Another fabulous Tablelands Folk Festival has come to a close. The 41st year of the festival will certainly be one I'll remember with the acknowledgement of being given Life Membership from the organising committee of the Tablelands Folk Festival for my involvement over the years and more particularly in recent years as co-ordinator of the songwriting competition. Dave Hart another festival stalwart was also acknowledged with Life Membership this year.

Tablelands Folk Festival is the longest running festival in Queensland. While I certainly haven't been to all festivals over the years, I've been to many. It is a local festival for me having been raised on the Atherton Tablelands. It sure means a lot to be acknowledged for my involvement this way.

In usual style, the festival opened with a big bang although this year that was because it followed a local storm. Mick Hodgkins introduced regional councillor David Clifton who officially opened the Festival. Uncle Laurie Padmore Dulgabarra Yidinji elder did welcome to country and the scene was set for a fabulous weekend full of performances, workshops, special events and festival happenings.

Being able to perform at the festival sharing my songs, some heard for the first time is an experience I'm always grateful of the opportunity for.

2022 Tablelands Folk Festival McGinty's Songwriter Competition:
Along with Jeanette Wormald, Fiona Sewell and Karen Stewart we judged this year's competition, no easy feat given the talent of all the worthy contenders. The Songwriter Competition was ever popular again for both Emerging and Open Categories.

The winners for this year's Tablelands Folk Festival Songwriter Competition are:

Open Category: Maddi O'Brien
Emerging Category: Martin Enock
Best Song - Open: John Rainbird
Best Song - Emerging: Glenn Bellis
Highly Commended Award: Ingrid Piper
Encouragement Award: Raine Hildebrand



A competition made possible with the amazing support of our sponsors:
Buzz Music, Cairns; Cairns Voice Studio; Coconut Groove, Kuranda; McGinty's Irish Bar, Cairns and Atherton Trophies.

Song snippet compilation at Little Eden performance: