Townsville Folk Festival lines up June return in 2024

A signature event for lovers of folk music is set to return, with the Townsville Folk Festival gearing up for its 33rd year.

2023 Townsville Folk festival

A signature event for lovers of folk music is set to return, with the Townsville Folk Festival gearing up for its 33rd year.

Presented by the Townsville Folk and Acoustic Music Club, the festival is run by passionate volunteers keen to share their love of folk music with the community.

Festival Arts Director Madonna Davies said the success of the event, not unlike many other smaller regional festivals, lies in its roots.

“ Like a wonderful simmering musical sauce, the festival took its time to develop starting off as a small gathering of friends playing music and enjoying a weekend of camping together,” she said.

“ The music evolved away from just traditional folk music to include a variety of musical genres and thus growing and extending its appeal to audiences.”

Bowen band Gleezus performing at Townsville Folk Festival. L-R: Guitarist Jack homewood, vocalist Kameron Stoneham, bassist Ashton Shepherd, and drummer Brock Medhurst. Photo: Contributed

Held at the Foots Hill Station in Reid River, the festival was previously named the Palm Creek Folk Festival and underwent a rebrand in 2023 to ‘better reflect the surroundings and home of the camping and music weekend.’

This year festival favourites Hillbilly Goats will join the line-up, along with Jesse Morris and the Shakedown, The Moonsets, Late November, Comfort Royale and new faces Lucy Gallant, Goldheist and Playlunch among others.

More than just music the festival will also feature workshops, various performance shows and a kids program.

Ms Davies, who has been managing the program for many years, said that what makes the festival unique is the connection between musicians and patrons.

“Our festival provides a more intimate experience for patrons, where the musicians can sit and chat with the patrons and jam with one another around a campfire,” she said.

“We aren’t trying to be bigger than Ben Hur, just true to our community.”

Separate to the festival, the Townsville Folk and Acoustic Music club offer other events year round for professional and amateur musicians.

“ We listen to our community, keeping a focus on local talent with our Open Mic nights that we run at the Herbert Hotel every second Thursday and by providing extras in our festival program such as workshops, skills development programs, volunteer opportunities and our youth music program,” Ms Davies said.

The Townsville Folk Festival will run from June 6 to 9 at Foots Hill Station, Reid River.

For more information and tickets visit townsvillefolkfestival.com

Originally published as Townsville Folk Festival lines up June return in 2024