15 minute read

ARTISTS A TO Z

Den Hanrahan and the Rum Runners Black Joak Morris Dancers Kay Proudlove Gobsmacked!

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Cigany Weaver Handsome Young Strangers Ken Field’s Hoot Band Margaret & Bob Fagan

1140 STREET BAND 1140 are a local fun and funky street band born out of The Con Artist and Kids Honk who have been playing together for just over 2 years. AJAK KWAI Singing in Arabic, Sudanese or English, Ajak conjures a vivid picture of her Dinka heritage. Music is the vehicle for her stories of extraordinary life experiences as a refugee, exiled from her home and her family. Her moving tales of exile, hope, freedom, love, and cows – beloved animals of the Dinka – in turn reflect her optimism and belief in the best of human nature. AZ-I-AM AZ-I-AM is easy listening and emotionally touching. This trio perform a smooth blend of originals and classic songs. BLACK JOAK MORRIS DANCERS Black Joak Morris performs the Morris dances of the Cotswalds in southern England, which date back to the 13th century, and our own local Sydney tradition, which dates back to 2004. BUSH MUSIC CLUB INC The Bush Music Club, based in Sydney, has been actively promoting Australian folk traditions for over 60 years. CAREFREE ROAD BAND Carefree Road Band has been entertaining folk in the Illawarra since 2016. Being a multi-cultural Band they enjoy performing Celtic, classic folk and their own original songs. CIGANY WEAVER Fusing the passion of folk music, the precision of classical, and the spontaneity of jazz, Cigány Weaver create a rich and vibrant atmosphere for both the heart and mind. Front woman, Jo Davie’s soaring vocals and enchanting gentle demeanour combine with the fiery violin, dynamic guitars and driving rhythm section to create a purely acoustic group that effortlessly navigates the musical nexus between intimacy and raucousness. CINNAMON TWIST BELLY DANCE Under the direction of Dr Virginia Keft, Cinnamon Twist belly dance presents dynamic and colourful contemporary belly dance. COMBINED UNION CHOIRS The Union Choirs sing songs of peace, protest union struggles and the environment. CURIOUS RENDITION ORCHESTRA The Curious Rendition Orchestra or CROW was conceived in 2014. An inclusive adult ensemble, playing a variety of repertoire from around the world. CURTIS ELLER Curtis Eller is a banjo player and songwriter. The twenty-year show business veteran has developed a devoted international following based on spellbinding performances that combine a dreamlike vision of American history with silent film style comedy, and rock & roll energy. Eller’s legendary solo shows have earned him the title “New York’s angriest yodeling banjo player”. DEAR VIOLET Dear Violet are an all female folk/indie trio from Wollongong. With lyrically encapsulating songs focusing on story telling and sharing experiences they aim to create music that is relatable to all walks of life and to push the boundaries of genre. DEN HANRAHAN AND THE RUM RUNNERS Den Hanrahan taps a style of Bluegrass/ Oldtime neither frozen in the past nor experimenting with the future but simply played with his band the Rum Runners, blending contemporary and old fashioned Australian stories.. EMILY LUBITZ Very few artists can cradle your heart in their hands while they kick your ass, but after more than a decade touring with critically acclaimed indie-folk darlings Tinpan Orange, Emily Lubitz is striding out on her own. With that timeless, aching quality that only the great voices have, Lubitz is every singer’s favourite singer, a captivating live performer who has won the hearts of audiences around the world, and yet she is more priestess than popstar, creating her own iconography that sears itself into the listener’s imagination. FIDDLEDANCE Fiddledance, well known in the Illawarra, perform music with Bush, Folk, Old Timey, Bluegrass leanings. FRIENDS OF STEVE Friends of Steve are former members of the band The Humphreys. The band plays a selection of dance friendly tunes enjoyed by the late Steve McClure who was a founding member of the Humphreys and a great supporter of the Illawarra Folk Club.

