Australian musician Josh Pyke will perform at the 2025 National Folk Festival, as the first of next year's line-up is revealed.
Pyke, who has won multiple ARIA awards, says the festival is more like a community.
"I love the National Folk Festival," he said.
"This will be my second time playing at it, and I can't wait to feel that awesome sense of community again, wandering through the site seeing amazing artists at every turn. It's a truly special festival and I'm honoured to be part of it again."
Pyke, a beloved figure in the Australian music scene since his debut album Memories & Dust in 2007, has just released his Covers EP, which includes his rendition of Belinda Carlisle's Leave a Light On.
"I've always loved this song," he said. "Hearing Belinda Carlisle's version as an 11-year-old, it felt romantic, uplifting, and gave me all the feels. I wanted to tackle it from a more wistful, almost nostalgic point of view - imagine if Mazzy Star and Beck were collaborating on a love song."
The National Folk Festival will take place at Exhibition Park in Canberra from April 17-21.
Also confirmed for the festival, is Canadian performer Ruth Moody, a founding member of the trio The Wailin' Jennys.
Moody will perform alongside the Festival Choir, which is open to all festival attendees, representing the event's ethos of "empowering artists and audiences to create and celebrate together".
The 2025 National Folk Festival will have a particular feature of pipes, with Elias Alexander (USA), wielding bagpipes and whistles, and Kadinelia (Greece), bringing their fusion of traditional Greek instruments, such as the Cycladic bagpipe and Pontian lyra, with beatboxing and guitars.
Irish singer-songwriter Daoir Farrell and Scottish-born, Canadian-based David Francey, part of the newly-announced international lineup, will bring storytelling and folk roots to the festival.
Events include an Autumn Equinox Bridgerton Ball, a Chilean Fiesta featuring Melbourne artist Vanessa Estrada and the return of the all-inclusive Queer Céil, led by Brisbane group Amaid.
First Nation artists also take centre stage with performances by The Stiff Gins, and poet Sassi Spirit contributing to the line-up of spoken-word performances.
The program is curated by artistic directors Chris Stone, Michael Sollis and Holly Downes.
"Our goal is to create a space where artists and audiences can come together, share stories, and be part of something greater than themselves" Stone said.
"The National Folk Festival remains a vibrant beacon in the Australian cultural landscape and we are proud and excited to present an incredibly diverse, rich lineup. Further artist announcements will be made in the coming months."
Tickets for the 2025 National Folk Festival are on sale now at folkfestival.org.au
