin Heath, Alan Young and Keith Finlayson — talking about the history of the blues. One of the most enjoyable workshops was perhaps the Ceilidh with Joan Prior calling the dances. Phil Garland gave a brilliant lecture on the Lawbreakers. Phil's knowledge of NZ and Australian folk music is astounding, so he had plenty to say on songs by and about criminals.

During the lunchbreaks on Saturday and Sunday informal concerts were held and this gave all those not so far asked to perform a chance to play. It was tremendous to see the depth of talent in the country. The festival was made so much more personal because of the eradication of the gap between the performers and audience. One suprise was when Roland and Norga from Germany sang some beautiful German folk songs. They weren't allowed off the stage yet they had only ever played to an audience once before.

On Saturday night two simultaneous concerts were held — one mainly traditional orientated and the other with country and blues and contemporary. There is always a great deal of tension at folk festivals between these styles yet this year it was kept below the surface most of the time. The interesting factor is the big trad. following: in this country.

The big concert in the Memorial Theatre on Sunday night marked the end of the formal proceedings but many participants kept on playing and singing long after.

Monday night at the St. George was a night to remember with 150 people making music in what some considered the highlight of the Festival.