PORT Fairy will be transformed into a hive of music and celebration as the iconic Port Fairy Folk Festival returns to the south-west this weekend.
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The festival has adapted to the pandemic, hosting a series of intimate concerts at the Reardon Theatre in lieu of the usual colourful and bright major festival setup that revelers have grown so accustomed to seeing for more than 40 years.
Taking place across the long weekend, Friday to Monday, the concert series will celebrate homegrown folk talent, with around 700 people set to enjoy the sold-out events across the four days.
Kutcha Edwards and Nigel Wearne will open the festival at 7pm on Friday.
The following night, special event Keep the Circle Unbroken will feature the likes of Tim Rogers, Brooke Taylor, Bobby Valentine, Hamish Davidson, Cam McKenzie, Oriel Glennen, Sarah Carrol and Fenn Wilson to perform songs inspired by one of the most influential albums in the history of music - the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1972 album Will the Circle be Unbroken.
On Sunday night one of Australia's most highly regarded folk singers, Ruth Hazleton, will be joined by guitarist Fiona Steele and Luke Plumb on mandolin and bouzouki, alongside Charm of Finches and Louisa Wise.
Capping off the festival on Monday will be a 1pm performance by Weddings, Parties, Anything's Mick Thomas and singer-songwriter Kee'ahn.
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Venues across Port Fairy will host wraparound events for all to enjoy.
Oak and Anchor Hotel will be hosting host a mini music festival from Friday to Monday featuring Southern Ocean Sea Band, Richard Tankard, Kim Churchill, Tom Mac, Leslie D. King, Geoff Achison, John McNamara and more.
"Our tickets are selling fast, we have got a few left for the weekend that we will be selling at the door," Oak and Anchor accommodation and events manager Jemmah Lynch said.
"We're excited to finally have people back in Port Fairy again being able to enjoy the long weekend.
"While it's not the same folk festival we're all used to, it will be a similar format to what that would usually be held. We're hoping we can spark the same sort of vibes as Folkie to ensure people come back next year.
"With our venue we had the idea before we opened that we weren't only going to be wedding venue but one of the bigger event venues in Port Fairy.
"This will hopefully be the start of many events we hold."
Doors will open from 5pm Friday, and 1pm on Saturday and Sunday for back-to-back performances.
Yani's Kitchen will host a Sunday Garden Party with performances from Flo, Kinnon, GUB, Flynn Gurry, DJ Cheese Bros and more.
There will also be an Open Studio Weekend in Port Fairy where artist studios and galleries will be open to give people an opportunity to people to meet artists in their work spaces and talk with them about their art.
They include textiles artist Marion Matthews from Stitched Textile Studio on Regent Street.
"There's nine galleries and studios open from Friday to Monday for the Folkie weekend from 10am to 4pm each day," Ms Matthews said.
"In the artist studios people can come in and talk as artists are working, it's really about meeting artist and getting the opportunity to have conversations with them on why they make it and why they're so passionate about their art.
"Artists have been hit extremely hard by COVID and the industry continues to be one of the last to open up.
"We just haven't had the chance to show our work and have it out there, online exhibitions are just not as engaging.
"This is a real opportunity for people to come out and see and appreciate art and be absorbed in it."
Ms Matthews works with exotic fabrics, patchwork, hand dyeing and eco dyeing.
"My work is patchwork and quilts but using non-traditional fabrics such as recycled vintage kimonos and materials I have collected while traveling," she said.
"Another other part of my work is eco dyeing where I use natural elements like gum leaves to dye fibre and fabric.
"There will be quite a diverse range of work on show, from ceramics, print making, book making and painting. We have very diverse studios here in Port Fairy."
The 2022 Port Fairy Folk Festival subscriber release tickets are already sold out.
Early bird tickets will be on sale from March 4.
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