After a two-year hiatus the National Folk Festival has returned to Canberra with a lineup worth the wait for music lovers.
More than 200 performers as well as roving entertainers, bars, food and market stalls, transformed Exhibition Park in Canberra over the long weekend.
Potential lovers Ray Etherton and Lisa Williamson made the most of the festive vibe and got to know one another in a break between seeing shows.
The pair, who met on the dating app Bumble on Saturday morning, said the sounds and sunshine had created the perfect backdrop for a stellar lineup.
Mr Etherton, who travelled from Rylestone to volunteer with the festival, said there was a punk-folk band he was looking forward to seeing, otherwise, he was spending the afternoon getting to know Ms Williamson.
"Who knows? We might even go and see some music," he said.
Australian music icon Archie Roach, of Gunditjmara and Bundjalung heritage, introduced the opening concert on Friday, performing his song Let Love Rule as a duet with 13-year-old Layla Barnett.
Creative director Katie Noonan said it had been a beautiful show, with a standing ovation from the crowd.
"It was just incredibly special and very moving," she said.
Ms Noonan, who performed on Saturday morning, said after two years of Covid cancellations there was a feeling of relief amongst performers to finally be back touring.
"For all of us on and off the stage, for the crew, the lighting guys, the sound engineers and musicians, we're all desperate to be back doing what we love doing," she said.
"I certainly consider the arts an essential service."
Ms Noonan said attendance had been amazing and it was great seeing a lot of folk festival first timers.
"I think because we've got artists like Josh Pyke that's sort of bringing in a younger crowd," she said.
"And we've had lots of kids and lots of families here throughout the weekend, which is great."
Sunday will see both Lior and Domini, as well as Josh Pyke take the Narragunnawali stage, following an initial performance by Pyke on Saturday.
The closing concert on Monday will be a multi-generational affair featuring the Warumpi Band's Sammy Butcher and Neil Murray, performing with Butcher's 12-year-old grandson Jack and George Butcher's daughter Crystal.
Yothu Yindi will sound off the night singing their iconic song Treaty, 30 years since it was released.
It will mark the 30th year since the National Folk Festival was first held on Ngunnawal land, having found its permanent home in Canberra when the Australian Folk Trust took over in 1992.
Prior to that, the National Folk Festival was held in a different jurisdiction every year since it started at Melbourne University's Teachers College in 1967.
