The Folk Festival program is now confirmed. A PDF version is available for download
All events are free unless a donation or entry fee is specified.
Bookings are not required unless specified.
Blackboard session at the Newport Bowls Club (please note the new venue). We'll be taking over the big back room for an informal evening of music. Bring along an instrument and put your name on the blackboard if you want to get up on stage, otherwise just sit back and see what happens!
The music begins at the Newport RSL and continues all weekend.
Paine Reserve will come alive with music for four and a half hours.
By clever planning the Festival coincides with the Substation Artists Market. Artworks will include textiles, print, painting photography, jewellery, sculpture and more. Exhibiting, demonstrating and discussing their work with the visiting public, will be many local artists as well as those from further afield, both emerging and well established. And of course, there'll be music from the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club:
Jackie and Dharma will be telling stories and singing songs for preschoolers and primary school-age children.
Jackie is a professional storyteller and a member of the Storytelling Guild of Victoria.
Dharma is the imagination behind Everlasting Books - a specialist children's bookshop at 238 Somerville Rd Kingsville.
Irish fiddle session hosted by Simon Leverton. We call it a fiddle session but all instruments are welcome...last year we had flutes, mandolins, concertinas and guitars too. Plenty of room for newbies and old hands alike. (Newport RSL)
A special performance just for kids (Senior Citizens Centre).
Ballroom dancing at the Senior Citizens Centre. Led by accomplished ballroom dancers Ted and Rita. Live music. All welcome to join in.
Poets, songwriters and storytellers lunch at the Newport Bowling Club. From the bars, tea-rooms, halls, country towns and alleyways of Melbourne these wordsmiths will inspire and enthuse.
Limited open mike - share a poem, tell a story, or sing (6 mins).
Bring details of events, websites, CDs, books and anything to share or sell.
MCs Michael Reynolds, Simon Kerr, Jackie Kerin.
Booking advised: Jackie 0412 210098 (Lunch $10 tea/coffee cake gold coin.)
Enjoy old time music and a perhaps a drink in the relaxed atmosphere of the Newport RSL, hosted by our good mate Don Gula.
Discover the Artist in You!
Learn to draw! A workshop exploring cerebral excercises in art.
Suitable for beginners through to experienced artists. Great atmosphere, fabulous live model, and we'll even throw in afternoon tea. Unlock parts of your brain you didn't know where there. Discover talent you didn't know you had! Easels and paper supplied. Session run by Leonie Kervin. Trained in Fine Art, a practicing artist and a passionate drawer. Bookings essential. Participants must be over 16yrs of age.
To book, call Leonie on 0410 261 403 or
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With Pria Schwall-Kearney (Senior Citizens Centre)

With Georgina Stewart (Senior Citizens Centre). Open mike session for young people.
With Rob Durbridge (Newport Bowling Club). Bring an instrument, a song...or both!
Newport Bowls Club. All are welcome to join us in the Django groove.
(Newport Bowls Club.)
Red Cat perform a variety of favourite and original contemporary Celtic music. Luscious harmonies with powerful words and music make this trio a stand out act. Kerry, Rob and Mike have an enviable performance history between them, playing at many festivals and venues around Australia to rave reviews. Listeners can expect to hear music from Mary Black, Luka Bloom, Dougie Maclean, Christy Moore, as well as some great original work. Band members are Kerry Dawson (Vocals & Bodhran), Rob Carroll (Vocals, Banjo, Guitar & Bodhran), Mike Daley (Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar, Bodhran and Mandolin).
A good old-fashioned Bush Dance at The Substation. Lots of dance tunes and experienced callers - don't worry if you don't already know the dances, we will show you. Entry by gold coin donation. No alcohol please.
The music continues at the Newport RSL
Paine Reserve will be filled with local traders' stalls and live music. There's a big playground in the middle of the park so this will definitely be a family-friendly event!
There's a special buzz to singing in a group. Join Alan Davies (leader of the Newport Community Choir) in forming an instant choir. You'll learn the same song all the choirs are singing together at the Choirs Festival at 1pm - then you can come along and join in with 150 other voices! (Senior Citizen's Centre)
(Newport Community Hall). A chance for all songwriters to compare notes and perform their work.
You all know what this is so we don't need to think up a catchy phrase. (Senior Citizen's Centre).
There are so many choirs in Melbourne's west we thought it would be fun to get them all together in The Substation for a sing! Each choir will perform their own bracket, then all choirs will join together for a grand finale. Entry by gold coin donation.
With Pria Schwall-Kearney (Senior Citizens Centre)

Anthony Leonard has had a long and varied musical career as a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer and arranger. Anthony is a skilled and engaging performer, a ukulele virtuoso...and the other two musicians in his trio aren't bad either! A performance not to be missed. (Senior Citizen's Centre)
After all the excitement this is just a chance to wind down, have a drink and a chat about how the weekend has been, compare notes and say a few thank-yous. (Newport RSL).
Map
Trains run frequently to Newport on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.
The 471 bus (Williamstown - Sunshine), the 472 bus (Williamstown - Moonee Ponds) and the 432 bus (Newport - Paisley) all stop very close to the Festival precinct.
Parking is available off Derwent St.
The Newport Fiddle and Folk Festival was made possible with funding and support from: