Auckland Folk Festival: 13th Floor Was There!

0

Auckland Folk Festival did its best to happen despite the rain. New 13th Floor photographer Den was there. Here’s what he saw.

There was heavy rain on Friday night and the hatches were battened down. In the light of day, it was clearly unsafe to continue with the planned layout of the venue. It was all hands on deck and from the murky depths of the evening before new ideas paved the way forward for a streamlined -no-frills – back to basics approach that only a dedicated group of people like the ‘folkies’ could pull off.

People had already arrived from north, south, east, and overseas. Amenities were kept operational. Buildings that were planned as venues were transformed into marae-style sleeping quarters. Out buildings and marquees became children’s and adults’ playgrounds. A selection of flavoursome international cuisine was available along with freshly brewed coffee and other essentials.

Stages were set up in the barn and the hall. Musicians and dancers who could safely travel to Kumeu performed in the large hall and the cosier barn. With the line-up being condensed it made for action-packed entertainment. New bands were formed and many friendships were rekindled. An itinerary of where artists were performing where was kept updated by a tireless crew on the Auckland Folk Festival Facebook page and via good old-fashioned blackboards at the stages.

The main hall became busier as the day progressed and by the evening the floor was shaking with the sounds of the music, foot-stomping, and dancing.

The intimacy of the barn was perfect for a large variety of acts including workshops and sing-alongs, rounding the evenings off with a hearty flourish of sea shanties and tales of old.

Den

Day 1:

Day 2:

Festival Shots:

The 13th Floor
Latest posts by The 13th Floor (see all)