The 2020 Port Fairy Folk Festival won't arrive until March 6-9, but with the opening of ticket sales and announcement of the first acts, interest in the world-renowned event is already high.
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NEW LOOK
Port Fairy Folk Festival regulars will walk into a new-look arena at the 2020 staging of the iconic event.
Tweaks have been made to the layout of the arena, with the biggest change relating to the largest stage.
Port Fairy Folk Festival construction crew manager Jack Smits said the location of the River Stage (Warinoong), which was formerly stage three, would be altered.
"The River Stage will be moved to near the Port Fairy Community Services Centre," Mr Smits said.
"It will run east west with the stage at the eastern end.
"In the past stage three has only been accessed from one side but the new position will mean both sides of the venue will be more accessible.
"If the weather is good it will mean we can roll up the sides which will create more overflow viewing.
"This will give more people the chance to see the bigger shows."
The River Stage has a capacity of 3000, with permanent seating in the back half of the venue and bring-your-own chairs in the front.
In past years, some of the permanent seating towards the back of the venue has been tiered but this will not be the case in 2020.
"By keeping the seating the same level, it will increase the quality of overflow vantage points," Mr Smits said.
"It will increase the capacity of people to see shows on our biggest stage."
Other changes to the arena include a new children's area, which will be located on the old netball court.
The instrument makers will be moved to near the Southcombe Caravan Park entry, while the CD sales will take place near the cricket pavilion.
A new toilet block the other side of the cricket pavilion will also be operational.
"We are really happy with the changes, we think everything will flow a lot better," Mr Smits said.
"The new configuration will make things more comfortable and help with any sound bleed."
TICKETS
Tickets for the festival went on sale on September 2, with the first week for subscribers only.
These tickets sold for $255.
Tickets to the general public went on sale on Monday, with early-bird tickets costing $275.
Two-day tickets are also on sale, the first time in the history of the event such tickets have been available.
These tickets are for Friday-Saturday or Sunday-Monday and will cost $175.
Once the early bird allocation of tickets is exhausted, the final release will be on offer, with four-day tickets going to $295 and two-day tickets to $195.
ACTS
Performers announced so far for the Port Fairy Folk Festival include The Blind Boys of Alabama, Patty Griffin USA), The Small Glories (CAN), Dan Sultan, C.W. Stoneking, The East Pointers, Eleanor McEvoy, John McCutcheon, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, The Little Stevies, The Maes, YolanDa Brown, YID!, Chitra, Ruby Gill, William Crighton, Archie Roach, Paul Grabowsky, Sally Dastey, Benny Walker, Emily Wurramara, Gina Williams, Guy Ghouse, Ego Lemos, Hubert Francis, Mihirangi Fleming, Mm Mihirangi & the Mreikura, Find Your Voice All Abilities Choir.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation will be a hot topic the 2020 festival.
A survey of festival goers after the 2019 event showed 40 per cent believed the cost of accommodation for the festival weekend was too high. Three community organisations are pro-actively helping to solve the problem.
St Patrick's Primary School Port Fairy will have camping on its grounds, as will the Port Fairy Agricultural Society. Port Fairy Consolidated Primary School will offer bed and breakfast accommodation in converted classrooms as well as setting up a tent city on the school's oval. The school has already opened online bookings for both accommodation options.
