With the gates about to open on Canberra's National Folk Festival, here is an insider's guide on what's hot, some of the event's hidden gems and how to make the most of your festival experience.
Why you'll love it
You'll experience some of Australia's top music acts alongside international headliners across 18 venues with styles as diverse as acoustic, blues, roots, world, Celtic and country.
One of this year's exciting new Aussie stars is golden guitar winner Fanny Lumsden appearing with her band for the first time at the National. Fanny's acclaimed debut album Small Town Big Shot was number six on the Country Aria Charts and since then she has garnered an Aria nomination and a prestigious Golden Guitar Award.
With 26 internationals heading to Canberra for the National, festival patrons will be spoilt for choice but, don't miss Flats and Sharps. Blurring the lines between bluegrass, folk and country these five lads from Portsmouth, UK are set to wow festival audiences with their slick harmonies and musicianship. Also on the must-see list is BBC best newcomer, Folk Awards nominee Martha Tilston.
Don't miss
One of the festival's hidden gems is the Session Bar. Tucked away from the main festival venues, this amazing space is open late into the night after the big shows are over.
Full of musicians, people watchers and those enjoying a drink, it's the place where you'll chance upon some amazing music and run into some of the festival stars that are often seen and heard in the many informal music sessions that occur well into the wee small hours.
Wow factor
The National is the one festival where you can get up close with your favourite performers, the vibe on the streets is lively with its array of market and food stalls, pop-up choirs, circus and roving musicians and, a "one ticket, access all areas" gives attendees the freedom to venue hop, catching the big acts or chilling in some of the festival's more intimate spaces.
One such space is the festival's little Spiegel Tent. This 98-year-old veteran, built in Belgium is one of the world's oldest remaining Spiegel tents boasting all her original fixtures and fittings. Seating just 110 people, patrons are treated to an up-close concert experience.
DireWolf, appearing as part of FringeWorld, at the National Folk Festival. Photo: Supplied
FringeWorld
A brand new precinct in 2017 dedicated to the cool, the quirky and the more contemporary troubadours of folk. FringeWorld, or FringeW as we like to call it has been made possible with the generous support of the ACT Event Fund. Sitting beyond the hustle and bustle of the Festival's main entertainment zone, this is where adventure, music and merriment collide.
With its Village Green full of crazy games, a dynamic and interactive circus style space called the Bizarre and its Borderlands concert venue full of out-of-the-ordinary performances, upbeat grooves and fresh content, FringeW will be the perfect place to party.
More than just music
While concerts featuring everything from international headliners to emerging artists and grass roots performers are a big focus of the event, if patrons scratch through the surface and dig deeper they will find an extraordinary number of immersive and engaging activities on offer. One of the programs the festival is excited about for 2017 is its new series of Forums, Talks and Conversations.
With more than a dozen listed for its inaugural year, highlights include: Family and Identity, a conversation with Mutti Mutti musician Kutcha Edwards and Nukumu author Jared Thomas hosted by award winning social justice journalist Ginger Gorman; A Wife's Heart with author Kerrie Davies on her new and often shocking biography examining Bertha and Henry Lawson; and Recognise, a Forum on the issue of Recognition of Australia's First Peoples in our Constitution.
Pam Merrigan is the director of the National Folk Festival to be held at Exhibition Park in Canberra from April 13-17.