Rain, rain, it went away ... so what did we think of the Illawarra Folk Festival?

Music lovers from all over poured into Bulli Showground last weekend for the 39th Illawarra Folk Festival. After days of what was described as “an epic weather event”, the clouds finally parted on Sunday, allowing hundreds of festival-goers to swap their umbrellas for dancing shoes and close out the final day with a sense of fun and togetherness.

Performers and punters shared their festival highlights with the Flame on the day.

Lizzie and Danielle
Lizzie
I’ve been here the full three days. It’s been very soggy, but gorgeous anyway, and today's been a nice reprieve from the rain. It's very relaxing. There’s a sense that everyone’s been through something together; it’s quite bonding, people feel like they’ve achieved something by enduring a day like that. The rain was spectacular, actually.

Danielle
I didn’t come yesterday, because every time I looked out the window, I was like, ‘screw that’. But today's been great! I came with no idea of who I wanted to see, I did some Spotify-ing yesterday when I was trying to psych myself up, but I heard some hidden gems today that I didn't expect - I really liked Scott Cook. The Pairs were great, too – their harmonies were just to die for … and then there’s just the fun of catching up with friends, and the food from Balinese Spice Magic is amazing!

Leif, Sigrid, Barbara
Leif
I performed Thursday night with Whiskey Dram. The rain has been fun; people either left or they dug in. I sat at the session last night, and I had to go to bed, but my fiddle stayed there for a while - it wanted to keep partying. I asked where I’d put it, and someone said ‘you put it back upstairs’. I don’t remember doing that! I went to get it this morning; it was funny. It was the last man standing!

Barbara
I reckon everyone's bonded over the rain, and they’re getting wet, and they’re slipping and sliding in the mud! I don’t think many people left, there are still lots of people around. Highlights are Whiskey Dram, of course, and The Inadequates.

We had a beautiful moment… Sigrid has a new baby, who is at home at the moment, but on Friday, she brought her beautiful new baby, 11 weeks old – first folk festival, yeah!! It was pretty exciting.

Sigrid
The Inadequates will always be my highlight – sorry, Leif! It was pretty exciting bringing my baby, because we grew up at folk festivals. Mum (Barbara) took us around to them, so I thought 'how early is too early to bring them?'

Lenny, John
Lenny
Our sons played together in the band New Calyptus that just finished. They were pretty good, actually. It could have been better, but we're the parents – we've always got something to have a whinge about. I saw a Canadian fella, a young guy, he was fabulous. Between each song, he had a little story to tell, really funny ... it had everyone waiting for the next story – it was great.

John
There’s incredible variety! Today, I made sure we got here for Ungus Ungus Ungus, which was just so much fun, wild fun and then an amazing contrast to Mickey & Michelle, on violin, who did these really beautiful, almost classical length full-on sophisticated compositions. And the Canadians, The Pairs – three young women with the most exquisite harmonies. The whole thing’s been so uplifting.

Nick, Ray, Mahuni

Mahuni
It’s probably the 15th year in a row I've been at this festival, so I have a bit of experience with it. I'm basically here to enjoy the last few hours of it but it's always amazing.

I just got to the [Balinese Spice Magic] stall and immediately about six people swarmed me and it was like 'wait, I know you!'. It's so sweet because there's such a huge community but it's so tight-knit. Like everyone somehow knows at least 10 or 15 other people here. It's amazing.

Nick
It’s just a great line-up. It's the first time I've been down here for Illawarra Folk Festival – they’ve pulled together a great line-up of local bands.

Ray
It has been ages since I’ve been to a folk festival, so it's just cool seeing music live again. All these people – I keep being like 'oh hey! I know these people!' It’s really cool.