IT was a triumph over adversity as the wrath of Mother Nature proved no match for the power of the Port Fairy Folk Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More than 30,000 people converged on the seaside village over the weekend to watch world-class talent and soak up the festival’s unique atmosphere. While the first three days of the festival have gone off without a hitch, wild weather in the lead-up threatened to blow away the best laid plans with winds of 100km/h ripping tents at the festival arena.
RELATED:
But an extraordinary clean-up by the festival’s 100-strong volunteer construction crew ensured the event went ahead.
Port Fairy Folk Festival president Bruce Leishman said the success of the festival was a testament to the hard work of all involved.
“With the storms we had two days out from the festival and the consistent showers on Friday and Saturday we could have been in some trouble,” Mr Leishman said.
“But the job done by all our volunteers has been exceptional and the crowd have been so understanding and supportive of what we needed to do to get the festival up and going.
“And of course the performers have been world class. Our festival director Jamie McKew assembled an outstanding line-up that has delivered the goods.”
While Irish superstar Sinead O’Connor (pictured) and Australian singer-songwriter John Butler lived up to their star billing with brilliant performances, it was another act that produced the big music news item from the weekend.
Irish band The Gloaming used their show on Saturday afternoon as a celebration after their self-titled album was named the album of the year at the Meteor Choice Irish Music awards on Thursday.
They won the award from a star-studded field that included O’Connor and U2.
The festival continues today with Shane Howard, Frankie J. Holden, Wilbur Wilde and Frank Yamma among the big names set to perform.