What a blast from start to finish. Ive been doing this now for 2 years and the Gulgong Folk Festival is really starting to take on a life of its own.
You may or may not know that I’m Music Director/Promoter of the festival and took it over after it died for 2 years in 1010. Im the one taking all the risks and up to this point have been basically doing everything on the organisational side. It is a huge project taking up to 9 months work to realise and a lot of mental anguish …mainly financial. I suffered a personal monetary loss from the first one in 2012 which may or may never come back to me but this last one looks like breaking even so Im stoked.
Ive been trying to identify what it is that drives me to do something like this…to put myself right out there with my head on the chopping block. You lose friends, make enemies and suffer personal relationship breakdowns but hey… Its a mission, a passion to bring together a wider musical community, give it a voice and some power…it goes right back to our primeval instincts…and I realised its not about me and my musical or community standing, its about the musos.
They come and play for a pittance , just for the chance to get some of their art and pain [??] heard. I know , I do it too…love playing and want people to hear my song.
Anyway…the next festival is planned for November 2014 and a Mudgee one is being realised in May 2014 so there is plenty to do, along with the private counter culture gigs down at Braymont and selected venues round Mudgee./ I think I have my calling now…at the tender age of 51.
Heres some pics from the many musical appearances I made at GFF 2013.
Richard Lawson Music 
One reply on “Richard at the Gulgong Folk Festival”
[…] friendly volunteers and locals and of course the sheer calibre of the bands that played there. Richard Lawson took on the organisation of the Gulgong Folk Festival only two years ago and it’s quickly become something very special. I sure am glad I was part […]