Are you currently learning music, or would like to?

Are you excited to learn more about folk music and jump into a weekend of playing, learning, collaborating and performing?

Come join the Youth Gathering 2024!

What’s happening?

Hey everyone – get ready for an awesome time at the Wellington Folk Festival with our Youth Gathering! 🎉 We’ve got a bunch of fun workshops and music sessions lined up, led by some seriously cool tutors and musicians. It’s perfect for kids and teens who want to dive into music and have a blast.

And guess what? It all wraps up with a fantastic celebration concert on Sunday, right before the Walker Trust Awards concert and the legendary Sausage Sizzle! 🌭🎵

Best part? All of this is totally FREE with your Wellyfest ticket! Just sign up on the day or fill out the main registration form to join in on the fun.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Who is it for?

We’re still fine-tuning the details, but here’s a sneak peek at the schedule!

• • 9am – 12pm: Fun workshops for 5 to 12-year-olds 🎨
  • 1pm – 4pm: Exciting sessions for 13 to 18-year-olds 🎸
  • 5pm – 11pm: Chill time and jamming for 13 to 18-year-olds in the YG hangout space 🎶
  • Sunday Afternoon: Don’t miss the sausage sizzle for YG participants who rocked out in the concert! 🌭

We’ll keep you updated as soon as the final program is ready. Stay tuned! 😄

Where?

• YG Tent – Wellyfest

The YG Tent – 5pm – 11pm

Done with the workshops and looking for more fun? 🎸

Come chill or jam out at the YG Tent! From 5pm to 11pm, it’s the place for anyone aged 13 to 20 to hang, play music, or just kick back. If you’re under 13, you’re welcome too—just make sure you bring an older sibling or friend (13+). And sorry, no adults allowed (yep, even if you’re young at heart!).

We’ve set up a cool, safe spot with some Tuakana/teina vibes to keep things friendly and welcoming. The tent is mostly self-run, so we trust everyone to respect the space and its rules.

Parents and guardians, please note that while we have safety measures in place, you’re still responsible for your young ones.

Oh, and don’t miss out on the free goodies like biscuits, juice, and hot chocolate! Just be cool and considerate with the snacks.

See you at the tent! 🌟

Register here, or on the day at the YG tent!

What are the Youth Gathering’s aims and ethics?

Folk music differs from other genres in that it is passed on most often aurally. It is also  often just as much about the inclusion and community as it is the music. The Youth Gathering takes this on board and engages children and youth through a series of folk music workshops and playing together, culminating in a final concert, while working together to promote respect, creativity, peace, tolerance, community and understanding.

The WFF Youth Gathering programme runs over the festival and aims to inspire and support young people between the ages of 5 – 18 to get excited about folk, world and traditional music.  It promotes a non-formal pedagogy and also aims to provide unique opportunities for young people from across NZ to come together and engage through music in a manner that is characterised by respect, generosity and openness.

The goal of the YG is to inspire young musicians through these interactions to deepen their relationships and musical interests which will in the future help to build a national network that supports community and musical development.

It seeks to nurture rangatiratanga, whakawhanaungatanga, creativity and a stronger sense of individuality. We hope to also honour the whakapapa of our people of NZ through cultural and traditional folk music.

We believe folk music is a powerful tool that fosters inclusion, understanding and acceptance and promotes strong community.