"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 Australia
• People from the cities learning about community from the regions
• Those who believe small moments and small communities matter just as much as big festivals

Dive 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 budget
• Izzy'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 notes

Keen to bring your kids to Woodford to maybe meet their new best friends who might become friends forever - https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

Keep 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 Haddow

Audio 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

Join the Woodfordian Citizens:

Perks -

- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.

- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.

- Bonus podcast content

- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets

- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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 radio
• Music lovers who want the inside track on Woodford 2025/26's hidden gems

People 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 countdown
• Regional music scenes like the Sunshine Coast are thriving
• The best festival moments are the ones you can't plan for
• Radio 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.com

FOR MORE:

Sarah Howells: https://www.instagram.com/sarahinthehowells

Sunshine 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

Join the Woodfordian Citizens:

Perks -

- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.

- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.

- Bonus podcast content

- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets

- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"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 dirty
• Anyone who's ever felt called to drop their original plan and follow curiosity instead
• People who believe you should question assumptions about what objects are "supposed" to do

Dive in to hear about why:

• A planned science career can completely pivot into something magical and unexpected
• Australian desert timbers like gidgey and mulga create instruments as unique as the maker
• Craft and playfulness aren't opposites - they thrive beautifully together

FOR 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

Join the Woodfordian Citizens:

Perks -

- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.

- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.

- Bonus podcast content

- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets

- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.