2008 Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli
Artists A to Z – Subject to change!
Artists are listed alphabetically by the band name or first name and ignoring ‘The’.
This listing does not include
workshops some of these artists are presenting at the Folk Summer School. Click here
to see the Folk Summer School program.
Alan Musgrove & Whatsname Band
Alan Musgrove has been performing
Australian folk songs for 30 years. He has recently been described by John Dengate as ‘one of
FRI 10.30am Show Pavilion - Folk Songs and Singers of NSW
FRI 2.30pm Chapel - An Afternoon of a Dog’s Breakfast
FRI 6.30pm Restaurant
SAT 12.30pm Show Pavilion
SUN 3.30pm Restaurant
Alegrias Andinas
Alegrias Andinas (Happines of the Andes) was established to promote dance, music and culture of our Incan Heritage, bringing the colours and the Andean rhythms sounds of Peru.
SAT 10.40am Global Green
SUN 2pm Global Green
Allez-Gator
Exciting, dynamic, footstomping, get up and dance Cajun and Zydeco music from the swamps of Louisiana and Canberra! One of Australia’s leading exponents of these genres, so come and join the party!!
FRI 9.15pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 5pm Slacky Flat Bar
SUN 5.30pm Restaurant
Alternate Route
Alternate Route explores the byways of Australian Folk Festivals and brings back an eclectic mix of Celtic/Classical mix influenced by Red Hot Chilli Peppers, improvisation, and silly songs. Debuting at Bulli, the family band has members well known in the folk scene. Epitomising Australia on the Move, see how long car trips, late night sessions and parents on stage have the kids taking control and revenge! Amelia (13) tempts with Celtic melodies and jazzy songs, while Rohan (11) might call the audience for a Riff, lead a wild improvisation from the piano, or set the scene for laid back lounge music.
FRI 5.30pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Amy Lee Wilson
Amy started playing guitar in 2001 started singing and writing in 2005 made the final 5 for her category in the Musicoz Awards 2006. She played at the Youth Folk concert last year.
FRI 6pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Anne Ridgway & Rosie McDonald
A fresh collaboration, Anne Ridgway and Rosie McDonald share a passion for vocal harmony, clearly evident in their performance. Rosie’s rhythmic guitar skills and deep rich vocal quality are a perfect balance with Anne’s dexterous finger work on guitar along with her crystal clear vocals. Together they collaborate on Anne’s original material as well as placing their own special arrangements on well known songs and traditional English and Celtic ballads.
SAT 10.10am Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
SUN
Anthony McGloin
Anthony Mcgloin plays solo fingerstyle guitar and mandolin. Since the release of his debut CD and ensuing albums, he has been performing in folk clubs and festivals regularly. His style and delivery is quite laconic and his musical influences come through Folk, Jazz, Pop and Bluegrass.
FRI 1.30pm Restaurant
SAT 2.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 7.30pm Grevillea Park
Avalanche Bluegrass
Avalanche is a local Illawarra Bluegrass band that has established itself with a traditional, yet fresh sound all their own. The band comprises of Heather Mandich on Vocals and Mandolin, Paul Brink Vocals and Banjo, Gary Shaw; vocals and guitar, Wen Tjen Lim on Fiddle and Pete Channon on Double Bass. Their music evokes the timeless sound of traditional bluegrass with its gospel harmonies and fast paced instrumentals, seasoned with a more contemporary bluegrass flavour in their original material. For Bluegrass lovers and Bluegrass first timers alike, Avalanche delivers mountain music that’s finger picking good.
FRI 1.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 6.55pm Restaurant
SUN 9am Nag’s Lounge - Gospelgrass
Bajaly Suso
Bajaly Suso, from The Gambia, is a kora player and singer of the Griot caste, hereditary storytellers, musicians, artists and historians of the West African Mandinka empire. He has inherited the tradition of the kora from his father, who in turn learnt from his father, & so on from the first known kora player, Moussa Suso, his ancestor. Bajaly’s musicianship is exceptional. His playing is fast and furious, while retaining grace and beauty in the music. He is at one with his instrument, and he improvises without effort, both as an instrumentalist and as a singer. His skill is flawless, his fingers are a blur when he is playing, and with the accompaniment of his deep voice, delivering the song with charm and conviction, his performances are simultaneously meditational, through the beauty of the music, and exciting, through the sheer speed and attack with which he plays.
THU 8.30pm Slacky Flat Bar
FRI 2.30pm Restaurant
SAT 11.30am Show Pavilion
SAT 8.15pm Grevillea Park
SUN 2pm Chapel
The Band Who Knew Too Much
Exciting Australian songs propelled by energetic jazz-like woodchop rhythm add some strong local lyric with gang vocal delivery and their unique sound is complete. The Band Who Knew Too Much are a bona-fide fool-proof floor packing band. For over a decade they have branded their sound around the world, a highly energetic act that is at home singing on the festival stage, busking unplugged on the city streets, or anything in between! Washboard/Accordion driven anthems about spending the rent, hard rubbish nights and of course, the immortal BEER O’CLOCK!! It’s happy hour, energetic drinking music for everyone.
FRI 10.55pm Slacky Flat Bar
SAT 3.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 10.30pm Show Pavilion
Barmaid’s Blush
Arthur Bowcher is an experienced performer and composer of fiddle music, nationally and overseas. Paul Boyer is a songwriter and performer of warmth and charm. The duo’s performances have a noted ability to obtain audience participation.
