Legendary Scottish-Australian folk singer Eric Bogle, best known for his anti-war classics “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” and “The Green Fields of France”, will headline the Sydney Folk Festival this month.
Although headlined by Bogle, whose career has spanned decades, the festival being held on August 16-18 aims to highlight new music in “a massive celebration of the best and most adventurous in today’s new generation of folk”, according to the festival’s director, Warren Fahey.
Fahey said the festival will “totally blow away” any outdated stereotypes of “old school” folk.
“For quite a while folk music had an identity problem — was it quaint singalongs, bearded old men singing really old songs, over-serious singer songwriters on a mission to save the world?
“Folk music has moved on from the stereotypes and is representative of some of the most interesting music imaginable, especially those genres impossible to pigeonhole.
“The folk music umbrella, as our festival will show, celebrates musical diversity including music rooted in tradition (where everything old is new again), world music (particularly our corner of the world), songwriters (our musical voice tells stories, our stories) and, frankly, so many other expressions that stereotyping is impossible.”
As well as Bogle’s concert on the night of August 17, the next afternoon he is hosting “Barbecued Bogle” when noted author, Thomas Keneally, grills him about songwriting, political activation and especially the environment in a unique exchange of minds and music.
The festival also features a Save the Planet songwriting competition, with prizes for songs that create an awareness of our environment.
For more details visit the Sydney Folk Festival website.