Beyond The Stage: The Road to Port Fairy Folk Festival

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 home in Prince Edward Island - the hard, long winters, saved by the fiddle session traditions that continue to this day in their unique homeland.  With some new singles ahead of their return to the Folkie in 2025, we can’t wait to have The East Pointers back in south west Victoria. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 tour of Australia featuring performances at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.  He tells us about their full touring schedule, their processes and periods throughout the year, and what they get up to in their time off the road.  We can’t wait for them to return to Port Fairy in 2025. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 performing with him from age 4 - she tells us about her lyrical focus and her inspirations as she developed her songwriting.  Jenny also has a strong Irish connection family connection, a perfect alignment with the Folkie’s traditions.  She tells us about a very exciting development in her career an her exciting plans for 2025. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 tells us about the band that will be coming to the Folkie in 2025 that will be coming to the festival for the first time, and her excitement about performing for our legendary listening audience, who love and appreciate music.  Winners of the Music Victoria 2024 Best Country work, Hana & Jessie Lee’s Bad Habits hit the stages of Port Fairy next March. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.