The Port Fairy Folk Festival is coming up later this month and continues its amazing tradition of presenting a vast array of performers and musical styles from across Australia and around the world.

 

If you’re looking for a potted history of the festival we have this well illustrated year-by-year chronicle:  30 festivals on : Port Fairy Folk Festival 1977-2006. As much a celebration of the local people working behind the scenes as the performers who have visited it over the years, this is one event that has managed to retain its local flavour, despite its growing fame. You can also hear some of the acts that have appeared over the years on this CD sampler from the ABC’s Music Deli programme.

The Harry Smith project: anthology of American folk music revisited

 

Harry Smith was one of the greatest of all collectors of American folk music, influencing iconic performers such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen through his compilations of Blues, Cajun, Folk and Gospel recordings. This set features recordings and films of contemporary performers paying tribute to his legacy through their own interpretations of the music he strove to preserve. You can also listen to his original anthology in this wonderful set of 6 CDs.

Singing out : an oral history of America’s folk music revivals by David King Dunaway and Molly Beer

We generally think about jazz and rock as the great musical revolutions of the 20th century, but the ongoing folk music revival progressed at a more stately pace across the decades and was arguably just as influential.

Australian folk songs and bush ballads : over 100 traditional and popular songs celebrating Australia by Warren Fahey

 

Warren Fahey has been documenting, performing and revelling in Australia’s folk music history for more years than he probably cares to remember, and this volume of music, pictures and stories is a tribute to his ongoing enthusiasm!

 

And a bit of urban music making from our Picture Collection