GLENN SKUTHORPE With 7 highly regarded albums and music featured in movies and documentaries such as The Emu Runner and John Pilger’s Utopia, Nhunggabarra, Kooma, Muruwari man and international touring singersongwriter Glenn Skuthorpe is a powerful lyricist and composer. GOBSMACKED! Bertie and Louis have been Gobsmacking audiences young and old for over 25 years.You’ll see dragons, monsters and missing bed socks. Hungarian & Celtic folk tales peppered with rambunctious tunes of ordinary house bound monsters. GOOD TUNES David De Santi has been accumulating ‘good’ tunes for over 30 years and wants to share them! Be ready for a musical tour around Australia, Italy, Quebec, Scotland, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Ireland, England and beyond. GRACE PETRIE More than a decade after first emerging, protest singer, LGBTQ+ activist, comedy audience’s favourite and folk star Grace Petrie stands out as one the most important songwriters working in the UK today. ‘Just when you thought that what folk music needs right now is a strident, left-wing female causing a bit of carnage, here’s Grace Petrie.’ Mojo HANDSOME YOUNG STRANGERS Handsome Young Strangers have been delivering their energetic Australian Bush Folk Punk show for 19 years and although they’re not so young anymore they still belt out songs about shearing, bushrangers, boats and beers with high intensity. INNES CAMPBELL Innes Campbell has been performing bluegrass on vocals, guitar and mandolin for twenty years. He loves a high energy jam and some laughter to go along with it. JUNKYARD RASCALS Based locally in the beautiful Illawarra, Junkyard Rascals love to PLAY and love to create PLAY spaces where kids of all ages can have fun, explore, grow and discover themselves. The junkyard is an ever changing space made up of 100% recycled or 2nd hand items, natural materials and the environment in which we PLAY. KAY PROUDLOVE Kay is a Wollongong raised musician and songwriter with a remarkably agile, engaging, honest, soul-bearing voice and a wry, dry-ice sense of humour to her work. Continuing to tour throughout the indie-folk scene over the last 15 years, Kay has also begun to compose for theatre, writing and performing her original music in shows at Edinburgh Festival and beyond. KEN FIELD’S HOOT BAND The Hoot Band is a pick-up band led by Boston-based saxophonist/composer Ken Field, playing traditional New Orleans second line brass band music, surprising covers, and Ken’s original compositions. It is open to all interested brass band musicians. Ken leads the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble. KENNY BARTLEY AND THE MIDNIGHT FEAST Kenny Bartley and the Midnight Feast will take you on a Funky Folk Blues journey of musical enjoyment. With high energy originals and toe tapping grooves be prepared to dance up a storm LIV CARTLEDGE Liv Cartledge is a 25 year old singer/ songwriter, born and based in the Victorian High Country town of Beechworth. Liv’s raw truth telling, powered by a husky and bellowing voice, is a complex, melancholy love letter to depression, friendship and moving forward. LUKE SPOOK Luke Spook hails from the South Coast and is a travelling troubadour with a penchant for the past, an amateur folklorist, forest gnome, sometimes organic vegetable gardener and oftentimes multiinstrumentalist folk musician from outer space. MALIKA REESE AKA MZ MALLY MOO She’s a rock star to minis. Emotions, weather, and good old fashioned silliness. In a fun relaxed way, Mally Moo leads musical play for little ones and their care givers. MARGARET & BOB FAGAN Margaret & Bob Fagan are two of Australia’s most respected folk musicians with a long involvement in the scene, both as a duo and with their family band The Fagans. Their songs move from themes of social and environmental justice to traditional ballads and contemporary stories. MAURIE MULHERON AND PAT CRAIGIE Maurie Mulheron and Pat Craigie have performed together since meeting at the New Theatre in 1978. They perform both traditional and contemporary songs specialising in the folk revival of the 1960s. Their repertoire includes protest and union songs plus their own original compositions. MAYPOLE WITH MOLLY Maypole with Molly enjoy sharing music and dance with kids. Their interactive and energetic dance sessions encompass music from Mozart along with Austrian influences from accordionist Erika Cleaver (Molly). MERIDIAN The music of Meridian traces a line back to the old time country blues and brother duo’s of the twenties, thirties and forties. Their rich vocal harmonies and warm acoustic tones on mandolin, banjo, guitar and fiddle weave together to create music that is both intimate and timeless. MOTHER BANSHEE Mother Banshee are a band of four Wollongong gals who’s repertoire includes styles and genres from all around the world. Their arrangements and original compositions combine both classical and folk traditions to create an ethereal and exciting experience for the audience. MUNSTERBUCKS Munsterbucks, two lads from Munster, a province in the South of Ireland, and one from Australia. Tommy Donovan from Kerry (banjo and mandolin) Jack O’Leary from Cork (vocals, guitar and bodhran) and Sam De Santi (fiddle and guitar). All three of them have a rich heritage in playing traditional music both here and overseas. MURMUR Murmur are a fruity four-piece band from Austinmer. They play original songs and instrumentals inspired by Brazilian 80’s pop and various South American musical styles. The band members are Luke O’Neill, David Gale, Matt and Matilda Dickson. NIKRIANN Nikriann explores women’s stories of love and loss through the centuries, from the pure tones of early Celtic and Sephardic music to recent compositions inspired by traditional melodies. PETER MACE Peter is a performance bush poet and writer who has entertained audiences at most of the country’s major festivals and

