Photos from the Newport Folk Festival (Australia) 2012

The storytellers did us proud at the Newport Folk Festival. This is a grass roots celebration that's grown out of the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club. Organised and managed by a team of folk who volunteer their time and talents to create a weekend of singing, dancing, eating, reciting and storytelling in an inner western suburb of Melbourne. Our Newport connection is storyteller Jackie Kerin.

Storytelling Australia (Vic) supported 4 events: The opening night concert, Children's Storytime in the Library, WORDS WORDS WORDS (invited storytellers and singer songwriters) and Stories and Songs by the Fire. Jan Wositzky also presented a session on the work he's undertaken recording Tom Woodcock's story; the task of taking an oral tale and putting it it a book - from mouth to page. 

Storyteller Andrew McKenna from Castlemaine, shouldered the task of telling at 3 of the sessions. Andrew moved between venues with skillful telling and fine choice of tales,  appearing unfazed by whatever he encountered. The rowdy crowd on opening night was not for the faint-hearted and he charmed the room with a hilarious vampire story.

Special thanks to Matteo, JJ Sheills and Kate Lawrence who took on the running of Stories and Songs by the Fire. Together, they heated soup and chai, vegan 'sausage rolls' lit the room, stoked the fire and cleaned up afterwards. Matteo also hosted the evening and Kate charmed us with a story. 


And the final photo is John Bowers from the Ballarat Storytellers and his Grandson Rowen sharing some important information: How to Kill a Goblin.