Folk by the Sea Festival: A Celebration of Storytelling and Music

Strategic Insights -

The Folk by the Sea festival, a three-day event that took over Kiama, brought together storytellers and songwriters from across the globe to share their tales and melodies. The festival kicked off with a charity concert on Thursday, September 11, raising over $1200 for Lifeline South Coast. The event featured a range of performers, including First Nations storyteller Jessie Lloyd, local band The Water Runners, and festival headliner Darren Coggan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The festival attracted performers from across the globe, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling and music styles.
  • The charity concert on Thursday, September 11, raised over $1200 for Lifeline South Coast.
  • The Water Runners debuted an emotional song, Mickey Brennan's Lament, which tells the story of a 19-year-old miner who died in the Mount Kembla coal mine disaster in 1902.
  • The song Viking by The Water Runners tells the story of singing in a western Sydney pub with patrons who looked like Vikings and being saved by an Elvis Presley song.
  • Kane Calcite performed a stunning intimate gig on Saturday night, exploring human connection, love, loss, and self-discovery through his acoustic melodies.
  • Festival headliner Darren Coggan played original and cover songs on Saturday night, including Cat Stevens and John Denver tracks.
  • The festival featured 110 concerts across three days, including performances by the Slippery John Sausage and The Swamp Domper Bayou Boys.
  • Tickets were available at the door for the festival's final day on Sunday.

Statistics:

  • Over $1200 was raised for Lifeline South Coast at the festival's charity concert on Thursday, September 11.
  • 110 concerts were held across three days at the festival.
  • The festival featured a diverse range of performers from across the globe and from local bands.
  • The Water Runners have debuted two songs during the festival, Mickey Brennan's Lament and Viking.
  • Darren Coggan is a two-time Golden Guitar winner and has performed at various music festivals, including the Illawarra Folk Festival.

Sources:

  • Byline: Nadine Morton, "Did we spot you at the three-day festival that's taken over Kiama?", article published in an unknown publication, no date mentioned.
  • "Folk by the Sea festival: Off The Grid", article published on theIllawarra Mercury website, no date mentioned, accessible at [www.illawarramercury.com.au](http://www.illawarramercury.com.au).
  • Image source: Click on the photo to see more pictures.