Every day of the festival, there are participatory workshops, led by our wonderful festival guests.

Jennifer Reid | Traditional Ballads
Join English traditional singer Jennifer Reid to sing out songs in your accent from the UK tradition. Work songs are a specialty but a range of themes will be covered. You might even enjoy it! Youth (teens, tweens, young adults and young folk from age 10 up) will find this workshop especially appealing but all are welcome.
Trad Songs: 1st Jan 3.30pm Troop Den

Dragkroka | Tune workshop
Dragkroka welcomes you to a tune learning workshop in Swedish folk music. Polska is the life blood of the Swedish folk tradition, you will learn the wonders of this 3/4 dance type and explore a number of different regional dialects from throughout Sweden. These tunes will be closely linked to the dances in our dance workshop series, providing you with tunes you can use to develop and share your new dancing skills once the festival is over. We can’t wait to go on a tune adventure with you, from the yellow fields of Skåne, through the deep Finnish woods of Finnskogen, and down into the depths of the great pit of Dalarna. See you there!
2nd Jan 1.30pm Workshop Space

Yujing Cui | Discover Chinese Folk Music
Join Yujing to explore the beautiful melodies and instruments of Chinese folk music. You’ll listen to traditional pieces, learn about instruments like the pipa, and arrange a famous folk song together on guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, or any instrument you play. We might even bring the song to the stage during Yujing’s concert!
31st Dec 2.30pm Workshop Space
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Old Man Luedecke | Banjo Songwriting
Come and hang out with Old Man Luedecke and learn songwriting techniques and skills with the five string banjo. We'll discuss moods, tunings and rhythms to bring shape and accompaniment to our wildest complaints and passions. Bring your banjo and maybe we'll write a song!
31st Dec 1.30pm Workshop Space

Ellen Barry | The Benefits of Song
Ellen Barry is offering a workshop for those who are curious about the holistic, health benefits of expressing ourselves through sound and song. As an Embodied guide and Yoga Therapist, Ellen has well over a decade of studying the body through various modalities. She is excited to blend her knowledge of physiology and energetics, sound and nervous system health, for a deeply nourishing and experiential offering, welcome to all.
2nd Jan 1.30pm Workshop Space

Triske | Learn a Tune by Ear
Join Triske as they teach a Celtic tune by ear! In this workshop, we will briefly cover how to pick up a tune by ear with no sheet music. By the end of it, you'll have another tune to your name and more skills to learn more in the future.
Intermediate knowledge of the player's instrument is required. Easy or hard tunes will be taught depending on demand.
1st Jan 2.30pm Workshop Space

RD1 | Music and the Unseen Worlds
New ways to think about music and why we play it. The Music and the unseen worlds workshop will include talking about and demonstrating 3 different levels of music making. I call them Excess, Alignment and Transcendent. Stories from a life in service to music and what music itself wants from us. “Mountain music from mountains real and imagined!”
31st Dec 11am Workshop Space

Shaky Hollows | Band practice
Come see how Shaky Hollows practice their craft. Chief songwriter Casey Hilder brings the lyrics and overall concept to his fellow band mates. They throw ideas at the wall to figure out what arrangements suit his tunes best. Will Lara be able to use her shakers? Will Casey finally write a song without a CAPO? Will Jared remember where his solo is? Will Dave come out alive? Will any of them keep up with Anna?! Come find out and have a listen to freshly developing tunes!
2nd Jan 11am Workshop Space

Emily Sterk (Skin & Bone) | Kids' Kodaly method music workshops.
Come and learn the foundation skills of music through songs and rhythm games. Open to children of all all ages and abilities. The activities can be tailored to every level so there will be something to challenge everyone.
31st Dec 10.00am Workshop Space
2nd Jan 1.30pm Troop Den

Joseph Coleman | Mandolin for Beginners.
Joseph will lead a Beginners’ Mandolin workshop. Come prepared to learn a tune, or two! If time allows, Joseph will also cover accompaniment styles for those tunes. This workshop is aimed at beginners but players of all levels are welcome.
Joseph is currently studying at the New Zealand School of Music. As well as playing in various jazz ensembles, he is an integral part of The Madillionaires with his voice and intuitive backing on accordion and mandolin.
2nd Jan 3.30pm Workshop Space