MARCIA Howard attended the first Port Fairy Folk Festival as a teenager and 40 years later she is the event’s Artist of the Year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“I’m honoured and humbled and amazed,” she said of the accolade.
The award couldn’t have come at a better time for Howard. This weekend was already going to be a special homecoming for her – she is sharing the stage with her brothers Damian and Shane for one gig, as well as launching her dream-come-true Nashville Sessions EP.
She said it felt like everything had been building towards this year’s Folkie.
“I’m really glad the universe is supporting my dreams,” she said.
“Does it get any better than this?”
Howard, who first came to prominence singing in Goanna in 1981, has been a successful solo artist for many years, but there has been a building sense of momentum in recent times.
In the past couple of years she has toured England, Ireland and the US, with the latter jaunt leading her to Nashville to work with a stellar line-up of local session players and veteran local producer Larry Beaird.
She said recording in Nashville and capturing that Nashville sound had been a dream of hers for a very long time.
“It was fabulous, the musicians are incredible,” Howard said.
“That’s why I’m really proud of the EP. They’re beautiful players – they’re the best in the world. To work with producer Larry Beaird was fantastic.”
Howard moved away from Warrnambool in 2014 and has been teaching singing in Melbourne, but was excited to be back home, performing with her brothers.
“As kids we grew up in Dennington and we were always singing,” she said.
“When I sing with them I’m transported back to that house by the river in Dennington. So when I sing with them, it’s my place of belonging.”
