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Radio Woodfordia
Crooked Fiddles and Finding the Frequency of your People with Joe H. Henry
Season 1, Ep. 13
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Just a heads up: There's going to be some chainsaw action, tree-dropping sounds and reversing of a crane thing during this chat. An arborist decided mid-interview was the perfect time for some timber work above our heads. An example of living and working on an ever-evolving site in the middle of a valley.
"Everything we do in a modern society is to pull us away. So we forget how much we're just truly... a piece of the puzzle."
Harley sits down with Joe H. Henry, a Métis musician from Nova Scotia who's returned to Australia for the Festival of Small Halls tour after falling in love with Woodfordia at our last Folk Festival.
Joe's story is steeped in the Red River Valley, where his grandparents walked 260 miles with oxen and Red River carts to settle. He grew up between two worlds – his father's Métis community of fiddle music, trapping, and self-sustaining bush life, and his mother's world of horses. Music isn't just what Joe does; it's "the Henry curse," running through generations of riders, singers, and instrumentalists.
He left home young with just his dog and his guitar, busking outside liquor stores and bars to survive. But that transient lifestyle was embedded in his DNA – the Métis people were always the storytellers, carrying songs and poems from community to community.
The conversation moves between the profound and the practical, from raising five kids (aged 17 to 3) without screens dominating their lives, to the trapping industry keeping remote communities alive, to why we all need to feel our insignificance in nature.
Joe explains why Woodford showed him the consciousness level of all Australians, how technology is changing the valley he once knew, and why he makes music.
This episode is for:
- Anyone who needs reminding that we're magnificently insignificant
- People interested in Indigenous culture, storytelling traditions, and how communities preserve identity
- Parents navigating the wilderness of raising teenagers in the digital age
- Musicians and artists wondering if following their frequency is actually a viable life choice
Dive in to hear about why:
- Feeling small in nature might be the most important thing we can do
- Woodford just might be proof of who we all can be in the "real world"
- Sometimes the best parenting advice is "be water" and ALSO know your kid's best friend's parents
Keen to come to Woodford: https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com
For more Joe H. Henry: https://joehhenry.com/
FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/
CREDITS:
Host: Harley Breen
Guest: Joe H. Henry
Producer: Benny Wallington
Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson
Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson
Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country
#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #JoeHHenry #MetisMusic #FestivalOfSmallHalls #IndigenousStories #metis #canada #novascotia
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Visit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen
More information at www.woodfordia.org
For the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com
For Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/
Credits:
Host: Harley Breen
Producer: Benny Wallington
Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison
Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson
Music by: The East Pointers
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14. Unlearning Jazz School, Touring the Regions and Going Solo with Georgia Mooney
32:59||Season 1, Ep. 14"I think the thing that has struck me the most is that if you just trust yourself and do the thing that feels the most honest to you, it always goes better."In this episode Harley connects with Georgia Mooney, who landed in Brisbane just hours before this conversation after a 60-hour journey from Prince Edward Island, Canada.She's a solo artist now, but you might know her from All Our Exes Live in Texas, the band that graced Woodford's stages and toured relentlessly for years.Georgia's story is about transformation, from studying jazz at WAPA (where she encountered the rigid, male-dominated world of jazz school), to finding her voice in a four-piece harmony band, to now stepping out on her own with her debut solo record, Full of Moon and her follow-up on the way.She's someone who's done the work. The unglamorous reality of being a touring musician, the loneliness of hotel rooms, the immediate consumption of complimentary biscuits, the strange intimacy of band life that's part marriage, part small business, part creative collaboration.This episode is for:Musicians navigating the shift from band to solo workAnyone interested in what the reality of touring feels likePeople curious about the Festival of Small HallsArtists wondering if formal training helps or hinders finding your voiceDive in to hear about why:Jazz school taught Georgia music theory but she had to unlearn the rules to find her creative voiceRegional audiences bring something to a performance that city crowds simply can't replicateThe stage is the one place you absolutely cannot fake it and that might be what saves live performance from AITo learn more about Georgia: https://www.georgiamooney.com/ To come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/To keep up to date with Small Halls Tours: https://festivalofsmallhalls.