What others say

What Performers say about the National:

“Thank you from all of us for the opportunity to play the NFF.  Some of the music I saw there was amazing.  I think it’s the best festival I’ve seen.”
Don Walker (Cold Chisel)

“This is the best festival I’ve ever been to in my career.”
Riccardo Tessi (Banditaliana)

“Congratulations to all the NFF creative team, management and hundreds of helpful elves. It was a wonderful weekend full of creativity, community spirit and positive energy.”
Warren Fahey

“UnionsACT and National Museum of Labour had a great festival! Thanks to all of your stage and venue managers and volunteers who were so helpful and professional!”
Kim Sattler (CEO – Unions ACT/National Museum of Labour)

“Thanks for a great festival. It’s an awesome event. So much music, dance and storytelling. Fabulous atmosphere. Delicious food. Brilliant craftwork. Friends everywhere. A most important event on Australia’s cultural calendar.”
Roger King (Director – The Boite Melbourne)

“I would like to say big thank you to the National Folk Festival and all the staff and performers and people who came to the festival. George Kamikawa and I had wonderful stages because of all of you. We strongly hope to see you there in the future again! Thank you.”
Noriko Tadano

“Thankyou folks for a great festival…in many ways a great festival… it was v. heart warming to feel the Heart of the country in all the brilliant activities, the diversity, the great food and the smooth organisation as well…(LOVED the snugs in the session bar…and keeping the spiritual heart and alternative green room the Troubadour was GREAT – I brought my husband along saying wild things like ” you’ll love it! it’s the best festival in the country etc etc… fortunately he did love it and he is now no longer a National virgin but a convert and will be bringing the granddaughter next time!”
Kavisha Mazella

What festival-goers say about the National:

Jack wrote “Dear National, this was your best year yet. Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work;)”

Jane wrote “OMG wow”

Aimee wrote “What a wonderful time I had! Met so many beautiful people!! Can’t wait for next year!”

Adele wrote “This was my 4th year – the first time was due to a new boyfriend who regularly goes. This year we had a friend come with us and I hope she had half as good a time as I did in 2008.”

Michael wrote “this was my 1st folk festival ever!! I went cause i had friends going and i want to b apart of it all. I had the best time ever, so many fond memories and met some amazing people”

Julia wrote “It was my first one, i play drum with Bluehouse, we had a wonderful three days with three standing ovations, it doesn’t get any better than that, thank you NFF !! xx”

Emily wrote “dude it was my first and i loved it. the only reason i went was cause i won tickets but im so glad i went”

Leigh wrote “First time at the Festival and only had one day, but we made the most of it!  LOVED Bluehouse, Jan Preston, The Good Lovelies, Women in Docs, and The Crooked Fiddle Band just about took us to heaven!  Thanks to all involved – excellent festival!”

Karen wrote “Thank you NFF, It was great! Thanks for having us….

Paul wrote “Best things : the sound guys – every stage I saw was excellent. Best Music – Peter Rowan, Flap, Kate Fagan, Martha Tilston .  Best Entertainment : Dark Horses, Supper Club and the Majestic. Worst thing : not enough time!”

Michael wrote “Thanks to all involved with the 2011 National. Had a great time, friendly stall holders, new friends and wonderfully interesting and warm discussions and interactions with festival patrons. Hope to do it all again next year!”

Marcus wrote “The ANZAC concert was amazing”

Kim wrote: “UnionsACT and National Museum of Labour had a great Festival ! Will post pics later this week! Thanks to all of your stage and venue managers and volunteers who were so helpful and professional !

Suyin wrote “Beautiful music everywhere with that gorgeous sunset and twilight on Sat night.”

Emma wrote “A big thank you to the wonderful people at the Sunday night ball who were so patient with us… We didn’t know any of the steps but everyone was so tolerant and had so much fun with us xxxxx”

Peter wrote  “Another great year at the Folkie. We went to so many great shows its hard to pick highlights. Although we go to most venues, all paths led back to the Majestic where we witnesssed our first case of crowd surfing at the Folkie during Crooked Fiddle band’s performance. Watching hundreds of people jammed onto the dance floor of the Majestic dancing to Barons of Tang and the Crooked Fiddle is almost as much fun as the feverish music these bands belt out. We need a few days to recover.”

Emma wrote “Great festival! ”

Will wrote “Yet another amazing festival.
Can’t wait for next year ”

Alex wrote “Last bar closes @ 4am peoples!  3hrs 10 minutes of NFF 2011 to go.  Thanks to everyone who contributed to Festival, particularly our hard working Bar staff who have done us and the NFF proud!  Hopefully we will see everyone back in 2012!!”

Belinda wrote “Thank you to all that organised ,volunteered, performed and were there. The friendliest crowd and my head will keep buzzing for a long time. As first timers the whole experience was amazing. !!  would love to see more posts/clips of session bar jams. ACT put on the good weather also !!”

Jacqui wrote “Thanks to The National…We had a blast. Bluehouse definitely wants back in next year!!!!”

Jennifer wrote “yeah get here everyone ur missing out!!”

Sarah wrote “Ah Bluehouse. First an encore, then a standing ovation. You guys rock! Jodi Martin too – love the e.p. Jodes!”

Jennifer wrote “i love saturdays at the national!!..all the gears are in full swing and no sign of festival close for days!!”

Roger wrote We were very happy with the stage layout and the screen and the crew were fantastic. We were also very happy with the performance and have had much positive feedback. Thanks to the entire team for organising another great festival.

Kate wrote “Thanks National Folk Festival, we had the best time! Loved performing, and also jiving to Bluehouse,and George Kamikawa and Noriko Tadano, and listening to Spooky Men, Totally Gourdgeous, Ange Takats, April Maze, Frencham Smith, Carl Pannuzzo and Penny Larkins, Fran Sidoti, Bruce Watson, Jon Madin in the kids tent, and many many others. Special ups to Santa and his Magic Goblins in the Majestic   and all the fab sound guys and gals and volunteers …. thanks!!! love from Kate and Ryan”

Gerard wrote Thanks to the organisers and volunteers at the National Folk Festival over Easter – a great time was had by everyone I met there. Fabulous programme.

Helen wrote “The mandolin classes were sensational. Mike is a fabulous teacher/tutor. More please!”

Kate wrote “…We were so impressed with the sound at the Festival, both performing and listening-wise, and the video in the Budawang too.”
Maudee Egan wrote “Beautiful sets! Congrats on a fantastic festival. x”
Can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get there but it’s how I’ll spend Easter from now on… Loved the friendliness and vibe of the festival ~ the bouncing kangaroos, the swing dancing ~ just a great place to be!!! Congrats to the organisers.”

Stax Wrote: 2011 saw me perform at The National for the first time and I was most impressed.
The layout of the venues really worked.
The tent city was really comfortable.
The assistance of the volunteer staff was boundless.
The sound and stage staff all knew their jobs well.
The food (and drink) was brilliant.
All my workshops were full and my stage performance at 10:00 am on the Monday was about 75% full.
The sheer vibrancy of the festival was very welcoming.
I saw no-one visibly affected by anything except good music.
I saw no agro.
I saw many kids having a beaut time also!
Thanks for a truly stunning event and I hope you invite me back.