The Mill City Folk Festival

Drawing on the long history of St Ailbes Hall in Launceston as a venue for live music, community gatherings and dances, we introduce the Mill City Folk Festival to the Tasmanian calendar! In Launceston’s yesteryear, Coats Patons Mill was the largest employer of women in the city, with the Inveresk Railyards being the equivalent for men. On weekends, the people gathered at suburban halls to dance, meet with friends, shake off the drudgery of the working week, and maybe get a glimpse of their future life partner across a crowded room…
Join us in a celebration of community and live music right here in the city!Mat Woolley - The Master of the Sea Shanty!

Think “Choir in the Pub meets Pirates of Penzance”! Mat will have you joining in a rollicking singalong of shanties, folk songs, work songs, and drinking songs! These songs are easy to learn, so you can join in with the refrains and choruses, and did we mention there’ll be a bar at the event? We can’t guarantee a bottle of rum, but you can sing along with a beer or a wine in your hand!
Mat is a multi-instrumentalist and has performed in various bands and musical combinations around Hobart venues, as well as Tasmanian and international folk festivals, and is a member of the Tasmanian Grassroots Union Choir.Sparrowgrass folk trio from the Devonport area combines 3 divine voices with a focus on lush harmonies and a range of acoustic instruments. Versatile and fun, with roots firmly planted in Celtic and Australian folk traditions, Sophie, Tessa and Alex first and foremost make music to please themselves and their audiences. Since forming in 2024, they have performed at folk festivals nationally and across Tasmania. Heart-warming, with jaw-droppingly beautiful voices, Sparrowgrass will leave you with the warm and fuzzies!Ross Smithard and Up Jumped Trouble bring the spirit of the Appalachian mountains to life with their vibrant blend of original, contemporary, and traditional tunes. Led by Ross’s darn fine fiddling and vocals, and accompanied by Annette on clawhammer banjo, Margaret on guitar and Graeme on upright bass, the music of “Up Jumped Trouble” is a fusion of original and traditional tunes taking you on a journey filled with fast-paced foot-stompers, toe-tapping rhythms, celebrating the rich heritage of old-time mountain music with its simplicity and authenticity.

The band also play at Tasmania Folk Federation contra/bush dances and other bush dances throughout Tasmania on a regular basis, and we’re thrilled to be able to end our inaugural Mill City Folk Festival with some called bush dances! Tables and chairs will be pushed to the sides of the hall and the centre of the room will be filled with dancers - no experience necessary! Everyone welcome!

Bar facilities and food available throughout the event (NO BYO) - tickets available from GigTix

8 August 4–8pm