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Woodford Festival Wrap-up |
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Written by Les Fawkes
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Sunday, 01 January 2012 |
As the 26th Woodford Folk Festival draws to a close, some of this year’s festival-goers reflect on their favourite moments.
“The dancing was my favourite, all the dancing. The sunrise was pretty memorable too,” said Thomas Hall.
“The people, and the vibe, but mostly just the amazing people I met,” said Tavis Roberts.
“Husky
were pretty fantastic, and Graveyard Train were great. The whole week
has just been fantastic, oh and the street theatre, it just makes it all
magical,” said Kathy Giles and Martin Uhrig.
The
festival, which was jam packed with outstanding acts like Goyte, Xavier
Rudd, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, Dachambo, and The Herd, kept the
crowds dancing and enjoying themselves every minute of the 6-day long
festival.
The
GREENhouse had a fantastic programme full of great intellectual speakers
including Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters, Professor Ian Lowe,
Andrew Bartlett, Benjamin Law and Clive Hamilton.
The
Blue Lotus lounge provided a platform for alternative folk medicine and
allowed interested participants to ask questions specific to their
health, directly to the leaders in the field.
Comedians like Tripod, Anthony Ackroyd, and S Sorrensen kept festival-goers roaring with laughter.
The
myriad of workshops gave opportunity to learn new skills and put them to
use, whether it be tango dancing, silk weaving, or making your own
didgeridoo, there was plenty of new things discover.
The
delicious food stalls allowed patrons to enjoy tastes from all around
the world, from Brazil to Tibet, to Bryon Bay’s famous Organic Donuts. Hope
Island’s circus events wowed and astonished with snake dancers, vintage
mirror mazes and a multitude of human oddities to expand the mind.
The
Dreaming hosted fantastic performances by musicians, actors, and
artists, and added yet another flavour and element to Woodford Folk
Festival. The
streets were filled with the wild and wonderful, with street theatre
performers like Roo’d the giant kangaroos, Boxwars, and Big Rory and
Ochie the dog. There was literally something entertaining to catch your
eye at every corner.
The
New Year’s celebration went off with a bang and the 3-minute silence at
11:30pm was truly magical as everyone held up a candle to send off the
old year and bring in the new.
Bill Hauritz, Festival Director today gave his Director’s Report to a packed crowd at the Baazar Stage. “This
year has seen perfect conditions for the festival. The weather has been
great, the programme has been really well received and we believe this
is the best Woodford Folk Festival yet,” said Bill.
The
Farewell Ceremony brought all the magic of Woodford together
in a celebration with our children, our young people, our Elders and
each other, to express a way forward, a positive affirmation of our
future.
Artists, fire-sculptors, lanterns, and dancers as the last piece
of the Global Puzzle gathered to make our sometimes troubled planet
and our lives, more beautiful and to say goodbye to another Festival.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 January 2012 )
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Range News 2005 - ON 
