XAVIER Rudd says the Port Fairy Folk Festival will take him back to his roots but it's hard to imagine the singer-songwriter has strayed very far from them.
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Revealed this week as the headline in the final round of artist announcements, Rudd is one of the more well-known of the 100-plus acts performing at the 37th Port Fairy Folk Music Festival.
Since his breakthrough album Solace was released in 2004, the multi-instrumentalist's work has resounded with overseas folk and roots scenes as well as the mainstream Australian audience, with his past four records charting in the top 10.
The Folkie, which will welcome almost 30,000 folk lovers of all ages for four days in March, was one of the first festivals to invite the former Torquay resident to perform in the early days of his touring career.
Now a veteran of music festivals across the world, Rudd says he's eager to return with his swag of songs drawing influence from roots, blues, indie folk, folk rock and reggae music.
"That was probably 10 years ago and it was one of the first festivals I ever did," he told Offbeat .
"It's groovy a really great festival. I'm looking forward to getting back there and doing it again
"It's a treat when I get to do something like Port Fairy, getting back to my roots.
"It seems pretty renowned. Worldwide it's definitely well-known among people on the folk-roots scene, so for a small-town Australian festival it's definitely well-known."
After more than a decade of international touring, Rudd believes music festivals hold a special place everywhere as throwbacks to the days of tribal ceremony culture.
"It's the communal vibe, almost like a ceremony that went on in every culture since the beginning of time with human beings.
"We got together in groups and celebrated with music, whether it was performing, singing, dance or just being there to hold space.
"Festivals are modern day examples of that.
"It's really important for people to remain grounded and in touch with simple things in life, being instruments and voice.
"It removes us from the technical world we've become and without even thinking about it it's paying respect to the old ways.
"People pencil the date in their diary, they leave their day-to-day life to come to a festival, put on their tie-dye shirt, forget about everything else and drink too much."
Now residing north of Byron Bay in New South Wales, Rudd is taking a break from his heavy touring schedule after constant travelling in 2012 behind his latest album Spirit Bird.
"I feel very blessed that I've got a solid following around the world now after a dozen years.
"People like to boogie all over the world. I just try and bring a groove to people that they can shake it if they want to."
Looking at the bearded solo artist and his blonde scruffy hair it's easy to imagine the vegetarian surfer still carting around his own gear and driving a van from gig to gig.
However, with his equipment including multiple types of guitars and didgeridoos, harmonica, percussion and countless microphones, a full crew tours with Rudd and he's more than happy to let them set it all up.
But while the production quality has upped with his success, Rudd insists his music is still the same.
"I did enjoy those days, like in Port Fairy I could just hang out, spend a few days cruising round in a van with mellow shows.
"Now it's a big production and crew so we go out and do five or six shows a week and it's quite a big business.
"The shows are the same and music comes from the same place, it's just a bigger machine.
"I don't have to do much other than turn up and play these days, but maybe one day I'll wind it down again."
The final allocation of folk festival tickets are on sale now and are expected to sell fast.
