Kevin Rudd to get No.1 Ticket - 24th Illawarra Folk Festival Launch, 21 November 2008
Illawarra Folk Club Launch for the Illawarra Folk Festival 2009
12.00 Noon, Friday 21st November
The Amphitheatre in the Wollongong Crown St Mall
Kevin Rudd to get Number One Ticket.
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, will be issued with the Illawarra Folk Festival’s ‘No. One ticket’ at the upcoming Festival Launch. The Launch of the Festival will be held in the amphitheatre in the Wollongong Mall at noon on Friday 21st November.
The Illawarra Folk Festival, the largest of its kind in the State will be held at the Slacky Flat, Bulli Showgrounds from 15th-18th January 2009.
“Kevin Rudd has acknowledged that he has a preference for Folk Music”, Festival Director David De Santi said. “Last year he sent us a personal message congratulating and wishing us well for the Festival so it seemed only natural that we should give him the number one ticket this year. We hope he can come.”
Sharon Bird, the member for Cunningham will be on hand to accept the ticket on Mr Rudds behalf and has indicated that she will have a message from the PM to read out at the launch.
Chairmen of proceedings for the launch will be the ABC’s morning announcer Nick Rheinberger and the Festival Party Band will be there to provide some colour and musical entertainment.
People may not be able to get the number one ticket but ticket numbers 2 to 1000 are reserved for early birds who can get there weekend passes for just $65; a huge saving of $35 if they purchase them on line at www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au or by phoning 1300 887 034 before December 1st.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theresa Gregory, Publicist
02 4285 7417 or 0413 219 112
gregorytk@bigpond.com
About the amazing Illawarra Folk Festival
The Illawarra Folk Festival is conducted by the Illawarra Folk Club inc. and is a four day series of concerts, Dances, spoken word, workshops covering a wide range of genres covered by the broad church of folk. Since the inception of the Festival twenty-three years ago (at Jamberoo) it has grown from very humble beginnings (sold a mere twenty tickets to the first festival) to the premier folk festival in NSW. This growth is that it has occurred without the use of professional or paid directors or helpers. There is probably no other organisation producing a festival of this size that exists solely on the goodwill of volunteers.
With its aims of supporting our heritage through the living tradition of music, spoken word and dance the Festival is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the state. Unlike other forms of the arts it has existed with very little Government funding and has relied on public support through ticket sales.
It has the support of the local people of the Illawarra who benefit, not only by having easy access to a major cultural event, but also by being involved in running the likes of food stalls, and combining with the festival to raise funds for local non-profit organizations and charities. The Festival directors are well aware of the socio-economic status of much of the Illawarra and the use of Volunteers means that the Festival is the most affordable (for its size) in Australia. It caters for families by admitting children for free as well as having an extensive programme for young children.
The Festival embraces the many different cultural groups in the Illawarra. Local song and dance groups from Macedonia, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, The Philippines, Russia and Turkey are all able to display their cultures in a way that emphasises the cohesion of our society while showing off its differences. As well our own indigenous people are well represented as is our Largely Anglo-Celtic heritage.
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