How the Port Fairy Folk Festival went from truck bed to cultural icon

Jamie McKew's voice carries decades of memories as he recounts the story of how a simple idea in 1977 transformed into one of Australia's most beloved cultural institutions.

At 30 years old, with little more than enthusiasm and a love for folk music, McKew planted the seed for what would become the Port Fairy Folk Festival — a four-day celebration that now draws thousands to this picturesque coastal town each March Labour Day long weekend.

"We had no images of that at all," McKew, now in his 70s, tells the Brolga when asked if he envisioned the festival's future success. As the Port Fairy Folk Festival prepares to kick off its 48th year tomorrow, we got the full story from the man who started it all.

A truck, a dream and 300 curious locals

The seeds of the festival were planted when McKew moved to Geelong in 1977. 

"I started a little folk club, because the Geelong Folk Club had stopped, and I was also running a band at the time," McKew explains. He says the group — Buckley's Bush Band — was part of the bush band movement that was “quite a thing in those days”.

Later that year, inspiration struck. "I thought, well, why don't we have a go at a festival? And my little group said, ‘Well, where?’ And I said, ‘Port Fairy'd be good. It's a historic town, lovely little pubs. I know some people down there’. And so they said, ‘Yeah, okay, we'll go and check it out’."

How a hospital manager helped Port Fairy Folk Festival take off

It was around August 1977 when Jamie looked up John Brophy, who was a manager at the Port Fairy Hospital. The hospital committee ran the annual Moyneyana summer festival, so if anyone knew how to run a festival in town, it would be Brophy. Plus, McKew was a GP, so the two had a few things in common.

"I went and saw John Brophy, and said ‘Look, I want to start a festival’. He said, 'Jump in the ute, Jamie, and we'll go and have a look around'. So that's what we did. We found five locations in 10 minutes."

And so from December 2–4, 1977, at a cost of approximately $800, the first Port Fairy Folk Festival was held on a "truck tray, which was set up near the gardens there in the rotunda."

"In the first year, we had an international act, an Irish one. It was basically called Irish and Australian folk music festival," McKew adds.

The crowd numbered around 300. Word had spread via handmade flyers and the local newspaper, and "pretty much through the Melbourne folk music fraternity ... and just a lot of locals turned up out of curiosity”.

The festival ran in December for three years before McKew made what he calls "one of the best decisions ever" — moving it to the March long weekend, where it found its permanent home on the Victorian calendar.

From a local gathering to international showcase

As McKew speaks, you get the sense that the festival's growth was organic — each year adding new elements and expanding its footprint, but always staying true to its folk roots.

"We started booking Irish and other folk acts from overseas, bit by bit," he says. "After about five years, we started needing bigger stages." 

That's when local builders Jack Smith and Russell Clark stepped in, donating their time and skills to construct proper stages. 

The early lineup included a teenage Mick Thomas, who joined Buckley's Bush Band at 15 years old (though he told McKew he was 16 at the time). 

"He came along with a mandolin. He was only 15 and he's done pretty well," McKew says proudly about Thomas, who went on to form and lead Weddings, Parties, Anything, and who returns to the festival this year with his own band the Roving Commission.

By its peak, the festival was drawing daily crowds of 12,000. While numbers dipped during Covid, McKew notes the festival has been "building up a lot" over the past three years.

A folk festival with a long family legacy

As the festival grew, it became more than just an annual event — it evolved into a tradition passed down through generations. "There's so many connections," McKew reflects. "Grandkids of people who came years ago are coming now, so that makes it really interesting and a lot of fun."

While McKew is no longer officially involved in administration, he remains a fixture of the event, hosting themed concerts including this year's "Troubadours" showcase featuring international acts like the Frisco Sisters, Clare Sands and Dean Owens.

At these shows, a festival highlight, an eclectic range of artists share the stage, exchanging songs and stories. "Basically it's a round robin thing. They're all on stage together. We have a quick chat to them, and then they rip into an appropriate song." 

Evolution and innovation

In 2025 the festival layout has been refreshed. 

"The venues have been remodelled this year to a large extent," McKew says. “Instead of six main venues in the arena, we've dropped it down to four, and they're much bigger."

The refreshed approach reflects a festival willing to evolve while honoring its traditions. "The festival team, committee and staff have worked very hard on this 2025 festival to change and improve," McKew tells the Brolga.

From humble beginnings on flatbed stage, the festival now has undercover venues, international headliners and an array of musical styles, from Irish traditional to blues and African rhythms. Past performers include Billy Bragg, Gurrumul, Paul Kelly, Sinead O'Connor and The Waifs.

McKew hasn’t missed a single festival. When asked how it feels to walk the festival grounds these days and witness firsthand what his idea has become, McKew describes it as “a real buzz to see the festival still alive and well and buzzing like it always did. It's a real thrill and real privilege."

McKew takes particular pride in the community aspect of the event. "It's a very small community that's building all that every year, making it happen. That's just incredible."

"It's a great community event, and I think it's one of the things we need more of in the world — more gathering together to share music and good company."

The Port Fairy Folk Festival runs March 7–10, 2025.

Images supplied by Jamie McKew