Fifty years of the Auckland Folk Festival, 1974 – 2023

The Auckland Folk Festival celebrated its 50th year on Anniversary weekend, January 2023. A huge line-up was planned with numerous New Zealand and international acts, decorations and bunting throughout the venue at the Kumeu Showgrounds, a 50th Anniversary display under a marquee and 250 nostalgia-inducing photos on show in the hall. The Festival committee had everything in place after a couple of years of planning – and a cancelled festival due to Covid in 2022. Ticket sales were tracking well and the festival looked like it was going to be bigger and better than anything held before… and then the rain came… with more than a month’s rain in 2 days. With the ground flooded, restrictions on people camping and most of the marquees out of action due to the danger of water and electrical equipment mixing, the committee went into overdrive to resurrect a limited festival using only the Kumeu hall, the barn and later in the weekend a marquee when the water levels weren’t as high. Although the festival was shortened, those of us who were there had a fabulous if wet time. Energy was high and we thoroughly appreciated the work the committee had done to give us a festival in extremely demanding and extraordinary circumstances.

Image: "The Big Wet”, January 2023. Photo courtesy of Catherine Dawson, Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

 A snapshot of 50 years of the Auckland Folk Festival 

Image: Poster for the first Folk Gathering, 1973. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

The first Folk Gathering held in Auckland, took place at Bill Moller’s Farm, Oratia, on Labour Weekend, 1973. Organised by Frank Winter of the Poles Apart Folk Club and Bob Pomeroy of the Folk Attic in Ponsonby, the event attracted 250 attendees. Informal sessions were held during the morning and concerts in the afternoons with “bon fire and barn-fire singing throughout the night”.

Image: Poster for the Second Folk Gathering, 1974. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: First AFF newsletter, 1974. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

The second Folk Gathering and First Auckland Folk Festival, again held at Moller’s Farm, Oratia took place in Feb 1974. This expanded on the gathering held in 1973 and included Traditional, Country, Blues and Contemporary folk music. Organisation was again from members of the Poles Apart Folk Club and also included the Titirangi and Devonport Folk Music Clubs.

Image: From left: Bill Hynson, Gavin Asher, Andrew Judd and Bill Worsfold at Moller’s Farm, 1975. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

The festival continued at Moller’s Farm on a yearly basis featuring workshops, dancing, plays, concerts and New Zealand’s best folk singers and guest artists from Australia, until 1980 when the farm site became too small. The festival shifted to the Catholic Church owned Knock-Na-Gree, also in Oratia, where it stayed for the next 12 years until 1991.

Image: Pan pipes at Knock-Na-Gree, 1982. Courtesy of Jude Black. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Bill Drukker performing with his banjo, 1986. Courtesy of Jude Black. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: 1987, the year of the mud. The famous mud slide, Knock-Na Gree. Courtesy of Jude Black. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Morris Dancers, Knock-Na-Gree, 1989. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Listening to the music, Knock-Na-Gree, 1985. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

In 1992 the organisers had to find a new home for the Festival as Knock-Na-Gree became too expensive. The Kumeu Showgrounds was chosen as the ideal place – it was huge and could cope with an ever-expanding Festival, with plenty of room for campers.

Image: Western Leader, Jan 1992? Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Programme cover 1997. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Programme cover 2008. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Guests Grada (Ireland), 2003. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Maritime Crew, 2006. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Albie and the Wolves on the main stage, 2016. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: OrigiNZ, 2018. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

As the festival got bigger, it has attracted more top-notch folkies, with guests coming from Britain, Europe, America, Australia as well as showcasing New Zealand folk talent. It is the largest and longest running Folk Festival in New Zealand.

Image: Poster for the 49th Auckland Folk Festival. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

Image: Poster for the 50th Auckland Folk Festival. Auckland Folk Festival Archive, Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.

The Auckland Folk Festival has remained at the Kumeu Showgrounds for the last 32 years. In all its years, the Festival has only been cancelled once – in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To celebrate this remarkable 50 year history, Auckland Libraries Research West has created an archive. Donations of photos and other memorabilia showcasing the Festival are welcome. Please contact Research West at Library.WestHeritage@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

The Auckland Folk Festival 50th Anniversary exhibition is currently on display until 31 May 2023 at the J.T. Diamond Room and Gallery on Level 2 of the Waitakere Central Library, Henderson.

Author: Raewynn Robertson. Auckland Libraries Research West.