Forever Folk
- Words by Peppermint
Young folks, old folks and all folks in between – get ready for this year’s National Folk Festival! With performances from global and local musicians, as well as a program of arts, poetry, dance classes, circus acts and workshops, there’s something for everyone at this Canberra event. The festival runs from 17th to 21st April, and we have two full passes worth $660 to give away (see entry details below). There’s no shortage of excellent acts on the lineup, including the foot stomping Quarry Mountain Dead Rats – our ones to watch out for! We caught up with Locky from the group for a chat about music, inspiration and the origins of their unusual name…
How did the Quarry Mountain Dead Rats get together?
We never initially intended on becoming a band. I suppose it all really stemmed from Dan, our banjo player, deciding that he wanted to learn banjo. And in a very short while he did exactly that. He taught a friend how to play the guitar so he could play along to Dan’s latest self-taught bluegrass classics. The old quarry in Mt. Eliza, Victoria, turned into a regular jamming amphitheatre for a group that varied from 2 to 5,6 or 7 muso friends, jamming anything from Flatt & Scruggs classics to Red Gum. From there it grew and evolved into what it is now.
What’s the story behind your band name?
The jamming rendezvous point was the abandoned quarry in Mt. Eliza, hence the Quarry Mountain part. A friend who made their way up the track one morning after a big night out found a dead rat, and decided to pick it up, carry it the rest of the way down the track and perch it so as to look over the jam site. Homage was paid to the dead rat each jam, which is how we got the Dead Rats name. So we became the Quarry Mountain Dead Rats!
What was the process of developing your musical style?
A vast mixture of musical backgrounds and educations made up the band. So, we have blues, rock ’n’ roll, punk, heavy metal and whatever else you can throw in there. One thing we do have though is an instrumentation that generally sits us in the folk/bluegrass/country scene. In a nutshell: we started out as an attempt to be a legit ‘bluegrass’ band, and about halfway there we went off the beaten track to develop a musical style. That sums us up as a group really – off the beaten track!
Who is your biggest inspiration?
Tough question! As a band, our biggest inspiration is probably Old Crow Medicine Show and anyone else who isn’t essentially focused on playing the perfect solo, or scared of playing an obvious ‘bung note’.
How do you minimise your impact on the environment when touring?
Four out of five of us are vegetarian. We are always very conscious of cleaning up after ourselves, and if rubbish was to be disposed of incorrectly that individual would be up for an intervention from the rest of the band! As a group, we try to keep it as clean as possible at all times.
What would you like to see more of in the world?
People at gigs, even if they don’t know the band. I suppose general ‘music enthusiasts’ and music lovers – supporters of live music and the scene in general.
Aside from playing music, what makes you happiest?
The camaraderie that comes with it. The mutual respect and appreciation musicians have for one another. Seeing our music make people smile, laugh and generally be happy.
WIN: If you’d like to attend this year’s National Folk Festival, leave a comment below telling us which band you’d most like to see! The winner will be drawn Wednesday 2nd April 2014.
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“We are in unprecedented times in the United States, at least in terms of having a government who openly and unabashedly disparages, rejects and causes harm to trans folks and other marginalised groups, including immigrants. So my team decided I should make a piece of art that included the words ‘You Belong Here’ that people could hang in their homes, and this piece was born.” @LisaCongdon 💕
These words were spoken by Lisa in our latest issue, and they are now more relevant than ever. Our latest issue is full of creativity, inclusivity and belonging. Our cover is the front door, welcoming you into our house of hope. You are welcome. You are valued. Take a seat at our table.
YOU BELONG HERE. 🫶
Issue 64 cover artwork by @LisaCongdon
At newsagents and stockists now.
#PeppermintMagazine #EqualRights #LGBTQI+ #Equality #YouBelong
As issue 64’s gorgeous cover artwork by artist @LisaCongdon proudly proclaims: you belong here. Yet for trans and non-binary people, acceptance still remains hard won – and increasingly under threat.
In our latest issue, we spoke to actress and transgender rights advocate @GeorgieStone, multi-hyphenate life coach, pilates and meditation teacher, diversity educator and runway model @RudiLandmann, artist and seven-time Archibald finalist Kim Leutwyler (@CarlosBob) and multidisciplinary artist Sunday Jemmott of @SundaysArtClub about their wins and worries – and why belonging matters deeply.
Read more from our ‘Transforming the Narrative’ feature in issue 64, at newsagents and stockists now!
Photos: @NickCog, @KateLukePhotography for @DangerousFemales, Kim Leutwyler, @RissVisualStudio
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Who’s going to the sold out Liberty Fabrics Showcase in Brisbane or Melbourne? 🙋♀️
To say we’re excited is an understatement! Maybe we’re biased because our lovely Laura (Sewing Manager) is walking in the fashion parade along with many other incredible sewists in our community, but also - there’s SO many good things: retail stalls featuring exclusive products, rare finds and all things @LibertyFabrics, and sneak peeks at brand-new quilting and fashion collections, including the Liberty Fabrics Spring/Summer ‘Floral Rebellion’ collection.
Also - Liberty legends Mary-Ann Dunkley (Head of Design) and Anna Buruma (ex-Head of Archive) are flying in from London especially!
Keep an eye on our socials this weekend for BTS! 🌸🌼🌺
Brisbane 7/2/26
Melb 14/2/26
From @Laura_The_Maker:
If you know me irl then you probably know that I only do one take for my reels so enjoy this vid of me saying thousands of words about an exciting collaboration I’m participating in for 2026!
Thanks to the teams @2GreenZebras @Regent_Street_Fabrics and @StyleArc for including me on the runway. I absolutely can’t wait!
Obviously I’ll be hoping for enough scrap fabric to make some kind of accessories…
#libertyfabrics #libertyfabricsshowcase
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
