00:00They put the rollick into rollicking.
00:10In a festival that's a little bit hippy, and a little bit fiddly, and always international.
00:19The National Folk Festival attracts all kinds of performers, and the audience is all ages.
00:26You can put your name in a hat for a turn in the tent, or simply busk.
00:31One thing that sets it apart is the number of volunteers, many from interstate, including
00:36this team of 30, looking after the performers.
00:39A lot of my team are musicians, I must admit.
00:43Some of them are quite young musicians just breaking in, so they want to experience the
00:47whole festival experience.
00:49And the organisers let the performers set some of the agenda.
00:52This year we have Headphones Jones running a game show.
00:56That's a music trivia thing, Thinks, Spicks and Specks, those sorts of shows.
01:00But that's come from them.
01:01The National Folk Festival hasn't been immune from falling numbers, which has seen others
01:06like Splendour in the Grass cancelled.
01:10After drastic action, which saw several staff members let go, this year's organisers are
01:15hoping the leaner operation will work in their favour.
01:19It's just about making sure that we can put the money where it really needs to go to ensure
01:25that the essence of the festival is still here.
01:28And that essence was much on display.
01:30Even Judy Turner, who founded the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers, still gets a kick out of it.
01:36Absolutely, too excited.
01:38That was so exciting on stage, seeing all the different age groups and all the great playing.
01:42The festival will wind up on Monday.
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