Folk festival draws the crowds

By Adam Hanieh

ADELAIDE -- The 25th National Folk Festival was held at Flinders University over the Easter weekend.

Folk music encourages audience participation, and this festival was no exception. There were workshops in belly dancing, traditional dance, Scottish dance and songwriting, as well as performances by hundreds of entertainers.

Highlights included a group of African drummers, Greek musicians, new songwriter Peter Hicks and the ever popular Roaring Jack. As well, there were Macedonian, Aboriginal, Polish, Croatian, Italian, Irish, and Serbian acts.

The Wilderness Society, Resistance, Gulf Peace Action Committee, International Socialist Organisation and Greenpeace all had stalls at the festival.

According to Resistance member Andrew Watson, there was “great interest in Irish history and literature over the weekend”.

Unfortunately, it seems the recession hit craft stall holders, with one reporting a drop of nearly 50% in sales over the previous year.

The next National Folk Festival will be held in Canberra.

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