After her first performance in 2018, Tasmanian singer/songwriter Ange Boxall, can’t wait to return to the Festival of King Island.
“We had an absolute ball, from the moment we arrived”, says Ange. “As soon as we left, we were sad.
“We felt quite rock and roll, and it felt really cool. And then the way we were treated by everybody was just so beautiful. And it definitely has that sort of small town feeling, where everybody knows one another and everybody’s kind to you and wants you to be comfortable. I just felt really nurtured and welcomed and appreciated. And then the festival itself was just such a blast. It was heaps of fun.”
Although Ange Boxall spent a lot of time overseas during her career, working in places like London and Nashville, Tasmania has always been home. She finds it an inspiring place to write music and she can write music in different styles, and over a long period of time.
“My music changes depending on where I live,” she said.
“I feel a deep connection to things and to places where I live. When I first started writing music in Tasmania, my music was pretty raw and wild, and you wouldn’t really have classified it as country.
“And then I moved to London, and my music sort of took on a more pop and passive sound.
“About halfway through, about five years or six years into living in London, I started spending half my time in Nashville, and that’s where my country roots came out.
“When I came back to Tasmania, I started getting my writing juices flowing again. I noticed that it went back to the start – that more sort of raw and wild sound.
“I live on the coast, and it can be wild and raw, and I’m affected by the elements and the weather and what I see around me in the ocean.”
During the Covid time, Ange said her performing almost completely disappeared. It was a downtime for many musicians. It was also a time where Boxall decided to write a new album, called Skipping Stone.
Her fourth album has become her most successful. The album reached number one on the Aria Country Charts and number seven on the All-Australian Albums list.
“I was totally surprised and chuffed. It was an awesome result”, says Ange. “It’s so nice when you know you’ve worked so long and so hard and you put every bit of passion, energy, and soul into something and then you actually do see the results. It’s great”.
A lot of the songs on the new album will hit the FOKI ground on Friday, February 2 at 8.45 pm, when Ange Boxall gets on the stage together with her band.
Six years ago the crowds loved her music. This year it promises to be even bigger.
SECURE FOKI MERCH EARLY
It’s now countdown days until the Festival of King Island on Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3.
The festival merchandise is on the island and available for sale at the King Island Post Office.
The ever-popular hoodies sell out each festival and this year they are available for sale pre-festival weekend for those who have purchased a festival ticket.
Festival tickets can be purchased from the links on the FOKI website foki.com.au or links on social media pages. While there checkout the FOKI 2024 performers’ bios and get the full festival program guide and performer times.
FOKI kicks off on Friday 2 Feb at 4.30 pm and goes into the night.
On Saturday start your festival day at 9.15 am with some gentle, get into the groove, yoga, at the school.
The kids are not left out. Starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the FOKI site overlooking Currie Harbour, there is a Dance Competition with DJZ – just for the kids.
The King Island bohemian style and FOKI throwback are embraced in 2024.
Wear your best festival hippy gear or pull out those old FOKI hats, t-shirts, hoodies and hats and creatively put them on show on Saturday and win prizes.
A reminder that dogs and BYO are not permitted on the festival site, children and students have free entry. Guardians and parents are requested to supervise.
Ticket and merchandise sales will be available on-site.
DAY
TICKETS
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Friday
2nd Feb: $30
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Saturday
3rd Feb: $40
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Friday + Saturday: $60
Go to foki.com.au and avoid the queues.