The last time I saw Darren Percival, we were holed up in his van enjoying the rare taste of air conditioning in the midst of Woodford Folk Festival.
He was running perhaps five minutes late and so brought along a bag of Byron Bay Doughnuts by way of an apology – and yes, he really is just that nice. It’s a quality so evident and endearing that it has secured him some of the most loyal and passionate fans in the country. For proof, look beyond his second place in the premiere season of The Voice, and focus instead on the crowd he pulls at Woodford each year. From his concerts to his packed-out vocal workshops, they come for the music, but they stay for the man.
“You can go and not look at the program,” he says, “and feel assured you’re going to be looked after, and have an amazing experience that you weren’t expecting. We speak of having your ‘Woodford moment’, you know? ‘What was your Woodford moment this year?’ I think if you haven’t gone before you fit right in, and if you’ve been going for a long time, there’s still nothing else like it. I’ve been going for eight years, I’ve performed in all different settings – this gradual build to having my own space there now, which was the dream.
“I actually never went as a ticket holder. I filled in the application for a couple of years and didn’t get in, which I feel is a good thing because I wasn’t ready. And when I finally went, I’d never experienced anything like it. And it gave me permission as an artist to say what I wanted to say, how I wanted to resonate. But at Woodford, after that first week, I’d be trying as hard as I could to keep that feeling going for the rest of the year.”
Performing as Mr. Percival, the Parramatta-born artist was the talk of his first festival. Back then, his was a name known to few; a tall, smiling man who somehow managed to lead larger and larger crowds into impromptu harmonies and captivating loops. He was gracious, humble, and eight years later he now has his very own dedicated Singing Space on-site. Last time we spoke, he talked of his life in terms of chapters he could read back to, and he still considers himself prone to reflection.
“I definitely am. ‘What have I achieved since I was here last? What happened or what didn’t happen?’ I try not to reminisce too much, but I also project a lot of things, which helps achieve a lot of my personal goals. Some people perhaps question some of the things that I’ve done, and they’ve let me know that,” he chuckles. “But I’ve done them for a reason that was important to me personally. The Voice is a great example of that. I think that it was an experience I wanted to have, and sure, I was aware of some of the things that were going to unfold from it, but there was a lot more I didn’t know, and I like that.
“If you’ve been doing something for a long time, you tend to know what happens next. Whereas in an experience like that, I had no idea, and that made it very rewarding. I’m aware that it has a stigma attached to it, but that’s just the perception certain people have of it. The experience didn’t have that stigma. And from there I’ve been able to do things I don’t think I could have done otherwise. Similarly, and equally powerfully, if I hadn’t done Woodford, there are even more things I never would have achieved.”
Woodford boasts an impressive lineup this year – Amanda Palmer, Urthboy, Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen, plus hundreds of others – but for many, it wouldn’t be the same without Percival popping up in some unexpected tent. The festival itself has changed quite significantly over the years, and the 2015/16 season saw some sweeping shifts to venues and bars. But at the risk of sounding entirely hokey, the spirit of Woodford remains the same. The ethos, the bewildering beating heart – turn any corner, and you’ll stumble upon some marvel or other – is just growing stronger.
“I think one of the most vibrant and dynamic changes from my perspective is that people are coming along to the festival wanting to see artists perform and share their music, yes,” says Percival. “But they’re also coming along wanting to take more than just that experience. They want something interactive, they want to learn something, build something. Not everyone! But I think quite a lot of people are keen to come along for a wider experience, and I think Woodford definitely moved with that shift.
“Really, Woodford is life-changing. You don’t just buy a ticket and go. If you go and are present in what can happen, it’s really profound. There are other festivals I’ve had great experiences at, but there’s something about Woodford. That site has something there. It gives you a great sense of what is possible. I always come away feeling such a great sense of hope, that feeling of, ‘Yeah, we can all just get together and get along,’” he laughs. “At Woodford, it just seems to work.”
Woodford Folk Festival 2016/17, featuring Darren Percival, Amanda Palmer, Urthboy, Thelma Plum, Methyl Ethel and many more, takes place Tuesday December 27 – Sunday January 1 atWoodfordia.
