Steve Baker reviews the previous Yungaburra Folk Festival

The 2008 Yungaburra Folk Festival celebrated music and our culture extravagantly, accompanied by beautiful weather. One night sky was as beautiful as I can remember seeing. We were treated to a wonderful weekend of friendship and entertainment.

Kamerunga, an exciting fusion of funk, jazz, bush, Celtic and reggae music, conceived by journalist/musician Tony Hilier, and exalting in some of the best of Australia’s musicians, will soon be travelling south to major festivals. Their performances are best described as events and we were privileged to enjoy Kamerunga twice at this festival.

The Mermaid’s Daughter, a musical journey by way of voice, traditional African instruments and shadow puppetry, was absolutely charming. Miriam Leiberman and Jenny Ellis presented a captivating and delightfully fragile exhibition of very fine voice, unusual instruments and imagination.

Then there was Pugsley Buzzard with his stride piano and a three packets a day voice as well as virtuoso guitarists Bruce Mathiske and Michael Knopf. For outrageous fun there was The BordererS, whose show could literally crack a dance floor.

On the mellower side, Rose Bygrave was rich and warm. Rose is a lioness, with a significant musical backstory.

Sydney musician Tully was entrancing, with sensitive songs, a winning way and an innovative and impressive guitar technique.

Emerging artists worth watching were Petah and Jasmine Chapman, masquerading as Out Of Insight, and outstanding roots blues man Danny Ross.

On the blackboard stages Ben Wilson and Tony Lovegrove were both outstanding as was young Davey Simony. We might see them on the main stages in years to come.

This year’s festival was a steady, well run and joyous occasion. Yungaburra is a beautiful town which once a year comes even more alive in October.

Steve Baker

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