Top Half Folk Festival kicks off on Friday with Territory legend Ted Egan performing

Bush ballad singer Ted Egan AM is the patron of the Top Half Folk Festival starting this Friday, with scores of musicians from around the country converging on the Red Centre.

Ted Egan is the patron on the 54th annual Top Half Folk Festival. Picture: Supplied

Ted Egan has been called a larrikin, Territory legend and ‘musical historian’ among other things.

The Alice Springs folk musician and former NT Administrator is most proud of that last one, and his reputation precedes him as this year’s patron for the Top Half Folk Festival.

It runs from Friday to Monday with more than 30 acts and stallholders from across Australia converging on Ross River Resort in the Red Centre.

The 91-year-old, who has appeared at the festival about 30 times by his count, said he looked forward to playing his famous bush ballads such as “Drinkers of the Territory” along with new songs inspired by his travels.

Egan’s songs are inspired by the sights and sounds of the bush, using an empty beer carton for his instrument. Picture: Barry Skipsey

“I always start with a joyful one, then a thoughtful one, then an outrageous one, then a sensual one,” he said.

“The themes surround us at all times and most of my songs are about someone I’ve met who’s made a strong impression on me.

“I was once talking to a group of high school students, many of them around sixteen. I asked them, ‘What do you want to write about?’ and most of them said ‘relationships’.

“I asked them, ‘Do you have grandmothers?’ They said ‘yes’ and I said, ‘Well, why don’t you write a song about them instead because I bet they have a remarkable story to tell you’.”

Ross River Resort will pay host to this year’s Top Half Folk Festival.

Also bringing the star power are Josh Cunningham of The Waifs and Felicity Urquhart, who told the NT News they were eager to reconnect with fresh paw paw salad and laksa from the markets.

US-born troubadour Archer, a local legend in his hometown of Melbourne, will join the Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra in a genre-bending performance.

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham. Picture: Tigreasha

Melbourne-based singer Archer will play with the Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra. Picture: Supplied

Alice Springs Folk Club president Gleny Rae said the Red Centre event grounds were “a proven festival hub”.

“Ross River is the perfect location for a festival,” Rae said.

“The scenery is spectacular, the campground is all about soft grass, shady trees and new amenities, and there will be a communal fire to gather round at night.”

Tickets are now available online, with discounts for kids under 17 and free entry for those under five.