Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival

26th, 27th & 28th October 2012

We welcome old and new Festival patrons to Dorrigo Mountain for an intimate and friendly three-day weekend of accoustic music featuring some of Australia's best Folk & Bluegrass and Old-time country musicians.

It's a time when our picturesque Dorrigo showground comes alive with concerts, workshops, dance, jamming, impromptu performances, poetry and children's entertainment.

The Tenth Annual Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival held last year was a resounding success.
Beautiful mountain weather, a wonderful atmosphere, enthusiastic and talented performers along with happy and responsive crowds all combined to make it by far the best Festival we've held so far.

Attendance was well up, yet the event retained its relaxed, laid back "under the oak trees" vibe - big enough to draw Australia's top class acts, yet intimate and accessible enough to be known as "a Great Little Festival".

We would like to thank everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable weekend. From the feedback we have received, we know that many of you can't wait to come back in 2012.
A big thank you also to all the exceptional artists who gave some truly unforgettable performances and imparted their insights, skills and heritage in the workshops.
The Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival would not be possible without the continued hard work of the organising committee and behind the scenes volunteers - a huge well-deserved thank you to you all.

In recognition of being a “premier acoustic music” event, with top class artists wanting to perform each year, The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival was recently awarded the status of a “Regional Flagship Event” for 2011 by NSW Tourism. This has significantly raised the profile of the Festival and it now attracts an even wider audience to experience its unique charm.

There are many visitors who return to Dorrigo every year for this Festival because of the great atmosphere, and the opportunity to jam with fantastic and sometimes famous musicians under a shady tree or round the campfire..

Featured Artists:

We are pleased to announce just some of the featured performers for 2012:

The New Worlds (USA)

Mustered Courage

Jimmy The Fish

The Company

Rob Corbett & The Roo Grass Band

The Whitetop Mountaineers (USA)

The String Contingent

Nick and Liesl

The Mid North

Watch this space for many more performer announcements to come.

For further artist information, and performer bio's, please go to the "Artists" page…

Festival Tickets:

2012 Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival Early Bird Tickets can now be purchased online

with Visa, Mastercard and Visa Debit type card

We use the secure and convenient sevice of TryBooking:

You can print out your E-Tickets straight away or later.

You will need to bring your E-Ticket to the Festival Ticket Office to exchange it for a coded Festival Wristband to gain entry.

Ticket Prices:

(Per person at Early Bird Price until 30th Sept)

Full Weekend Pass (Inc Workshops) $85

Full Weekend Pass + 2 nights Camping (at Powered site) $107

Full Weekend Pass + 2 nights Camping (Unpowered) $101

Full Weekend Pass + 3 nights Camping (at Powered site) $118

Full Weekend Pass + 3 nights Camping (Unpowered)  $109

Full Weekend Pass + 4 nights Camping (at Powered site)   $129

Full Weekend Pass + 4 nights Camping (Unpowered)  $117

Youth Full Weekend Pass (age 12 to17)  $25

Children under 12 - Free

For more Ticket information please go to the Tickets page

Performer Applications:

Performer applications for the 2012 Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival are now open until 30th May.

For further information and online application form please go to the "Performer Applications" page.

Stall-Holder Applications:

The Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival is inviting applications for market stalls which will be situated in the Event venue - The Dorrigo Showgrounds.

Please note that our priority is Australian handcrafted and handmade products, including musical instruments.

Food must be fresh, interesting and preferably healthy.

For more details please download a Stall-Holder Information Sheet and a Stall Fees Sheet

To mark the 10th Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, the organising commitee commissioned local Dorrigo artist Marilyn Wall to produce new logos and artwork. As you can see, the resulting artwork is spectacular. Marilyn says that in her illustration design she  “endeavoured to capture the ever-changing beauty of our Dorrigo and the light hearted, community feeling of the festival...”

Dorrigo "Folk in the Round"

Would you like to get together with an informal group of Old-time, Country,  Folk and Bluegrass enthusiasts for a fortnightly  "in the round" jam and singalong. The atmosphere is relaxed and there is usally a range of ages and experience levels present - from new folk through to seasoned veterans...  each week has its surprises...

Folk in the Round is on every second Sunday from around 1:30pm to 4pm at Hickory House, 50 Hickory St Dorrigo  -    Contact Bridget  6657 1224

Up-Coming Concerts and Events

Music to Warm the Soul in Dorrigo

You don’t have to wait until the 11th Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival in October to get your fill of some wonderful and talented performers. In the lead up to the festival,  Dorrigo will be the destination of some well traveled musicians who will bring their unique sounds to town.

Australian Celtic Band - Wheelers and Dealers

Christine Wheeler presents a musical take on the life and poetical works of Henry Lawson. From country waltzes and Irish style slip jigs to exquisite, introspective airs, the musical compositions are by writers as diverse as Slim Dusty, John Schumann of Redgum fame, jazz composer Ade Monsbourgh and Christine Wheeler herself. This will be a delightful evening to remember.

Sunday 6th May 4:30pm at the Dorrigo Old Gazette Theatre - $20.00 

Bookings at Dorrigo Wholefoods 0266 571002   Enquiries 0428 415078

Andrew Clermont's Supper Club

With amazing guitarist Steve O'hern,  fiddle champ at 12 violin/ fiddle Emily Little,  Jess Stocker - Turkish percussion , Brooke Schiemer - theatre star of Tamworth and Andrew Clermont on assorted string instruments, didgeridoo and song with new and old gems

Friday 11th May at the Dorrigo Old Gazette Theatre (more details to follow...)

Some of the featured artists to perform concerts recently in Dorrigo are:

The String Contingent

Coming directly from winning two 2012 Golden Fiddle awards at Tamworth , instrumental trio The String Contingent will be performing their unique blend of “New Acoustic music for violin, double bass and guitar” in concert at the Dorrigo Old Gazette Theatre on Saturday 4th February.

Peggy Seeger in Concert

Alex and Annette Hood - Australian Folk Theatre

The Whitetop Mountaineers

Martha Spencer and Jackson Cunningham. Old-time mountain music and flat-foot dancing from Whitetop Mountain Virginia USA

The Hottentots - Carl Cleves and Parissa Bouas

Carl Cleves and Parissa Bouas are a duo whose "wonderfuly textured quilt of beautiful and meaningful songs" creates an intimate and moving concert experience. Classic folk melodies combine with strong lyrics and an international flavour to provide a well-focused, fresh and definative sound.

The New Worlds - US Feature Artists

Four brilliant musicians from the home of Bluegrass music, the good old USA - featuring  Dave Goldenberg, Ryan Drickey, Josh Philpott, Adam Chaffins

Festival Programme:

View or Download the 2011 Festival Programme .........

Download the 2011 Festival Poster........

Festival Artwork by Marilyn Wall

Festival Photography courtesy of Peter Mulheron and Clare Colins - many thanks.

The Tenth Annual Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival  -  A "Regional Flagship Event for 2011" -  through Tourism NSW

Festivals Australia is providing funding for the "Bushwacking on the Plateau" Youth Project featuring the Bushwackers Band and local artist Peter Mulheron

CASP grant funding has helped enable us to bring over Bluegrass Parkway from Western Australia