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 Records and her journey as a songwriter.  Exploring all elements of her journey, we even hear about her experiences with helicopters!  Going through her incredible list of collaborators and her 6th Grammy nomination for 2025, it’s so exciting to look forward to Ruthie’s performances next year the Folk Festival. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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.

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, John delves into his songwriting process and various collaborations and producers he has worked with throughout his journey, and how his inspiration can’t be forced.  He tells us about debuting his song ‘The Living Kind’ for the first time at his last visit to Port Fairy and hearing the audience singing back at him for the first time.  John returns to the Folkie in 2025 - get your tickets now! Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 players and producers who have helped create it, and her creative process and collaborations around the world to finish the album.  We learn about the connection with language and the Irish connection with the Port Fairy Folk Festival ahead of her debut tour with musical partner Martin Atkinson in 2025.  A very exciting artist performing at the Folkie. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 about their first experience in Australia and the challenges keeping their instruments safely on planes, trains and automobiles.  They reflect on their experiences at other festivals around the world, and tell us what they’re looking forward to ahead of their second Australian tour next March.  We can’t wait to have Grassy Strings on the stages of 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.

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 songwriting and story telling from her perspective, and her creative process.  She tells us about her song writing, her current band mates, her plans for 2025 as well as what other performers she’s looking forward to at Port Fairy next March.  We can’t wait to see her shows at the Port Fairy Folk Festival 7-10 March 2025. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 touring schedule and his experience running a record store and label, Simon tells us about his favourite books and music, and putting together a band in Australia for his upcoming tour.  Listen to this and more about Simon’s significant career ahead of his performances at the Folkie in March 2025. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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 founding festival director Jamie McKew and the Geelong Folk Club, and playing on a back of a truck at early Port Fairy Folk Festivals.  As he dives into his ‘Desert Island’ reading and listening, we learn about his affinity for independent artists, and what has inspired him over the journey, he gives us his take on how his brain works across his multiple roles in the industry, and insights into rehearsing, soundchecks.  Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission hit the stage at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March 2025. Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.

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.  Kristin tells us about what she’s looking forward to about her return to Australia, and her previous touring experiences around the country.  We can’t wait for Kristin to perform at the Folkie in March 2025! Thanks to the legendary Southern Ocean Sea Band for providing their track ‘Whaler’s Rig’ and our wonderful host, Frank Davidson.