[1] The festival was founded by Jamie McKew leading a small group of folk music performers and supporters from Geelong and Melbourne.
It was with a sense of social justice, that led Jamie to create the festival.
I wasn’t marching on the streets, but I’d always had a strong sense of social justice.”[2] The focus moved to "World Roots and Acoustic Music" in the early 1980s and has subsequently broadened to include a diverse range of genres, styles and influences.
[3] The festival now takes place annually over the Labour Day long weekend and has been produced by the Port Fairy Folk Festival Committee Incorporated which has been in Port Fairy since 1992.
Artists and bands that have performed at the festival include Billy_Bragg, Eric Bogle,[5] John Williamson,[5] Ted Egan,[5] Ani Di Franco,[6] Margret RoadKnight,[6] Colin Hay,[6] Kavisha Mazzella, Zulya Kamalova,[6] Mike Rudd,[6] Weddings Parties Anything,[6] Blue Grassy Knoll,[6] Anam,[6] Tiddas,[6] Lior,[7] Christine Anu,[7] Eric Bibb,[7] Luka Bloom,[7] Shane Howard,[7] Joe Camilleri,[7] The Black Sorrows,[7] John McCutcheon,[8] Mills Sisters,[9] David Essig,[10] Clive Gregson,[10] Christine Collister,[10] Butch Hancock,[10] Jimmie Dale Gilmore,[10] Judy Small,[10] Joe Dolce,[10] and Roaring Jack.