October 31st to 3rd November 2008     

We offer a natural setting and a relaxed atmosphere.
The historic township has an ambience dating from the Goldrush with a wood-fired bakery, five-star restaurants and everything between! Good food, local wines, pubs, clubs, antiques, gardens and steam trains.

• To establish the Maldon Folk Festival as an integral part of Victoria's tourist attractions whilst maintaining the high standard of musicians, involvement and family atmosphere previously enjoyed. Both professional and non-professional performers participate.
• To be the highlight in the yearly calendar of Maldon, Australia's first Notable Town.
• To expose the audience to new music and little known artists.
• To foster the development of Australian and Multicultural Traditional music.
• To make the entertainment affordable for family participation.
• To facilitate the involvement of visitors in music/dance etc. through workshops, dances and interactive folk music.

• Lynda Bullen - Festival Director/Performance Administration ~ 03 5475 1167
  
• Mike Ruggles - Music Director
  
• Robyn Thomas - Financial Controller
  
• Barb Ryan - General Administration
  
• Ross Lamport - Civil Works Coordinator
  
• Steve Cox
  
• Ken White
• Michael Coates
• Pam Lyons - Accommodation Coordinator
• Bonnie Gainger - Advertising & Promotions
  
• Graham Dodsworth - Website & Online Ticket Sales
  

    Background History . . .

Maldon Folk Festival was established in 1974 as a festival for musicians - "somewhere for them to meet and play." As patronage increased, limited costs were covered by donation and a paid dance.

With more artists than available venues, it was necessary to broaden the perspective of the Festival. As a result, Maldon Folk Festival sought and gained more administration and assistance through the local community and outside interested bodies such as folk clubs and other Festival organizations.

From 1991 the Festival began to take on a higher profile and became an event at which artists attended in greater numbers.

Corporate sponsorship has enabled us to further improve our facilities and significant changes have occurred in infrastructure, improved advertising and a much larger and varied number of performances.

Recognition from the local community was gained when the Festival was awarded the Australia Day Event of the Year for its efforts.

Now we look forward to improving and developing the Festival into a major Victorian and National event each year.

click here for MORE HISTORY

    Future Development . . .

The establishment of the Maldon Folk Festival as an integral part of Victoria's tourist attractions while retaining the high standard of musicians, involvement and family atmosphere previously enjoyed. Maldon is a major tourist destination and the further development of the Castlemaine/Maldon Rail link will increase the numbers of tourists throughout the year. The Festival aims to be active in promoting, developing and fostering Australian and Multicultural Traditional music and dance. The festival will continue to be an affordable family festival despite economic pressures.

    Testimonial . . .

The following is an extract of a letter from Eric Bogle AM.

"I can think of no other music festival in Australia that is more worthy of support. In my opinion, the Maldon Festival is the premier "Grass Roots" type of festival in Australia today. The trend in Australia these days seems to be for music festivals that grow larger and more crowded every year, with crowds, costs, and admission charges spiralling forever upwards. While this has obvious economic advantages for the musicians involved, the sheer size of these festivals tends to make them fairly passive experiences, with the audience and performers acting out their allotted roles without too much inter-mingling. In stubborn defiance of trends, Maldon Festival continues to try and present an informal, interactive family-based festival, where admission to many events is free, or, where admission is charged, it is a nominal sum only. It is also very much a community-based festival, with the local townspeople playing an active and supportive role in the festival. Whilst this is not unique within music festivals in Australia, I believe the high level of that support is. Musicians generally hold the Maldon Folk Festival, and it's philosophy, in high regard, and that regard is evidenced by the fact that most of them provide their services to the festival free of charge, or at most, for travle expenses or a nominal fee. I myself have performed at the festival on three occasions over the years, and will no doubt be cajoled, cozened, or blackmailed into appearing again in the future! And will do so gladly."

             

    Sponsors & Supporters . . .