Canterbury Folk Festival

29th March to 1st April 2024: A weekend of live music, workshops, dancing and jamming with fantastic local folk acts!

Based at the Waipara Adventure Centre (40 minutes north of Christchurch), the Canterbury Folk Festival showcases some of the best folk talents that NZ has to offer. With a family-friendly and inclusive programme, there's something for everyone.

Enjoy the Saturday night Ceilidh (social dance, instructions provided!), join a blind-date band, perform in a blackboard concert or immerse yourself in an informal jam session with fellow musicians. Don't forget the Festival Choir, or this year's Festival Orchestra! For the younger musicians we have a Youth Band and an exciting children's programme.

Our guest artists will be running a variety of workshops, passing on years of experience in the industry. Expect to learn instrumental skills, dance moves, hear about folk history, pick up some performance tips, and much much more.

This year featuring:
Songware - exciting new project of seasoned professional musicians Craig Denham (accordion, keyboards, whistle, foot percussion, voice) and Jo Taylor (voice, guitar, bodhrán).
Fiddlesticks - twin fiddles with bass, guitar, and vocals: a melting pot of styles, featuring originals and traditional Celtic tunes.

Rhythm and Kin - mother-daughter duo, featuring violin, vocals, tin whistle and guitar: original and traditional tunes and songs of a Celtic flavour with a hint of world music flare
Dr T and the Dangerous Women - the latest project from Hyram Twang, featuring bass, keys, strings and percussive talents of Claire Louise, Alexandra and Sophia Bidwell, Anna Bowen and Alan Metcalf.
Mike Harding - NZ folk musician, a musical storyteller with a mission to seek out and share the songs of New Zealand.

Moroney - the talented multi-instrumentalist family band presenting their takes on everything from British traditional songs to contemporary bluegrass ballads, along with some originals with a strong focus on tight harmonies.
Leigham Fitzpatrick - acoustic singer-songwriter based in Dunedin
Davey Backyard - country/folk/blues 'barroom' persona & one-man band


Also featuring:
Steffany Beck
Here We Are

Check out our website for ticket prices and registration information below!
Earlybird registration prices available for a limited time at $160 for the full weekend - camping included!