Friday night saw over 10,000 people stream into Port Fairy to catch sets from the likes of Amistat, Susan O'Neill, Bobby Alu and The East Pointers.

Archie Roach packed out the behemoth River Stage with crowds packed in to hear the artist's spellbinding stories and gritty, rich vocals.

The intricate, raw guitar work of former Mailors Flat artist C.W Stoneking took audiences back in time to the original blues and roots music of the 1940s.

The one-man band had no trouble filling the huge stage with his casual charisma and storytelling panache.

Jenny Pollard, formerly of Hamilton, travelled from Inverloch for the event.

"I've all the way from Inverloch for this festival, this would be my fourth or fifth time," she said.

"We saw the Band of Brothers last night and they were fantastic."

Port Fairy's Sue and Geoff Saul have been to a few Folkies in their day.

"We came to one of the first ones on the back of a truck, we took the kids and got them one of those fluro necklaces," she said.

"It's changed a bit in that time!"

Looking ahead to Saturday, patrons will enjoy sets from Neil Murray, Judith Owen, Grace Petrie, Emily Wurramarra and Things of Stone and Wood.

Police reported good behaviour from all festival patrons on the Friday night.

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