Musicians rejoice with return of full folk festival after pandemic

A much-loved Tasmanian music festival is back and organisers are promising a dazzling line up. Find out what to expect.

The tiny town of Cygnet is set to come alive next weekend for the first full Cygnet Folk Festival since the pandemic.

Artistic director of the festival, Erin Collins, said the event was set to take place last year, but the opening of Tasmania’s borders created too big a risk.

It was cancelled just weeks out from the festival.

“We had planned for a festival in January, and when we opened the border we let omicron in and had to pull the plug,” Ms Collins said.

“It was pretty devastating, at the same time we felt it was too big a risk to take into a country town.

“Most people felt the same, we got a lot of letters and emails saying thank you for doing the right thing.”

Cygnet Folk Festival creative director, singer and musician Erin Collins photographed with her accordion at the Conservatory Cafe of the Cygnet Old Bank, Cygnet, Tasmania. EMBARGO Feb 11, 2019 for Amanda Ducker's Cafe Society column. Picture: AMANDA DUCKER

Ms Collins said it was great for artists and the community to be able to hold the festival in full.

“It’s a mixture of excitement and a great relief, my passion is putting people on stage and getting them to do what they love doing,” Ms Collins said.

“It feels fantastic to curate a program and make it happen.”

An small event with just Tasmanian artists was held in 2021 and event to celebrate the festival’s 40th anniversary was held in May last year.

“We realised that weekend why the festival is better held early in the year, it was a lovely event but the weather is not with us,” Ms Collins said.

More than 2000 tickets are usually sold, but Ms Collins said up to 6000 people would attend for free events

She said the event was one of the biggest events for the region, one which was missed by the community.

“People are really happy to be able to have that beautiful social event,” she said.

“All our regular punters are excited, people make amazing friendships.

“It’s a strong community in the music scene, people love getting together and collaborating which is really lovely.”

This year, organisers are promising things will be back to normal, with a busy program planned across three days.

“There’s about 116 acts in the program, there international, national and Tasmanian acts,” Ms Collins said.

“We’ve got two acts from Scotland, one from England, three from New Zealand … We’ve got 30 or 40 from all over Australia.

“As well as music we’ve got circus acts and a bit of spoken word.”

Musicians overjoyed at return of festival

NEWS of the return of the full Cygnet Folk Festival was music to the ears of Sabine Bester, who has been performing at the festival since she was a child.

Singing and playing brass instruments at the event has been a yearly ritual for her family band, Xenos.

“Mum would play saxophone when I was in the belly … I was a small kid singing and holding hands with mum on stage,” Ms Bester said.

“It’s been my whole childhood and continuing into adulthood.

“I grew up singing with mum and in more recent years I picked up a brass instrument and played trumpet alongside my mum.

“I’m forever learning and changing instruments.”

SUN TAS. Sabine Bester who will perform with group Xenos at Cygnet Folk Festival 2023. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The band has grown, becoming more of a brass-focused ensemble.

But the family connection has stayed the same.

“I still perform with mum and dad,” Ms Bester said.

“Cygnet Folk Festival marks the start of the year for us, it’s a nice solid gig.

“We do play across the year at different festivals. I started a smaller festival, BonZaki … small, intimate festivals are emerging. Falls left a space for that.”

She said it was strange last year when the Cygnet event wasn’t on.

“It was a hard time there for a while where there were no gigs, but we’re adapting and growing and changing so it’s all good.

“I’ll be singing with my mum and teaching traditional dances from the Balkans and playing trumpet as well.”

Originally published as Musicians rejoice with return of full folk festival after pandemic