Hope you enjoyed the 2011 Festival. Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers, thanks to all our sponsors, thanks to all the terrific performers and thanks, most especially, to all of you who bought a ticket and came along.

See you at the 2012 Festival!

The Steve Baker 2011 Festival Review

Want to get puffed? Bush dance with a nine year old!

The Hillybilly Goats hosted a heal and toe session fit to burst a hernia . My partner for just one dance was young Gracie, who later went on to win the event with another partner. I hope she remembers who warmed her up!

The 31st Tablelands Folk Festival was a beautiful event. Those who stayed away because of the weather really missed out. And anyway, by Sunday we had a picture post card environment.

In recent years we’ve had fiddle fests and guitar fests. This one was a wonderful singing festival. So many beautiful voices emerged as the weekend progressed. Lovely harmonies soared.

A decent festival will have you missing lots of great shows. This was a very decent festival. Two performers I unfortunately missed on stage mesmerized me in that magic hour between 2 and 3 am during late night jams. Chris Mallory from The Gold Coast leant back in his lounge chair and massaged my soul with an especially sweet voice.

The next night, in that magic hour, Nigel Wearne foraged probably twenty old songs, including a souring version of Neil Young’s Harvest Moon which I’ll never forget. Wonderful.

On stage, this festival was also full of treats. Ashleigh Mannix has the air of a young Ani DiFranco! That’s a huge call I know, but that’s how impressive this small woman and her big guitar was! See her perform whenever you possibly can.

The other huge hit at this festival was the exuberant, loud and lurching, The Barons Of Tang. Their anarchic, wild music attracted progressively larger crowds of enthusiastic dancers. They’ve been touring successfully pretty much nonstop now for 4 years, which for such a large band is impressive.

Brisbane Band Laique, one frock and four suits, jump swing their way into your musical, dancing hearts with toe tapping, 1930’s style, speakeasy, fascinating rhythms. Check in your shooters! Classy.

The reborn, revived, 25 year old, Snake Gully Ensemble was a hoot, with a performance that was hugely funny. I wish I’d seen these boys back in the day more. I guess I was home with the children. I’ll see you lot at your 50 year anniversary.

Back to beautiful singing. Alanna and Alicia, sisters from Bendigo, sing beautiful harmonies. Their guitarist Damien Neil also produced a magic solo gig displaying his humour and guitar chops beautifully.

Grimmick, two lads with beautiful , engaging tenor voices , enhanced this theme, as did the unique Astrid Elika. and classy Cairns outfit Sunbird, with its three lovely, distinct, female voices. Then consider Belladonna, again featuring absolutely wonderful female tones in harmony. This was a singing festival.

Then there was Kid Ryo Montgomery who cut it up spectacularly with Chet style guitar. Tobias Moldenhauer exhibited  a set of intense, blues influenced, open tuned guitar and voice pieces fit for all sorts of major stages.

Jeremiah Johnson won hearts and souls with his affecting and warm tribute to treating our planet and each other well.  Juju Moon’s fun take on Aliens in a big horn band setting, yet again cracked me up. I love that band!

Nanna’s (Helen Ramaoutsaki‘s) express train, rapping rant at The Poet’s Breakfast was invigorating. Chook magnet indeed! And Michael Quinn’s inspired story telling at the same function was hilarious. And wow, did the Pub Verandah go off, reminiscent of years gone by.

The Festival organized people selling CD’s right after concerts at the gig. That was a great innovation. 

The Tableland’s Folk Festival  is a premiere event. It is friendly and inspiring and an absolute credit to the organizers, volunteers and patrons. The weather cleared and the program was superb. This was a singing festival.

Steve Baker, 27 Oct 2011

Tablelands Folk Festival – an Award Winning Festival