Port Fairy Folk Festival has opened applications for its Future Folk Young Musician Development program today.
The program provides mentorship opportunities for emerging musicians aged between 12 and 25, offering them the chance to work with established artists and perform on festival stages during the March long weekend. The initiative aims to cultivate skills and foster connections within the music community while providing valuable performance experience at Fiddlers Green and in songwriters circles on main stages.
Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Justin Rudge highlighted the program’s importance in nurturing young talent from the Southwest district, describing it as a vessel for the future of music and live performance in regional Victoria. This year, the festival has partnered with Queenscliff Music Festival to showcase previous Future Folk artists to new audiences.
Port Fairy Folk Festival
- Applications open to singers, songwriters, solo musicians and band members
- Program delivered in partnership with Moyne Shire Council’s Amplify program
- Funding provided by Victorian Government
- Applications close 21 September 2025
- Festival takes place 6-9 March 2026 in Port Fairy, Victoria
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The collaboration between festivals will see Future Folk alumni Ruby McKenna and Kook Joey perform at Queenscliff Music Festival in November. Queenscliff Music Festival Director Claire Stickland described the artists as rising stars sharing unique sounds across the festival weekend.
Since beginning in 2022, the Future Folk program has supported young emerging musicians from the Southwest region. Local musician Flynn Gurry, who participated in 2022, has experienced significant career growth following his mentoring sessions with the Pierce Brothers, including a national tour and performance at Triple J’s One Night Stand event in Warrnambool.
Moyne Shire Council Deputy Mayor Jordan Lockett noted how the program has helped young artists from the local community develop from great to epic, sharing their stories and songs with audiences from across the world.
Artists interested in applying can visit portfairyfolkfestival.com with applications closing on 21 September 2025.
For more information, head here.
