Both ABC Radio National and DIG Internet Radio will be giving the nation a chance to hear two of the best festivals on the Australian music calendar.
Over the March 8-9th weekend, both stations have presenters and reporters at WOMADelaide and the Port Fairy Folk Festival broadcasting interviews, live performances and capturing the atmosphere of these special events. At key times, Radio National and DIG will also simulcast live, including:
10am – Midday*, Saturday, 8th March. The weekend starts with Andrew Ford presenting The Music Show live and direct from the arena of the Port Fairy Folk Festival. The two-hour broadcast will feature performances and interviews with guests including Dick Gaughan, Harry Manx, Paul Brady, Robin Huw Bowen, Kate Campbell and Felpeyu. (Repeated Radio National at 10pm that night).
7pm – 8pm*, Saturday, 8th March. Music Deli, presented by Paul Petran, will also be coming live from Port Fairy. You’ll hear Gorani, a male vocal group specialising in Georgian songs; Mia Dyson and band, a great young Australian lap steel player with a powerful voice; the Fred Smith Band from Canberra with a bunch of new hard hitting songs; harmonica player extraordinaire Brendan Power with locals Greg Sheehan and Luke O’Neill.
8pm – 10pm*, Saturday, 8th March. Lucky Oceans and Doug Spencer present a special live edition of The Planet from Botanic Park in Adelaide, home of the now legendary WOMADelaide Festival. There’ll be a performance highlights package from the festival as well as a live cross to the Stage One concert of Cheik Lo, one of the festival’s main attractions. From Dakar, Senegal, he is a deeply spiritual singer and bandleader who is championed actively by countryman Youssou N’Dour. Incorporating elements of salsa, Zairian Congolese, rumba, folk and jazz, Lo has created an infectious, hook-laden, style of pop music.
4pm – 5pm*, Sunday, 9th March. To cap off this coverage, Radio National’s Live on Stage program features The Sharon Shannon Band live from Port Fairy, introduced on stage by Paul Petran. Airs, jigs, reels, polkas, English Dance tunes, reggae beats, French Canadian and Finnish fiddle tunes, and songs dedicated to West Indian singing legends make up Sharon Shannon’s eclectic musical world. The Irish born squeeze box champ and fiddler is joined onstage by Mary Shannon (guitar), Jim Murray (banjo) and Pauline Scanlon (voice).
DIG Internet Radio – at abc.net.au/dig – will bring other performances from the festivals and keep listeners in the picture with reviews, interviews and festival news brought to you by renowned music journalist and presenter, Brian Wise.