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.
Events by Category:
Join in! Interactive sessions
- Welcome Session
- Gypsy Swing
- Life Drawing
- Poets, Storytellers and Songwriters Lunch
- Songs of Love and Resistance
- Simon's Bar
- Ukulele Session
- Songwriters Showcase Session
- Singing Workshop
- Teenagers Make Music
Concerts and performances
- Music in the Park
- Music at the Artists Market
- Music at the RSL (all weekend)
- Music at the Local Market
- Red Cat
- Choirs Festival
- Final concert featuring Anthony Leonard
Dancing
For Kids
Detailed Program
Friday 3 July
Welcome Session :: 7:30pm - 10:30pm
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!
Music at the RSL :: 8:30 - 11pm
The music begins at the Newport RSL and continues all weekend.
Saturday 4 July
Musos in the Park :: 10am - 2:30pm
Paine Reserve will come alive with music for four and a half hours.
Substation Artists Market 10 - 4
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:
Storytelling - Newport Library :: 10:30 - 11:15
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.
Simon's Bar :: 11am - 1pm
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)
The Blue Balloon 11:15 - 12:00
A special performance just for kids (Senior Citizens Centre).
Tea Dance :: 12 noon - 2pm
Ballroom dancing at the Senior Citizens Centre. Led by accomplished ballroom dancers Ted and Rita. Live music. All welcome to join in.
Words, Words, Words :: 12 noon - 2pm
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.)
Music at the RSL :: 1pm until late
Enjoy old time music and a perhaps a drink in the relaxed atmosphere of the Newport RSL, hosted by our good mate Don Gula.
Life Drawing :: 2pm - 4pm
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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Step Dancing :: 2 - 3pm
With Pria Schwall-Kearney (Senior Citizens Centre)
Ukulele Session :: 2pm - 4pm
chalkboard number.
Teenagers Make Music :: 3-4pm
With Georgina Stewart (Senior Citizens Centre). Open mike session for young people.
Songs of Love and Resistance :: 4-5pm
With Rob Durbridge (Newport Bowling Club). Bring an instrument, a song...or both!
Gypsy Swing Jam Session :: 5pm - 6pm
Newport Bowls Club. All are welcome to join us in the Django groove.
Red Cat :: 6:30 - 7:30pm
(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).
Colonial Bush Dance :: 7:30pm - 10:00pm
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.
Sunday 5 July
Music at the RSL :: 12 noon until late
The music continues at the Newport RSL
Local Market :: 10:30am - 2:30pm
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!
- Ukulele Group 10:30
- Blackwater Side 11:00
- Newport Gypsy Djangos 12:00
- Jill Dawson and Newport Convention 1:00
Singing Workshop :: 10:30- 11:30am
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)
Songwriters Showcase Session :: 11am - 12 noon
(Newport Community Hall). A chance for all songwriters to compare notes and perform their work.
Line Dancing :: 12noon - 1pm
You all know what this is so we don't need to think up a catchy phrase. (Senior Citizen's Centre).
Western Suburbs Choirs Festival :: 1:00 - 2:30
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.
Step Dancing :: 1:30 - 2:30
With Pria Schwall-Kearney (Senior Citizens Centre)
Final Concert featuring Anthony Leonard Band:: 3pm - 4pm
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)
Wind Down Session at the RSL :: 4pm
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
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How to Get There
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.
Downloads
- Program (print double-sided, fold in 3)
- A4 Poster
- Small flyer
Thanks
The Newport Fiddle and Folk Festival was made possible with funding and support from: