MARCIA TO JOURNEY THROUGH TIME AND PLACE

Raised in Warrnambool with Irish heritage and a will to wander, Marcia Howard is bringing together her worldly influences and home sensibilities for the National Celtic Festival in June.
The reigning Port Fairy Folk Music Festival Artist of the Year and award-winning Goanna band member has drawn upon her recent travels through Europe, the UK and the US to form a show that examines her relationship to place.
“We’re all influenced by where we are – but we’re also influenced by where our ancestors have been and that comes through in our music.
“People say you can hear landscape in songs, especially Irish music and I totally agree.
“Around here, in Victoria we have the same thing but it sounds different, it’s unique to this area which is so special.
“The songlines here, which have been here for centuries, they run very deep and that’s a very beautiful thing. I’m walking on the bones of my ancestors, and together we’re all creating a new Dreaming. “I’m bringing all that DNA and landscape and sense of belonging with me.”
Howard is also clashing cultures on her latest EP, Nashville Sessions.
Recorded at Beaird’s Music Studio in Nashville with an ensemble of US instrumentalists, the EP features vocals from her brothers Shane and Damian Howard as well as Goanna colleague Rose Bygrave. The result is a combination of smooth country sounds from the southern United States, with the unique rawness gifted to Australia musicians.
To purchase the EP, head to marciahoward.com.au.
Howard will perform songs from Nashville Sessions along with others at the National Celtic Festival, as well as leading a series of workshops and a theatrical production.
The festival is in Portarlington from June 10-13. For more information and tickets, head to nationalcelticfestival.com.