Maurie Mulheron and Pat Craigie The Morrisons

Rheinberger & Wilson Storybeats The Morning Star The Papercollar Pickers

poetry competitions. He may have you laughing one minute and shedding a tear the next, but either way will be sure to entertain. PETER WILLEY With a name like Peter Willey, what else could he be but a comedian? Peter is a seasoned stand-up, singer and guitarist with an arsenal of stories, jokes, impressions, poems, original songs and parodies. RHEINBERGER AND WILSON Since being thrown together to host the finale of the Illawarra Folk Festival 12 years ago, Nick Rheinberger and Tia Wilson have been dreaming of teaming up properly. Combining Nick’s razor-sharp songs about modern life and love, Tia’s brooding accordion, sweet harmonies and a love of the absurd, Rheinberger and Wilson are a unique Australian cabaret and comedy act. ROBYN SYKES Robyn Sykes is a multi-awarded spoken word artist who writes and performs original poetry. Robyn runs workshops for adults and children, mentors emerging performers/public speakers, and organises poetry events in regional NSW. RUSTY & THE SAINT Long-time musical acquaintances finally come together on stage to present an eclectic selection of y is Russell Churcher and The Saint is David De Santi and will be joined by some guest musicians. SAPLINGS A daily session just for the young (about 8 – 18). Bring your own instrument and come and have some fun learning Australian songs and tunes, or learn some percussion (provided) hosted by the Bush Music Club. SALTY SIRENS Sapphic Sailors Kristy Capstanfield and Elyse Fishpatrick put a modern, queer twist on traditional sea shanties and sea songs in rollicking raucous sing-alongs. Accompanied by accordion “Moni,” The Salty Sirens share tales of hard work, daring adventure, defiance and debauchery. SHANTY CLUB Originating from a small, noisy bar in Redfern and expanding around Sydney, Shanty Club believed quite simply that everyone can sing...they’ve just forgotten how. Come and join in with songs of the sea. Sing a harmony. Make some noise. Forget the words. It’s group karaoke done loud and right. SHINING BIRD Shining Bird is an experimental indie band from the coastal town of Austinmer, NSW Australia. Formed initially as a studio project in 2012, they released the Shade of the Sea EP, followed by their debut album Leisure Coast through SPUNK Records in 2013. STEAMPUNK VAGABONDS Steampunk Vagabonds are an Illawarra based dance and performance troupe providing good old fashioned entertainment with a timeless, vintage feel. STONYBROKE Now Allan Stone is a poetry bloke otherwise known as Stonybroke. He’ll make you laugh and make you cry. Or spin you yarns about pie in the sky STORYBEATS Acclaimed story-teller Lilli RodriguezPang teams up with percussionist Matt Bourne to engage and immerse listeners into the world of storytelling with an enchanting rhythmic twist. SUPER KENNY AND MAGNIFICENT MANDA Super Kenny and Magnificent Manda are a very fun interactive kids show that entertains the adults too. Join them in song, actions and percussion and become a part of performance. SUZETTE HERFT Suzette Herft is a contemporary troubadour originally from the exotic isle of Sri Lanka. Raised on the British pop coming through Radio Ceylon, the country music from her father’s record collection, to the American troubadour singersongwriters that influenced her teens, she finally found her place in the burgeoning Victorian Folk Scene in the 90’s. THE CON ARTISTS The Wollongong Conservatorium’s all ages community band combines young up-and-coming WollCon students, adult community musicians, and some of the region’s most prominent folk musicians, playing dissident and celebratory folk music from around the world. THE FEMME FATALES These funereal street-theatre kooks encroach on a carnival like a lost mystic down a Dapto flea-market. They’ll find a-cappella, soul-folk, N’Orleans, gypsy, & (ahem) 80’s hits; all with a sprig of political melancholia to wear in their hair.