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Georgia MooneyProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Jack TindallVideo Editing: Nicholas HaddowAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #GeorgiaMooney #FestivalOfSmallHalls #AllOurExesLiveInTexas #AustralianMusic #RegionalTouring #harleybreen #woodfordia
12. Behind the scenes on how Woodford works beyond the Festival with Chris Shervey
38:39||Season 1, Ep. 12"I love being surrounded by people that know about all this stuff - soil scientists, regen' people, and learning myself. That's how this place sort of works, isn't it? You get involved. You get pulled in."Harley sits down with Chris "Shervo' Shervey, Woodford's Site Manager, who oversees 500 acres with a team of five full-time staff and conservation land management trainees. It's a conversation about sustainability, slowing down and the surprising way a metalhead punk rock folky ended up finding purpose in his work at one of Australia's most ambitious environmental projects.Chris first came to Woodford as a patron in 1997 and returned as a volunteer before bringing his background in construction and bridge building to complement his passion for trees, plants, and regenerative land practices.He's the guy who can turn visionary dreams into timber, steel, and working infrastructure. His journey mirrors Woodford itself: someone who arrived for the music and stayed for the mission.This conversation digs into the philosophy behind a 500-year plan, the challenge of being patient when you want to fix everything at once, and why the best infrastructure is the lives on well after you.This episode is for: Anyone curious about what happens at Woodford when the festival isn't on People interested in regenerative land management and large-scale sustainability projects Folks who wonder how festivals actually work behind the scenes Anyone considering volunteering or working at WoodfordDive in to hear about why: A 500-year plan makes more sense than trying to fix everything tomorrow The best role isn't always being the visionary - sometimes it's being the person who can find the timber Kids building three-story pallet forts with power tools is actually good parenting Leaving things better than you found them is part of the essence of WoodfordiaLearn more about what's on this year including hearing Chris on a sustainability panel: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programmeJag your tickets here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/tickets/ FOR MORE:Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Chris SherveyProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JamiesonVideo and audio: Coeur Visual Music by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #Sustainability #RegenerativeLand #FestivalLife #SiteManagement #thankyouforyourshervice #shervology
11. 'Your Kids Belong Here' The Woodford Kid's Festival with Becky Wandell and Kate Day
46:37||Season 1, Ep. 11Excuse the microphones at the start. Small Malfunctions, appreciate your patience."My passion is the environment, and plants and the animals and everything. So each venue (at the children's festival) has a different feel to it, and I place artists in the space that match that feel."In this episode, Harley sits down with Becky Wandell, who's been running the Children's Festival (now Tin Lids) for 34 years, and Kate Day, a storyteller who first performed at the festival when she was 19 and is returning this year.Becky's journey started in the Burnett River Folk Club in Bundaberg in the 1980s, where she and a group of friends created a space for people who didn't quite fit anywhere else. That germ of an idea grew through the magical mystery tours and folk festivals, eventually becoming what we now know as Woodford Folk Festival.She's been there since the very beginning, working from the bottom up literally cleaning toilets at Maleny before helping to shape what the Children's Festival has become.Kate represents everything the festival nurtures. A theatre student with dreams of changing the world through art, she walked into Woodford as a young performer and found a community that believed in her storytelling when she didn't yet believe in herself. Now, she's a public servant and teacher who return to remember she's an artist at heart.The conversation gets