THE sixth annual Newport Folk Festival will bring the sounds of brass, bluegrass, jazz and swing to venues in and around Newport.
The three-day event, starting July 5, will feature a big gig at Newport’s Substation on the Saturday night featuring The Ska Vendors with Pat Powell, supported by Americana band TheReChords.
During the day, there will be music and entertainment at Paine Reserve.
The festival culminates with Peter Baylor’s gypsy swing band Ultrafox and Julie O’Hara on vocals.
This year’s festival is the first to feature the Hobsons Bay Men’s Shed, whose members have been making musical instruments. Member Kerry Duke, who plays mandolin in the Newport Bush Orchestra, says the festival will feature workshops on different instruments.
“I’ve only just taken up the mandolin since I retired,” he says. “I’ve only been playing it a couple of years.”
It will be the first festival performance for the 15-piece Newport Ska youth band, while a new event, dubbed The Brass Experience, will give novices a chance to play brass instruments.
Other inaugural events are theatre shows and a youth film festival.
For the full festival program, visit nffc.org.au or phone 0403 244 688.
