Below are just some of the amazing opportunities to learn from folk specialists during this year's Festival.

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Ngunnawal Cultural Workshop - Join custodian Richie Allan for a workshop that invites participants to learn about songlines, stories, language, and traditional artefacts. Each session is different, interactive, and enriched by hands-on activities and special guest contributors.

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Wild Georgian Yodelling - Mention yodelling and cowboys or lederhosen might come to mind, but Georgian krimanchuli is something else entirely. Led by Gaumarjos, this workshop explores the bold vocal tradition where voices soar, twist and trade lines above rich harmonies. In Georgia it is almost a competitive sport, and anyone can join in.

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Palestinian Songs - Join members of Dabke & Tatreez for a workshop exploring two Palestinian songs from their repertoire. Participants learn melody, accompaniment and vocal parts, working toward a shared ensemble performance of one piece by the session’s end.

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Electronics for Folk Music - Join US multi-instrumentalist/producer Elias Alexander, and Finland’s power-fiddle trio T3HO. to explore fusing traditional folk and electronic music. Topics include mics and pickups, signal flow, DAWs, controllers, sampling, and the unique challenges of combining traditional instruments with contemporary performance aesthetics.

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Spanish Folk Tunes - Come learn a traditional tune and song from the heart of Spain with San Miguel Fraser. This music will lift your spirits and ignite your passion for life! All instruments welcome. 

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Discovering the Nyckelharpa - JoinThe Nyckelharpa Society for a hands-on introduction to Sweden’s national folk instrument. Learn about its history, unique sound, and playing technique, then try simple Scandinavian tunes together. 

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Make Music with your Ears - Bobby Alu leads a warm, ear-first music session inspired by his Samoan family jams. Participants learn to listen deeply, sing together and create shared musical moments. All skill levels are welcome in this inviting workshop centred on connection, voice and community sound.

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Storytelling - Penny Glass and Jan Wositzky share how different types of stories work, touching on structure and mythic motifs. They offer tips for getting in front of an audience such as breath control, and advice for singers who want to move beyond the usual “this is a song about” intro. Expect fun games, discussion, and hopefully stories from you.