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 2025!

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. Simply sign up on the day at the Youth Gathering Tent to join in on the fun. And remember, to celebrate “60 years young”, this year, kids under 13 have free registration, all weekend!

Can’t wait to see you there!

But first! Meet our seriously cool tutors!

Our tutors

Cassandra Bahr – Tutor for Ropu Tamariki (5 – 12yrs)

Cassandra has taught with the YG regularly over the last four years, and loves helping tamariki enjoy all things musical. She sings in the Wellington Youth Choir, plays fiddle and ukulele and can occasionally be found opera singing!
She is delighted to be returning to the Youth Gathering for some singing shenanigans with our younger tamariki. Bring instruments and voices, mums and dads welcome.

Chabb Chia – Whistle Tutor for the Ropu Rangatahi (13 -18yrs)

Chabb is one of New Zealand’s leading traditional Irish whistle players and a versatile woodwind musician. With over 15 years of experience in Irish and Scottish music, he’s performed with acclaimed bands like Shimna’s List and The Chias, bringing rich tone and flair to stages across Aotearoa. At the festival, Chabb will share his passion for Celtic and world folk music through fun, hands-on whistle workshops. Whether you’re new to the whistle or already play, this is your chance to learn from one of the best! 🎶

Karen Jones – Guitar Tutor for the Ropu Rangatahi (13 -18yrs) 

Guitarist, singer, harpist, and part of the Youth Gathering team, Karen is here to help you take your guitar playing to the next level! 🎸 If you know around 6 chords, can change between them, and love your guitar, this workshop is for you. Karen will show you how to accompany Celtic tunes — a skill that will bring your playing alive. A qualified music teacher and specialist, Karen spent 17 years in Scotland and the UK, where she soaked up the traditions that shape her guitar style today. Now performing with Across the Great Divide, Karen’s passion is Scottish trad — and she can’t wait to share it with you!

Iris Broadley – Song Tutor for the Ropu Rangatahi (13 -18yrs) 

We’re so excited to have Iris on board as one of our Youth Gathering tutors this year! Iris is a talented ceilidh caller, folk dancer, and passionate singer who especially loves traditional songs. She can’t wait to share her favourite tunes and get everyone singing together. Iris was runner-up in the 2024 Walker Trust Award — so you’re in for a treat! Bring your voice, bring your energy, and get ready for a big, joyful sing with Iris. 🎶

Who is it for?

The Youth Gathering is for children and teens who want to learn folk music and meet other like-minded friends.

Here’s this year’s programme at a glance. There are 3 sessions. Two of them are with our team, and the 3rd is an unsupervised hang space, with the security of our team of Aunties doing the occasional checks.

• 10am – 12.30pm: 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: BTW, 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 programme 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! 🌟

What are the Youth Gathering’s aims and ethics?

The WFF Youth Gathering is a programme of folk, world and traditional music. It is aimed at young people between the ages of 5 and 18 with a mission to get youth excited and celebrate the folk and traditional music in NZ.

Aims

The overall aim of WFF YG is to provide a unique opportunity for young people from across NZ to come together and engage through music in a manner that is characterised by respect, generosity and openness. With this in mind, WFF YG aims to inspire and support young people between the ages of 5 – 18 to get excited about folk, world and traditional Celtic music.

Held at the WFF, the YG engages children and youth through a series of workshops and jamming, culminating in a final concert, working together to also promote respect, creativity, peace, tolerance, community and understanding. The YG promotes an informal pedagogy embracing the principles of intercultural dialogue and understanding.

The goal of the YG is to inspire musicians through these interactions to deepen their folk music interests and to encourage a national network that supports community and musical development in our children and young adults.

Our programme combines workshops, jam sessions, rehearsals and performances that enable participants to develop personal and musicianship skills.

We believe that music is a powerful tool that fosters inclusion, understanding and acceptance.

Our Objectives

• To create and deepen relationships of young musicians within the NZ Folk Scene
• To develop a respect for each other’s music and culture while deepening each participant’s own
• To nurture rangatiratanga, creativity and a stronger sense of individuality
• To honour the whakapapa of our people of NZ through cultural and traditional folk music.

Our Commitments

• To create a safe space at WFF for our young people of all genders, cultures, skills and beliefs
• Build confidence in young people, to grow musically and personally.
• Preserve cultural heritage, keep traditional music alive through our young people
• Embrace diversity, celebrate uniqueness and ensure inclusion in all that we do
• Promote creative and experimental learning.

Our Values

Respect, Acceptance & Tolerance, Inclusion, Friendship, Creativity, Understanding, Generosity, Openness, Leadership.