DORRIGO, NSW — The Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival is gearing up for its highly anticipated October return, promising another uniquely boutique event filled with acoustic music, community, and artistic brilliance. This year’s festival will feature an impressive roster of inspiring singer-songwriters from across the globe, each bringing their distinct voices and stories to the stage.
We are super excited to be entering the last stages of planning for our festival in October and look forward to welcoming the amazing artists heading our way. Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass festival still remains a uniquely boutique event where acoustic music , friendship and brilliance combine to deliver a wonderful weekend of festivity. On the programme this year we have a number of inspiring singer songwriters each with their own individual contribution to share with us. We are delighted to welcome Kris Mizzi, awarded the 2021 Australian Folk Alliance Solo Artist of the Year and widely recognised as one of the country’s finest folk voices. Reading like a good book his songs resonate deeper and deeper each time you listen. Greg Champion says “he has a voice that moves hearts”, weaving beauty and honesty into his lyrics. Charles Maimarosia comes from Pipisu Village, Malaitu, The Solomon Islands. From a culture “where every song is a way of preserving and passing down A’re A’re stories , values and wisdom of our ancestors.” Ocean voyaging and rich oral histories shape his lyrics and rhythms and traditional instruments bring that cultural essence to life. Now based in Melbourne join Charles on a spiritual journey from the past to the present, presented with grace and simplicity. Broken Creek perform original songs about small-town Australia, tunes inspired by the land and subversive interpretations of post-colonial bushballads. Named for the creek Erin grew up near, ‘Broken Creek’ signals a love of traditional folk music with an adventurous musical bent to “break” with the same old ways of playing folk music. From Nashville , U.S. we welcome Liv Greene, inspired by the records her parents played in her childhood home in Washington D.C., Liv Greene’s passion for songs started in early childhood. That passion took off the moment she taught herself her first guitar chords at age 12, she recalls her first songwriting camp, remembering that week so clearly, the fiddle tunes, the incredible songs . Now 21, Greene gives back to other young musicians in the way others had for her. She teaches songwriting and guitar through private lessons and has taught in classroom settings at the Passim School of Music and Interlochen Arts Camp’s songwriting workshops. The current age we’re living in is a reminder of how important it is to share experiences, tell stories, and listen to other people sharing their experiences. Greene says, “I firmly believe that songs are vehicles with which we connect with one another, feel less alone, and better understand the world around us” . Fred Smith , Allan Caswell, Enda Kenny, Emmy Ryan, Nigel Wearne , The Mae’s and Scott Cook are more passionate songwriters on the program . So come and have a listen and be inspired by manna for the soul. Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival. Www.dorrigofolkbluegrass.com
Liv Greene
Charles Maimarosia
Broken Creek