Beyond The Stage: The Road to Port Fairy Folk Festival

Lucky last for us all in our Road to Port Fairy Folk Festival podcast features the incredible Ruthie Foster.  We learn about her beginnings listening to blues and gospel in her childhood home, developing into soul and other sub-genres growing up in Texas.  Starting in a small rural town, joining the military and then the reserve, she tells us about landing her first record contract with Atlantic R...

Episode 11 has Jake from The East Pointers telling Frank about their history and heading up to 10 years of touring in Australia.  Along with Tim & Koady, we learn about their just released new material written before the sad passing of Koady, and continuing the band as a two piece.  As early starters during childhood, we learn about the origins of the band with the Celtic traditions from their...

The international theme continues with Episode 10, featuring the amazing Skerryvore all the way from Scotland.  Martin from the band tells us about the beginnings of the band and how they formed, learned their instruments and started touring the world.  We learn about the members of the band and their various instruments as they head towards their 20th anniversary, including celebrating their 2nd...

New Zealand native Jenny Mitchell is next up in our series of podcasts ahead of the 2025 Port Fairy Folk Festival, all the way from the Deep South of New Zealand, all the way to the south west of Victoria.  Detailing her travels on the road from the age of 14, she tells us about the good and bad parts of being a touring musician.  With a musical pedigree of a country musician father, she started p...

Lucky number 8, Hana from Hana & Jessie Lee’s Bad Habits tells us about how the band formed in Adelaide - taking us through the early days of the band, and the making of their first album in 2017, recording it live while writing songs as they went.  Hana goes on to tell us about the highlights of their live touring career including shows with some legends of the Australian music industry.  She...

Number seven on the Road to Port Fairy is regular visitor to Port Fairy and Australia, English folk musician John Smith.  Taking us through his start as a professional musician and the plaudits that followed in his 20s, he tells us about the beginnings of his musical adventures, performing with his heroes around the world, and the life changing discovery of Nick Drake.  Diving into his lyrics, Joh...

Bringing up the half dozen of our podcast series is Síomha all the way from Ireland.  Delving into her musical upbringing and history, Síomha tells us about the influence of her family during holidays and road trips and the development of her own style within a traditional folk background.  As we delve into her songwriting, we also learn about the creation of her latest record and the amazing play...

Number 5 is a new artist for Port Fairy, Grassy Strings!  A relatively new bluegrass duo, born from a country not known for this genre, we learn about how they tell us how they discovered the history and fell in love with the artists that are the key purveyors of the music they are now performing all around the world.  We hear about how they have developed their musical skills as children, and abo...

Next cab off the rank at number 4 in our series is Canadian come Australian Meghan Maike.  Reflecting on her time in Clarkesdale, Missiisspip, we learn about how her experiences have shaped her musical project with the Cactus Flowers and their Americana and roots leanings.  From her family’s background running folk festivals, to her time in venues, she explores how her life has shaped her songwrit...

Number three in our Road to Port Fairy series is legendary artists Simon Joyner.  With a 30 year career, Simon talks about his influential and critically acclaimed career ahead of his first visit to Australia and the Folkie next March.  Sited as Bright Eyes and Beck as a major influence, Simon tells us about the artists that have inspired him.  From stories around stolen guitars, to his relentless...

Our second guest, festival regular Mick Thomas, discusses all elements of his career, including running a band, running a venue the Merri Creek Tavern, and some great stories!  From discussing his approach to live performances and interaction with the audience and challenges of balancing the business and the artistry of his music career, Mick discusses his influences, his relationship with foundin...

We’re off and running with our ‘Road to Port Fairy’ podcast series - and what a great way to start with the wonderful Kristin Hersh.  Hear all about her start in music as a guitar player born in Atlanta, Georgia, life in a commune and going to Woodstock.  From her time with the influential Throwing Muses, experiences with a major label to an independent artist, and her work as a solo artist.  Kris...