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  • 2017-04-14 00:00:00 2017-04-14 23:59:59 Pacific/Auckland Canterbury Folk Music Festival - a family festival of music 13:00pm 137 Darnley Rd

Canterbury Folk Music Festival - a family festival of music

14 Apr to 17 Apr

Celebrating music and people

A family friendly weekend, featuring the best in acoustic/folk music
• top national and international performers
• concerts, dances, workshops, informal “sessions”
• youth band project, fun-filled children’s programme
• a giant ukulele band, blackboard concerts, choir
• opportunities for you to perform with guest artists
plus so much more….

Day passes to the festival cost $85, but $140 will get you a weekend-long pass and the opportunity to pitch a tent for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Early bird discounts apply.

Situated less than an hour’s drive north of Christchurch city, the Waipara Adventure Centre features campsites, bunk rooms, plus clean bathroom and shower facilities. Cook your own food or take advantage of the festival catering facilities. The onsite festival café features barista coffee and fresh home baking.

We are delighted to announce a wonderful, talented, energetic and diverse line-up of guest artists:
• All Day Breakfast Stringband - Canada
• Charlotte Yates & Gil Eva Craig – Wellington
• Lloyd & Doublet – Christchurch
• RoseAnna – Nelson
• Secret Lives of Ukelele – Christchurch
• Flora Knight & Sean Donald – Dunedin
• Eric McEachen – Christchurch

• Molly's Remedy - Christchurch
• Jenny Mitchell – Gore

Our festival encourages participation – here’s how you can join in: festival choir, bush poetry, workshops, concerts, blackboard concerts, ceilidh, jam sessions, kid’s stuff, yoga, dance party, blind date, youth band, giant ukulele band, etc…..

There will be something for everyone, so come and be part of a special weekend event!

What is a Folk Music Festival?
Folk Music clubs exist all around New Zealand and enjoy a calendar of festivals up and down the country with many avid- folkies planning their year around travelling to the different festivals to enjoy the rich atmosphere of live acoustic music, good company and friendly socialising. Many have been doing this for years, which provide a stable, safe, family environment that all new comers can enjoy. The music ranges from that influenced by Scottish / Irish / English heritage / blues and now more American Folk styles are becoming more apparent. There is a good New Zealand / Australian feel too. You can expect a lot of guitars, fiddles, harps, pipes, maybe a harmonica, banjos, maybe an accordion, and lots of singing....

What's it like?
This great camping site in Waipara (North Canterbury) at the Adventure Centre is on Darnley Road which is an hour north of Christchurch. While we can't promise beautiful weather, the last five years have been wonderfully sunny and it's hard to imagine a better way to spend a long weekend than listening to and playing music, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

The site is on several levels - grassed and treed with ample camping and caravan / house truck parking spaces. There are bunk rooms and kitchens and a big performance hall. There is a coffee cart :-) Campers set up makeshift jamming spaces to play music amongst the trees and there is a river and swimming hole to play in.
The festival is very family friendly and there is a children's programme and also many opportunities for children to participate in performing, dancing, making art, listening to stories and playing with other kids in the idyllic surroundings.

The Music.
In terms of music- there are all performances running throughout the festival and there are workshops to get involved in. You can send your time listening, or playing, wandering between performance spaces and listening to others playing together in informal groups. One highlight of the Canterbury Festival is the opportunity to participate in the "blind date concert" where you become part of a band by putting your name in the hat- a great way to get to know people and to feel part of things. Or you can just sit under a tree and play your banjo, or write some poetry.

The event begins on Friday afternoon as campers arrive and set up. On the Friday evening everyone is welcomed with an all ages barn dance (Ceilidh) the event ends on Sunday evening with a final concert, leaving Monday for a leisurely pack up and depart.

While the event does run for three days- you are also able to come just for the day, or for the evening, or for the barn dance etc and there are different prices for these options on the website. Also - an early bird price exists for those who pay by 13 March 2017.


Location

Details

Date(s): 14 Apr to 17 Apr
Time: 13:00pm
Venue: 137 Darnley Rd
Official Website: Click here
Pricing: Day passes from$85 but $140 will get a full weeknd pass, early bird rates also apply
Contact Info: 027 454 3885
Facebook Event: Click here
Event Categories: Festivals

14 April: High 13°

15 April: High 13°