beautifully personal about mentorship, legacy, and what it means to see potential in people before they see it in themselves. Harley and Becky reflect on the importance of people who sit behind the scenes, the facilitators who recognise talent and create the conditions for it to flourish. They explore the structure of the eight-venue children's program, the magic of creating spaces where kids feel genuinely respected, and why Professor Wallace's return to do Punch and Judy is such a big deal.This episode is for:Anyone curious about what goes on in the Children's Festival and why it's unlike anythingPeople interested in mentorship, legacy, and how communities nurture artistsParents wondering if Woodford is for familiesPerformers considering getting involved in kids entertainmentDive in to hear about why:The Children's Festival is structured chaos, eight venues all with different feels, each place strategically curatedSometimes the best moments happen when someone believes in you before you believe in yourselfKids are brutally honest critics who can smell inauthenticity from a mile awayKeen to bring your kids to Woodford—https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comLearn more about Tin Lids Kids: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme?genres=TinLidsFOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guests: Becky Wandell & Kate Day Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson Video Editing: Nicholas Haddow Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #TinLids #ChildrensFestival #FestivalLife
10. Small Halls, Big Impact and why our Regions deserve World-Class Music with Izzy Bartlett
36:06||Season 1, Ep. 10"It's not their dream to be a touring musician because they're working hard on their farm, but there's so much soul and heart in their music and those stories are incredible."In this episode, Harley sits down with Izzy Bartlett, the producer of Festival of Small Halls, Woodfordia's regional touring project bringing world-class artists to some of Australia's most remote communities.Izzy's first Woodford was in her mum's belly, so she's a genuine Woodford baby, one of many who grew up in the Chai Tent, made lifelong friendships, and eventually found her way into making Woodford's magic happen behind the scenes.From her family's connection to the Toowoomba orchestra to having a hand in the producing of 47 touring shows across 13 years of regional Australia, Izzy's work is about far more than just bringing acts on the road. It's about access, community resilience, and the radical idea that people in towns of 500 or 5,000 deserve world-class art just as much as city dwellers.The conversation gets real about funding, regional touring costs, and why government support for arts isn't a luxury—it's essential infrastructure. They discuss the power of small venues, intimate performances with under 10 people, and how a show in a flooded community becomes about collective healing. Plus, Harley and Izzy get unexpectedly philosophical about craft. Who would have thought?This episode is for:Anyone curious about how regional touring actually works and what it costs to bring culture to remote AustraliaPeople from the cities learning about community from the regionsThose who believe small moments and small communities matter just as much as big festivalsDive in to hear about why:A woman who hasn't left her small town in years getting to see live music two doors from her house is worth the budgetIzzy's loves UNO with strangers who become best friends"Nothing too small cannot be done beautifully" is the motto that keeps the Festival of Small Halls running on humility and handwritten thank-you notesKeen to bring your kids to Woodford to maybe meet their new best friends who might become friends forever - https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comKeep up to date with Festival of Small Halls here: https://festivalofsmallhalls.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guest: Izzy Bartlett Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson Video Editing: Nicholas HaddowAudio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinabara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #FestivalOfSmallHalls #RegionalTourning #IzzyBartlett #CommunityArts #AustralianCulture #RegionalAccess #WoodfordBaby #ArtsAccessibility #RegionalAustralia #CommunityResilience #CraftMatters #HarleyBreen #WoodfordProgram
9. How to get into Radio, the Sunny Coast Music Boom and Must-See Picks for Woodford 25/26 with Sarah Howells
