TICKETS AVAILABLE! Click here to BUY TICKETS. Save $20 with EARLY BIRD PURCHASE before 30 November. Click here to buy FESTIVAL TICKET > Click here to see the Artists Lineup > How to get there, click here > Click here for information about ACCOMMODATION > Click here for Stalls Applications > Click here to Volunteer > Click here for a full list FESTIVAL ARTISTS Click here to find out about the COMMUNITY TICKET SCHEME which allows fundraising opportunities MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE PARTY Historic Bulli will burst into party mode from the 25-28th January 2007, when over 500 performers will converge in town for the award-winning Illawarra Folk Festival.  Folk festivals are unique, they are highly enjoyable, hugely entertaining and an absolute blast – all in all they really are just one big reason to join in a massive party!  What better way to celebrate the Australia Day weekend than with the action packed programme at the highly acclaimed Illawarra Folk Festival.  The festival is now in its 22nd year of showcasing some of the greatest folk music, song, verse and dance, storytelling, events, and instrument workshops available in Australia. With a diverse range of cultures and a hearty dose of both the old and the new there is something for everyone to savour at the 22nd  Illawarra Folk Festival. All this action will transform the Bulli Showground, north of Wollongong, into a magical world of festive colour and song, whether it’s just for one day or four, come be part of the continuing tradition, established in 1985 and now an integral part of the Illawarra identity.  After moving on from many wonderful and enjoyable years in Jamberoo, this will be the second time the festival has been held at the Bulli Showground. Wander around the 12 festival venues at your leisure, as you make the difficult decision from the vast array of choices on offer of who to see, what to do and where to play!  Explore the Main Marquee and discover who’s playing at the beautiful outdoor Grevillia Gardens.  Hit the Heritage Hotel, dance your way around the Showground Buildings, and clap till your hands hurt at the fabulous entertainment around the Nag’s Lounge (Horse Stables).  It’s festival time at the Showground.  The Illawarra Folk Festival has events for everyone, young, old and in between.  Tots are included, no-one is excluded, but if you can’t decide then you could head on over to the Beer Hall for the all round party! Every year the festival improves and builds upon the past, some of the changes this year include hot showers for both men and women, a purpose built wooden dance floor at the newly named Global Green for all those workshops and dance performances, a Grandstand Restaurant, expanded children’s area and a new space for yet more musical sounds at the Grevillea Park. There are over 125 artists that have been confirmed and the final programme will be released in November.  This year the festival will be celebrating the return of some treasured favourites including Rory McLeod from the UK, Penny Davies & Roger Ilott, The BordererS, Margret Roadknight, Jigzag, Dave de Hugard, Enda Kenny, Penelope Swales, Wheeze & Suck Band, Maria Forde, Counterfeit Gypsies, Transylvaniacs, Chloe and Jason Roweth, Pastance and Azadoota. The festival will also host a vast array of international artists including the outrageous Beez from Germany, the sounds of new Italian tradition from Nuova Agricola Associazione (Abruzzi, Italy), Canadian singer songwriter Ann Vriend, crazy fiddling, step dancing songstresses, Madviolet, from Toronto, the amazing David Essig,  blues guitarist Joel Fafard also from Canada and Usutu, who hail from South-Africa. This year, in addition to the already jam packed programme, we are privileged to be welcoming lots of new friends from around the nation, such as Coolgrass, Spicy Fruit Chutney, Andrew Winton (WA), Carmel Charlton (WA), Skorba, Sydney Balalaika Orchestra, Brett Robin Wood, Emily Barker and Hoddle. There’ll also be plenty of local content including a reunion of Settlers Match, Wongawilli as they whoop it up and commemorate 20 years of dancing and playing and stacks of dancers and musicians from the culturally diverse Illawarra region. Some of the feature highlights will be the ever popular Poets Breakfast, a hilarious Comedy and Limerick Competition, Tripe Eaters Association Dinner and Concert, Italian Lunch, Midsummer Australian Maypole, Festival Parade, World Dance Party, Youth Folk Project and Australian folk instrument makers display. The dance programme is also packed. You can choose from Old Time dancing to African; Contra to Belly Dance; Scandinavian to Irish jigging and much much more to be held on a specially dedicated dance floor at the Global Green. Of special interest are the many theme concerts.  This year there will be theme concerts that are dedicated to Our Mining Heritage, Singalong Songs of the 60s, the Fiddler’s Frenzy Concert, From the Bush to the City, a Bill Scott Memorial Concert,  Nag’s Lounge Blackboard, Glorious Beer, Bluegrass, Undiscovered Talent, Sedition,  Chorus Folksongs and of course the ‘Australian Day Song’ Show.  The action doesn’t stop there - check out the website to find out about more specially themed programme features and details. The festival is nestled beneath the majesty of the Illawarra escarpment and the stunning beaches of the region are close by.  The Showground is within easy walking distance from Train and Bus. Camping is available for a flat fee of $15 per person, but spots are limited so get in quick to avoid disappointment. There is plenty of free parking available onsite. To make sure you don’t miss out on all the fun tickets are available from www.moshtix.com.au, tel: (02) 9209 4614, 9am to 5pm weekdays. Book before 30 November and save 20% on the cost of a season pass, that will allow entry and make it easy for you to participate in everything this party has to offer.  A small booking fee will apply. For detailed programme and more details go to www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au and join the email list. If you’d like us to send you out a brochure please email: info@illawarrafolkclub.org.au or call 1300 887 034. The Festival is presented by volunteers from the Illawarra Folk Club Inc, a not-for-profit incorporated organisation. Check the 2006 Festival details to get a feel of the event. David De Santi Festival Director So you’ve never been to a folk festival? Here’s what you’ll discover. ·           Places where you can hear, see and take part in a whole range of music, song dance, and spoken word ·           Places where the person sitting next to you may be one of the major performers ·           Places where you go for the total experience – listen, dance, sing, and play ·           Places where the music goes from the early morning to early morning with concerts, dances, workshops and informal music sessions ·           Places to eat food from many cultures, drink and be merry ·           Places where strangers become friends and friends are often reunited ·           Places where we learn about the culture traditions and heritage of Australia and its people.

News > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Free Concert for Early Bird Ticket Holders & Festival Volunteers, 1st December, Purchase your ticket by 1 December and you can get into to the Preview Concert and Dance Spectacular for free! The concert will feature Alan Musgrove & Bob McInnes, Big Snore Hammers, Bollywood Xclusive, Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance, Pettibone, Replay, Shannon Evans, Shimmy n Sheik Belly Dance Company, Wongawilli Colonial Dancers. The location is City Diggers, Wollongong, corner of Burelli & Church Streets. Concert starts at 7.30pm and you can purchase Festival Tickets at the concert.   Festival Volunteers will also get free entry. They will also be able to register that night however it is best to register on-line. Applications close 1 December 2006. Click here to go to the registration form click here for Job Descriptions Festival Launch - 11am, 1 November 2007, Bulli Showground Bar Presenting Wollongong Lord Mayor with ticket No.1 will be the first formal event of the huge party around Australia Day known as the Illawarra Folk Festival. The presentation will take place at the Bulli Showgrounds on Wednesday 1st November 2006 at 11am.    Festival Director David De Santi said that as The Lord Mayor, Councillor Darling, was Wollongong’s First Citizen it was appropriate that he have the first ticket to the Festival.   He also said that the function was to acknowledge the tremendous support that the Festival had received from sponsors and that they too would be presented with tickets as a token of appreciation. He particularly welcomed on board Bluescope Steel, Bulli Heritage Hotel, i8FM, WIN Television, Coopers Brewery.   New Media Sponsor The festival welcomes the ABC's DIG Radio as a media sponsor to join WIN Television and local radio station i98FM.   Festival Brochures and Posters Elizabeth Holder-Keeping is the designer of the festival artwork. You can downloand a low quality version here or request one by emailing address to: info@illawarafolkclub.org.au   Click here for the fabulous FESTIVAL POSTER Final Performer Bookings Click here for more of the performers Applications have closed (31 July) and another large number were received - 210! A full listing of the performers is now available. The festival will also host a vast array of international artists including Rory McLeod (UK), the outrageous The Beez (Berlin, Germany), the sounds of new Italian tradition from Nuova Agricola Associazione (Abruzzi, Italy), Canadian singer songwriter Ann Vriend, crazy fiddling, step dancing songstresses, Madviolet, from Toronto, the amazing David Essig,  blues guitarist Joel Fafard also from Canada and Usutu, with members from South-Africa.     The Beez     Rory McLeod :: Madviolet Sponsors and Supporters: To become a sponsor or supporter contact David De Santi, Festival Director at desanti@illawarrafolkclub.org.au, tel: 0409 57 1788 GOLD:         Wollongong City Council, BlueScope Steel, Bulli Heritage Hotel, WIN Television, i98FM, Coopers Brewery, Go Hire SILVER:      Tony Pollard Electrics, Illawarra Ethnic Communities Council, ABC Dig Digital Radio BRONZE:   Wollongong Music Centre, Moshtix, Bulli Greyhound Racing Club, Bulli Harness Racing Club, Takamine Guitars Supporters: Northern Leader Newspaper, Tourism Wollongong, Tourism Illawarra, Tourism New South Wales, National Folk Festival, Woonona Lions Club, Folk Alliance Australia, Northern Illawarra Online >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What is a folk festival? Folk festivals are unique and enjoyable, entertaining, and educational and of course lots of fun.  Be part of the continuing tradition; come to Bulli this Summer and soak up the atmosphere of festival time. The historic Bulli Township and Showgrounds just 10klms from Wollongong will come alive between the 26th - 29th January 2006, when over 350 performers will descend on the town for the 21st award winning annual extravaganza of folk music, song, verse, dance, storytelling, events, instrument and singing workshops, instrument displays, multicultural performances and a swag of concerts. With 12 venues ranging from the Circus Big Top, to the Heritage Hotel, Horse Stables and the outdoor Grevillia Gardens all operating simultaneously, the problem for the thousands who flock there this year will be as always making the hard decision about who to see and what to do. There are events for young old and everything in between. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Join In The festival is about participation as well as showcasing some great acts. So why not join the Festival choir, learn a new instrument, tune or song, see Australian made handcrafted instruments, join in a parade, spin a yarn or limerick, play in a jam session, dance to traditional folk dances from around the world or simply sit in the audience and discover the talent. The Festival is presented by volunteers from the Illawarra Folk Club Inc, a not for profit incorporated organisation. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>