Ball Park Music, King Stingray, Tia Gostelow, & Baker Boy To Headline Woodford Folk Festival 2024/25

Woodford Folk Festival has today (October 19) launched the programme for its 30th iteration - running from December 27, 2024 to January 1, 2025. 450 artists are set to perform over those set days, alongside a range of other events, showcases, and activities for punters.

Headlining Woodford Folk Festival this year will be indie-rock five-piece Ball Park Music, North-East Arnhem land surf-rockers King Stingray, alternative powerhouse Tia Gostelow, and Yolngu rapper Baker Boy.

They’ll be joined by a range of other notable artists, including musical pioneers Yothu Yindi, country queen Beccy Cole, alt-rock storyteller Dan Sultan, soul-pop sensation Ngaiire, and loveable folk-pop singer Alex The Astronaut. Some of the other Australian acts announced on the line-up are Jaguar Jonze, Josh Pyke, Ash Grunwald, Husky, Digging Roots, Amanda Rheume, Aysanabee, and Tjaka.

As for international artists, Woodford will welcome New Zealand’s pop singer-songwriter Bic Runga, South African acapella collective The Joy, Icelandic folk artist JFDR, Scottish trad-funk-electronica maestros Elephant Sessions, and France’s Ysé and AURUS.

The programme is also packed to the brim with activities designed to get participants immersed in music, including a band competition, festival choir, walk-estra, live music sessions, and a rhythm and dance class taught by Alone winner, Gina Chick. 

Punters can expect a range of panels, featuring speakers like speakers Mad Max’s Quaden Bayles, activist Yarraka, diversity champions Like a Photon, Sea Shepherd's Jeff Hanson, SBS’s Elder in Residence Rhoda Roberts, author Ziggy Ramo, and Jinibara Traditional Custodians Uncle Noel Blair and Uncle Kenny Murphy.

There will also be assorted workshops on offer, including clowning, acrobatics, cabaret, dance – from Flamenco to hip hop, Persian or cowboy. You even learn to play the spoon!

And, of course, it wouldn’t be Woodford Folk Festival without a dedicated yoga and mindfulness programme. Called “Meditation in Motion”, it’ll kick off with sunrises on the hilltop each morning overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains, and flow into acro-yoga, an array of breathwork techniques, and meditation for all skill levels.

The festival will peak on New Year's Eve, with the traditional three-minute silence before heralding in the New Year with the harmonic force of Tibetan lineage, Tenzin Choegyal, alongside the monks of Tibet for the first sunrise of 2025.

According to the festival’s director, Amanda Jackes, an aggregate attendance of around 110,000 people is expected over the massive six day event. 

“To mark 30 years of the festival at Woodfordia, this is one of our most exciting programmes to date. We are thrilled to reveal the vast array of artists and presenters who will bring people together to herald in the new year with creativity, music and culture from around the world,” she said.

To check out the extensive line-up and purchase tickets, head to Woodford Folk Festival’s website.