National Folk Festival Acts Fanny Lumsden & Freya Josephine Hollick Go One-on-one

Canberra's National Folk Festival, this 18-22 April, has an endless line-up of top-quality acts including ARIA-nominee Fanny Lumsden and Freya Josephine Hollick for a start. Just a few short weeks away, we thought we'd get the two to interview each other to get all the inside goss about the fest and Canberra in general. Here's what went down.

Freya Josephine Hollick interviews Fanny Lumsden

Freya: Have you played the National before? And if so did you don the now infamous rainbow leotard?

Fanny: I have! Played it a couple of years ago. I think I worked more in the ways Canberra weather demands and wore items that provided warmth. However, now we are heading back...Maybe rainbow will feature.

Freya: What is the greatest/cheekiest/silliest memory of your time in Canberra as a kidlet?

Fanny: First excursion to Canberra, I was in Year 2 maybe. Anyway it was my first trip to McDonalds (not because my parents were all anti-fast food, more that where I grew up, there really wasn’t a Maccas, and I think my dad preferred KFC)...  I was given money to buy my dinner and I had to line up and order a "Mchappy meal". Basically, I asked for a "happy dinner", didn’t know what they were saying when they asked which toy I wanted, then did a little wee in my pants with fear. We got back on the bus and [What If God Was] One Of Us was playing on the radio and a big kid asked, "Don’t you know this song or something?!" I didn’t, I lived in a pop culture devoid bubble, but as any normal kid would do said, "Ugh yeah, duh," and sang along anyway. Lessons were learned. Not sure if this is the most interesting run of events that happened in Canberra, however happened they did.

Freya: Tell me about your most recent project and will you be sharing some new stuff with us at the National this year? Also are you bringing Walt (your son)?

Fanny: I’m currently working on a new record, so have been cooped up on the farm and writing a lot. So yes, will be sharing some new songs. And YEP! Bringing baby Walter (and my mum to hold him).

Fanny Lumsden interviews Freya Josephine Hollick 

Fanny: As far as folk festivals go this one is right up there as one of the best so in light of that fact, will you be sharing some of your inspiration and songs from your recent trip to the US during your set at the National? Also did you pass out when you met the Buick 6?

Freya: I absolutely will be sharing a few stories from the road, particularly from my time in the Mojave desert, along with some songs from the new new record, and other songs from Feral Fusion and maybe even from a couple of earlier releases. I can't bloody wait to come on up to the Nash, and boogie real slow to some of my favourite folk acts. I did not pass out when I met Buick 6, however, I did want to. The moment that Greg Leisz entered the studio I started to feel uber nervous, and then when we all played this song I wrote called The Real World all together, I actually choked up on the last verse and burst into tears. It's fine, I'm totally a grown up and not a teary embarrassing mess. Mum lyf am I right?

Fanny: Did you go to Canberra on a school excursion as a kid (in NSW just about every kid did... not sure if this translated to Vic)?

YES - What was the most memorable place you visited and why?

NO - In your retrospective dreams as a Year 5 kid, what would be your bucket list Canberra location and why?

Freya: I have no memory of visiting Canberra as a kid, but I also don't really remember anything before the age of about 23. My bucket list would likely involve either that Dinosaur Museum, or the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. I think a visit to both while I'm up there might have to be on the cards. I don't think I want to go near Parliament house, is there like the equivalent of a place like that but that is full of free thinkers, who care about important things? The folk fest maybe?

Fanny: If you were a folk instrument, which one would you be and why?

Freya: I would be a Pikasso guitar, it is a weird 42-stringed harp guitar thing with four necks and two sound holes. It was designed in 1984 for Pat Metheney. It is confusing as all hell, hardly anyone can play it and nobody really knows what to do with it, it's also kind of weird looking.

Tickets for the National Folk Festival are on sale now. Scroll down to theGuide for all the details.