Mparntwe String Band Bush Dance | Alice Springs Folk Club

After their sold-out success at Desert Festival 2023, the Alice Springs Folk Club returns with the Mparntwe String Band Bush Dance.

Expect special guest appearances and classic bush dances like the polka, barn dance, gallopede, strip the willow—and get hip to the square dance!

Bush dance is fun for all ages and styles. No experience needed—the caller will guide you through every step. Folk music never sounded so good—bush dance is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

Alice Springs Folk Club has deep roots in Mparntwe, first springing to life in 1968 when local singers gathered at The Ranch coffee lounge to “do their own thing.” Over the years, it became a hub for storytelling, song, and visiting legends like Slim Dusty and Margret Roadknight. 

Revived in 2023 by musician and educator Gleny Rae through Red Hot Arts’ Project Seed, the Club now hosts monthly “Folk Up” gatherings at the Water Tank Café. This community-based collective welcomes all. 

Together, they celebrate the stories, songs and characters of Central Australia, keeping the folk spirit alive on Arrernte Country. 

Together, they celebrate the songs, stories and characters of Central Australia, keeping the folk spirit alive on Arrernte Country. The Folk Club has played alongside a range of musicians and living legends, including Ted Egan, Bill Davis, Katie Harder, Stuart Nuggett, Sally Balfour, Bronwyn Stuart, Emmy Ryan and more. 

Photo credit: Lisa Hatz