34:46||Season 1, Ep. 9"I've been discovering music my whole life, but every year Woodford brings a stack of stuff I've never heard of, that I know is going to become my next favourite thing."In this episode, Harley sits down with ABC's Sarah Howells / Aussie radio royalty with 21 years in the biz, including stints at Triple J and Double J. And would you believe, this was her first podcast ever!From winning Woodford tickets through her mum's competition obsession in 1998 to becoming one of the festival's most recognisable voices, Sarah shares her journey from small-town nerd in Murwillumbah to championing Australian music on a national stage.The conversation weaves through Sarah's origin story, her thoughts on Triple J's evolution and why she transitioned from music-focused programming to ABC Local Radio, falling in love with conversations in the process.They dive into the magic of discovering new artists at Woodford, the importance of regional music scenes like the Sunshine Coast and Sarah's role as vice chair of the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective. Plus, Sarah gives us the inside scoop on must-see acts from the freshly launched program. We'd tell you who but we'd prefer if you listened yourself.Sarah also reveals her pivotal Woodford moment and why maybe the sunsets deserve as much hype as the infamous sunrise on New Year's Day. This episode is for:People interested in how to crack into a career in radioMusic lovers who want the inside track on Woodford 2025/26's hidden gemsPeople on the fence about coming to Woodford and want some insights into what makes Woodford more than just another festival.Dive in to hear about why:The three minutes of silence on New Year's Eve is actually more important than the countdownRegional music scenes like the Sunshine Coast are thrivingThe best festival moments are the ones you can't plan forRadio careers can start with naivety, volunteering, and labelling CDs (well maybe not anymore - do they still have CD's?)Harley thinks he's one type of pumpkin when in fact we all agree he is another. Want to join Sarah, Harley and 450 other acts at this year's festival?TIX HERE: https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFOR MORE: Sarah Howells: https://www.instagram.com/sarahinthehowellsSunshine Coast Music Industry Collective: https://www.scmic.org/ Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS:Host: Harley Breen Guest: Sarah Howells Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #WoodfrodFolkFestival25 #SarahHowells #TripleJ #DoubleJ #ABCRadio #HarleyBreen #WoodfordProgram #FestivalSeason #BobbyAlu #SpankieJackson #WilliamCrighton #FrankAndLouis #SunshineCoastMusic #SCMIC #AustralianMusic #FolkFestival #MusicDiscovery #FestivalCommunity
8. Musicians, Makers and the Miraculous Inbetween with Linsey Pollak
44:36||Season 1, Ep. 8"You could make a clarinet out of a carrot and a bagpipe from rubber gloves... The whole point is not taking the world around us for granted."In this episode, Harley sits down with long time Woodfordian Linsey Pollak, a musical wonder, craftsperson, and what Harley calls a "perpetual toddler" of endless curiosity and excitement.What starts as a conversation about the strange-looking instruments on the table becomes an epic tale of experimentation, craft, and following passion wherever it leads. Some would say, making your own luck with the opportunities life throws at you.With a lifetime of musical exploration, he shares his journey from picking up a secondhand clarinet at 11, through high school experimental bands to creating finely crafted renaissance instrument masterpieces and finding a mentor in Macedonia after a kombi breakdown.He talks about the beauty of being silly with your craft, why not taking things (or people) for granted matters, and how meeting the right people can completely reshape your creative journey.Linsey also brings his rubber glove bagpipe to demonstrate the instrument that perfectly captures his philosophy: function without pretense, silliness as serious art.Catch Linsey this Woodford with his band Gosti I Gosti serenading the Chai Tent.This episode is for:Musicians and makers asking themselves "is there another way to do this?"People who love craft and getting their hands dirtyAnyone who's ever felt called to drop their original plan and follow curiosity insteadPeople who believe you should question assumptions about what objects are "supposed" to doDive in to hear about why:A planned science career can completely pivot into something magical and unexpectedAustralian desert timbers like gidgey and mulga create instruments as unique as the makerCraft and playfulness aren't opposites - they thrive beautifully togetherFOR MORE:Linsey Pollak: https://www.linseypollak.com/Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Tickets to Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Linsey Pollak | Producer: Benny Wallington | Recorded on Gubbi Gubbi Country | Music by: The East Pointers & Linsey Pollak | Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #LinseyPollak #MusiciansOfWoodford #InstrumentMaker #DIYCulture #ExperimentalMusic #Craft #FoundObjects #QueenslandMusic #IndependentMusic #HarleyBreen #CreativeCurious #MusiciansLife #CommunityOverCommerce
7. The Long Road, Staying Independent and the Next Gen of Woodfordians with Tiffany Grace