Luke Spook The Water Runners Tribal Jewels Dance The Raglins

The Con Artists Zlatkos Balkan Cabaret The Swing Beans

THE GO SET The Go Set combine the traditional sounds of bagpipes and mandolin with high energy Clash-esque punk songs. A dynamic live act not to be missed. THE JELLYMAN’S DAUGHTER Emily Kelly and Graham Coe are Edinburgh-based duo The Jellyman’s Daughter. Singing with an affinity and closeness that can often have audiences puzzling over who is singing which harmony line, their songs can range from a simple plaintive wisp of a feeling to imaginative musical endeavours. The full band includes innovative 5-string banjo (Jamie Francis), electric bass (Leo Bacica), and drums (Ben Collard) THE MORNING STAR The Morning Star is an experimental folk-rock band formed by collaborative Illawarra based songwriters Alicia Mollica and Cody Munro Moore. The duo were drawn together not only from a sense of mutual fondness but of a common understanding where songwriting was concerned. THE MORRISONS The Morrisons have cemented their place as the darlings of the Sydney folk scene, blending Australian stories with the sounds of bluegrass and old time music.. THE OTHER NOONANS The Other Noonans are a married Comedic, duo with deep environmental/ social justice musical leanings. They blend real life environmental protest experience with a dark sense of humour and a dash of disability perspective all wrapped up in acoustic folk. THE PAPERCOLLAR PICKERS Rod Vervest and Craig Sinclair are intergenerational, inter-jurisdictional, and united by a love for ragtime blues and close vocal harmonies. Expect a melodic dish of well-seasoned acoustic blues. THE PAUL MCKENNA BAND Called “The best folk band to have come out of Scotland in the last twenty years” by The New York Times, Paul McKenna has long been ranked among Scotland’s finest young singers and songwriters. Paul is armed with a powerful yet intensely emotive voice and passionate social conscience, often expressed through his songs, a combination that’s brought frequent comparisons to the great Dick Gaughan. THE RAGLINS Deeply rooted in traditional folk music, award winning Victorian duo The Raglins bring a contemporary approach to traditional folk songs, reinterpreting Australian, English and Irish ballads and showcasing them with fresh and innovative arrangements. THE SWING BEANS The Swing Beans The Swing Beans have developed their own take on old school early jazz and Texas Swing songs from Fats Waller to the Texas Playboys. Incorporating acoustic guitars, fiddle, and double bass with harmony vocals, they swing along and have fun. THE SWINGALELES The Swingaleles is a progressive ukulele group augmented by other instruments. It is prominent in the Illawarra, performing for community groups, aged care centres, fetes and festivals. THE WALLABY TRACK BUSH BAND The Wallaby Track Bush Band is a Hobart based traditional Australian folk band. They love singing their favourite classic songs about shearers, drovers, convicts and bushrangers, but also playing lively tune sets which they can be often found using for community dances in the their home state. THE WATER RUNNERS Take a slice of bluegrass, a dash of trad folk and a dollop of country. Add great stories, tight harmonies, strong musicianship and an engaging stage show and you have The Water Runners! Their songs take you on stirring tales and along South Coast trails. TRIBAL JEWELS DANCE CO Tribal Jewels Dance Co brings a colourful engaging gypsy style belly dance to the stage. Their dance allows women of all backgrounds, sizes and ages to enjoy dance and be proud of who they are. YOGA Come and join Erika Steller and Fiona Davis in fun and uplifting yoga sessions to stretch and energise, and deeply relax. Perfect to start the festival day. ZLATKOS BALKAN CABARET Want to get your feet tapping? Then come along to experience the unique music and song of Zlatkos Balkan Cabaret, from moving love songs to passionate dance music. Zlatkos Balkan Cabaret brings the excitement and mystery of the Balkans and Eastern Europe to every performance. ZUMPA Be transported with Zumpa to forgotten Italian fishing villages, moonlit olive groves and a hard life under a hot sun where peasants play music to celebrate life with a fierce sense of humour. They provide the sounds of Italian music to provide a truly spaghetti and meatballs experience.

VENUES

Slacky Flat Bar Grandstand Bar Restaurant Folk Grand Global Green

CRADLE DRIVE

MEETING POINT FESTIVAL OFFICE Pavilion

FIRST AID

5

EMERGENCY EXIT

VENUE ENTRY

3 1

4

TRACK

Vehicle Entry

2

Betting Ring

EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY AREA Camping Area

Showground Centre

GREVILLEA PARK ROAD PRINCES HIGHWAY

The festival gratefully acknowledges the contribution of these wonderful supporters. Without them the festival would not be possible!

ALEX HOOD • BULLI GREYHOUND CLUB • BULLI SHOW SOCIETY • NORTHERN BULLI UNITING CHURCH FOLK ALLIANCE AUSTRALIA • KENNARDS • REG MOMBASSA • LUKEPLAYER.COM.AU • NORTHERN BULLI UNITING CHURCH