Inside Oz’s Most Transformative Music Festival
Words by Artistic Director Chris Stone (on behalf of co-artistic directors Holly Downes and Michael Sollis)
It starts with bunting. Endless colourful triangles strung above winding walkways, leading to stages tucked in tents and between trees. Before you hear the first note, you feel it—a festival unlike any other.
This Easter long weekend (April 17–21), the National Folk Festival (NFF) returns to Canberra’s Exhibition Park, and as one of its Artistic Directors, I’m inviting you not just to watch, but to participate. To sing, move, make, and connect. To be transformed.
Since 1967, the National has evolved from a grassroots gathering into Australia’s preeminent celebration of folk and acoustic arts. Together with my co-directors Holly Downes and Michael Sollis, we’ll be welcoming over 30,000 visitors and have programmed more than 120 acts and 960 individual artists across 560 events over five days.
But don’t be fooled by the word “folk”. This festival is no cliché. The 2025 program spans everything from blistering Celtic fiddle to genre-bending global fusion, vibrant dance parties to bold First Nations voices. It’s about stories shared.
This year, one of those stories belongs to Josh Pyke. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Budawang stage, bringing his signature blend of lyrical warmth and melodic richness. Josh will also join a forum on community and creativity, something that lies at the heart of everything we do. For us, folk isn’t a genre—it’s a way of being together.
Some of the biggest names on the international folk circuit are joining him. Canadian artist Ruth Moody (of The Wailin’ Jennys) returns with her stunning vocals and poetic new album, Wanderer.
Fellow Canadian David Francey—three-time Juno Award winner and one of the country’s most respected songwriters—brings his powerful storytelling and lyrical honesty to the stage.
Exclusive to the Festival, Irish/Canadian powerhouse Irish Mythen, known for their soaring vocals and magnetic stage presence, returns with performances that blend fierce humour, raw emotion, and unforgettable energy.
Irish favourite Daoirí Farrell honours the legacy of traditional song, while Chilean troubadour Nano Stern offers a fiery blend of folk, rock, and protest music rooted in South American resistance.
Scotland’s Chris Stout & Catriona McKay will leave jaws on the floor with their virtuosic fiddle and harp work, as they paint cinematic soundscapes inspired by windswept coastlines.
Beyond the big names, the festival’s cultural richness and commitment to participation make it truly special. First Nations arts and culture will be celebrated throughout the program. Ngunnawal and Kamilaroi custodian Richie Allan will lead workshops and talks that will offer a deep connection to Country and culture. Naarm-based GuriNgai artist Charlie Needs Braces shares powerful songs of resilience and identity. The Stiff Gins bring 25 years of harmony-rich storytelling, and Stuart Joel Nuggett weaves folk with Jingulu language.
From music to poetry to dance, acts like Suga Cane Mamas, Wiradjuri Echoes, and Postcards from the Sky ground the festival in shared story, truth, and celebration.
The NFF also invites you to dive in. Join a session, sing in the Festival Choir, or pick up a new skill in a workshop. The Ensembles program welcomes all levels to rehearse and perform with world-renowned musicians. Special events across the weekend add surprise and creativity—from the Opening Concert and Live at the National to Festival Made collabs and the playful Infinite Song Contest.
Forums, round robins, and the Farewell Concert round out a program built on connection, creation, and shared experience.
Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of what we do. This year includes events that celebrate and amplify underrepresented voices across the folk community.
The Queer Céilí invites dancers of all identities to take the floor in a joyful, inclusive take on traditional social dance. Our Being Young and Queer in Folk forum, hosted by Elias Alexander, offers space for open dialogue about finding and creating space in the folk music scene for young and queer artists, and how we can envision a folk-culture world with expanded boundaries and room for more perspectives.
And for those with lived experience of neurodivergence, we’re holding a dedicated forum to explore how festivals like ours can be more accessible, supportive, empowering, and celebratory.
Why come? Because here, you won’t just ‘consume’ music. You’ll become part of something bigger. As Artistic Directors, our programming is grounded in this idea. We’ve created pathways for everyone to immerse themselves in a transformative co-creation experience. Whether learning a new skill, stepping into a spontaneous performance, or sharing your story at a forum, the NFF invites you to explore new forms of self-expression and connection and find community through creativity.
This festival is built by and for community, thriving thanks to the artists, volunteers, stallholders, and audiences who bring their whole selves each year. It’s a place where you come as you are and leave changed.
Day passes and full festival season tickets are available. Come for the headline acts; stay for the unexpected. The NFF isn’t just something to see. It’s something to be part of. We look forward to seeing you there!
For more info, tickets, and program: visit folkfestival.org.au