36:17||Season 1, Ep. 7"Your music, if it's as important as it is to me, is your soul."In this episode, Harley sits down with 21-year-old singer-songwriter Tiffany Grace before her Sunset Session at Lake Gula camping. Fresh from moving to Brisbane just six months ago, Tiffany shares her journey from performing at Mackay fairs at 13 to being selected for the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program at Woodford, where 10 artists from across Australia were chosen to co-write, learn from mentors, and perform at the festival.The conversation goes deep into what it means to be a young artist in 2025, navigating social media demands, staying independent despite industry pressures, and why sometimes you have to turn down opportunities to keep your soul intact. They discuss the brutal economics of streaming (sorry Spotify), why buying CDs and coming to live shows actually matters, the loneliness of being a solo artist, and how programs like Songmakers create communities that understand what it's like to be a young modern musician.Tiffany also drops news about her debut album "Ripples in Time", her first-ever tour, and why her only definition of success is making music.This episode is for:Young artists figuring out if they can actually make a career out of their passionParents of talented kids who want to know how to nurture their talent/ bring them to Woodford ;)Anyone who believes community and authenticity matter more than quick fameDive in to hear about why:Buying CDs and coming to live shows is how independent artists actually surviveBeing a solo artist can be lonely as hell, but the right community makes all the difference"Making it" doesn't necessarily mean stadiums but following your passion and being able to support yourself doing itMoving to the country to the city cold be part of a successful journeyFOR MORE: Tiffany Grace: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanygracemusicHarley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Join us at the Woodford Folk Festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comLearn about Songmakers: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/songmakersBecome a Citizen: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/become-a-citizen/CREDITS:Host: Harley Breen Guest: Tiffany Grace Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Video Production: Coeur Visual Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #TiffanyGrace #Songmakers #EmergingArtists #IndependentMusic #QueenslandMusic #BrisbaneMusic #MackayMusic #HarleyBreen #ArtisticIntegrity #YoungArtists #MusicCommunity #SupportLocalArtists #CountryFolkPop #IndieArtist #RipplesInTime
6. From Volunteering Backstage to Opening The Show with Merpire and Tessa Fleur
37:44||Season 1, Ep. 6"The first time we met was at Woodford when I was volunteering... and then getting to open for you a few weeks ago was very, very special."In this ep' Harley brings together two artists whose paths crossed in the most beautiful way. Rhi (Merpire) was playing at Woodford last year and Tessa Fleur was volunteering in the production team. Fast forward to earlier this year and Tessa opened for Rhi at her show in Brisbane. The three dive into the beauty of mentorship over competition, why Melbourne isn't the only place for great music (Queensland punches way above its weight), the economics of being an artist in 2025, and how community support is the only thing keeping the whole creative ecosystem alive. Rhi shares why she's taking a break to figure out music's role in her life, Tessa drops some massive news about Berlin and upcoming releases, and they both talk about a curious Q&A format on stage that breaks down the fourth wall and builds real connection with artists and their audience. Also: horny songs, hot water bottle sausage dogs, the Woodford Lettering House, and why short toilet lines are an underrated festival flex.Dive in to hear about why:Putting out Instagram callouts for support acts can build genuine community.Queensland artists work their butts off to prove themselves to Sydney and Melbourne and it shows.Mentorship goes both ways.Taking breaks from the hustle isn't weakness.Volunteering backstage at festivals can literally change your career trajectory.Community over competition isn't just a nice phrase, it's how artists survive.Mum's love coming to WoodfordFOR MORE:Merpire: https://www.merpiremusic.com/Tessa Fleur: https://www.instagram.com/tessa__fleurHarley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Come to the Woodford Folk Festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guests: Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt (Merpire) & Tessa Fleur Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Video Production: Coeur Visual Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #Merpire #TessaFleur #QueenslandMusic #MusicCommunity #ArtistMentorship #BrisbaneMusic #HarleyBreen #FestivalConnections #Woodfordia #SupportLocalArtists #IndieMusic