FRI 9pm Restaurant
SAT 10am Slacky Flat Bar
SUN 3.45pm Nag’s Lounge
Bernard Carney & David Hyams
West Australian based Bernard Carney and David Hyams combine songs of depth and emotional power with blistering guitar instrumental work. Strong themes of social justice mixed with a whacky sense of humour make for a moving and entertaining performance.
THU 8.55pm Restaurant
FRI 2pm Heritage Hotel
FRI 5.30pm Chapel - Songs Learnt at School
SAT 9.30am Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
SAT 12.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 10pm Slacky Flat Bar - Beatles Singalong
SUN 11.30am Restaurant
SUN 2.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SUN 9pm Slacky Flat Bar - Final Party
Big Erle
Big Erle is a local singer/song writer playing the South Coast/Illawarra and Sydney music scenes. Big Erle’s unique vocal style hangs over driving poly rhythms highlighting a matured songwriting talent. The lyrical content reflects life on the coast and the pursuit of a path through this life that respects people, the environment, the community and the soul.
FRI 10.30pm Heritage Hotel
SAT 4pm Slacky Flat Bar
SUN 11.45am Grevillea Park
Big Snore Hammers
Big Snore Hammers is the creation of 11 year old Samuel De Santi’s make believe traditional tune plugged big band. They play high energy dance music from his favourite bands - La Bottine Souriante, Musica Nova, Chipolatas, Felpeyu and of course Wongawilli. Sam plays the bodhran, percussion and fiddle and is joined by members of Wongawilli, Mark Holder Keeping, Obrobini and friends. The band was formed when Sam was 5 and has performed at Woodford FF, Port Fairy FF and the National FF.
FRI 11.50pm Restaurant - Jam for Night Owls
SAT 9.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
Black Joak Morris
“Forty effeminate blacksmiths waving bits of cloth they’ve just wiped their noses on”. Black Joak Morris was started in October 2004 by a group of lads who felt that Sydney deserved another Morris side. For too long it was felt that Sydney languished in a cultural vacuum. This vacuum, like much of Sydney, needed filling. Consequently on a warm Wednesday night, 6 unsuspecting total strangers were coerced from their womb-like niches in suburbia and tricked into performing ancient, arcane and deeply significant rituals to the accompaniment of some demented musicians and their archaic instruments.
SAT 4pm Global Green
SUN 10.35am Global Green
SUN 1.30pm Global Green
Bob McInnes
Bob McInnes is almost a local - he lives at Knight’s Hill on the tableland above Jamberoo. Bob is a great fiddle player and has a member of a number of Australian groups - the Larrikins, The Wild Colonial Boys, Dave de Hugard band and much more. He always got a great tune or ditty to share!
FRI 2.30pm Chapel - An Afternoon of a Dog’s Breakfast
Bollywood Xclusive
Bollywood Xclusive is the only school training in different styles of Bollywood dancing in Wollongong. They perform variety of Bollywood dances like Classical, Bhangra, Dandia, Serenity, Pop and fusion dances that focuses on stage shows and its limelight is not just to bring the dancing effects but also the culture and attire of Bollywood to liveliness. They have performed in various cultural and charity events since 2003.
FRI 6.30pm Global Green
SAT 6.45pm Global Green
The Braxton Hicks
Nick Szentkuti and Tim Morrison are the Braxton Hicks. Nick was a member of Tinkershuffle which played at Jamberoo and National. Nick plays mandolin with Gang Gang Bush Orchestra and Tim Morrison tinkers away on percussion. Braxton Hicks played at Irish Sunday sessions in Katoomba.
FRI 12.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 1.15pm The Shed
SAT 3.15pm Chapel
Brian Bell
Brian hails from Newcastle A poet in the classical bush poetry style but likes to dabble in one minute lyrical blasts.
SAT 7pm GrandStand Bar - Poet’s Free for All
SUN 1.45pm GrandStand Bar - One Minute Wonder Poems
Brian Dubb
Brian Dubb is a songwriter and story teller who has spent the past 7 years on the road and high seas, writing and recording “Wunderings”, in South Africa, Mozambique, Israel, England, Chile and Australia. He performs with Simonne Shagrin, a Bondi girl with a voice blessed by angels, and special guest, Nano Stern from Chile.
SAT 12.15pm Nag’s Lounge
SAT 6.15pm Restaurant
Bruce Mathiske
Bruce amazes with the diversity from what essentially is a piece of wood with 6 strings. His use of the guitar to become it’s own orchestra and encompass a huge range of genres from swing to Latin, Jazz to African, Folk to flamenco, gypsy to ambient/landscape simultaneously playing didgeridoo and more. His many eclectic & various music influences from his world travels have evolved into an exciting style all his own. Expect stringed excellence that will take you on a journey with infectious rhythms and fiery fretwork from far flung corners of his guitar.
FRI 10.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 1.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SUN 3.45pm Show Pavilion
Buck & Deanne
The story of Buck & Deanne began in the church at Majors Creek Festival in 2006 when Buck (Paul Buckberry) first saw the face of Deanne Dale (Just A TAD & Moz) and heard her warm alto tones. Buck was duly impressed. However, he had to wait 5 months to be properly introduced at St.Albans Festival in April 2007. The chemistry was undeniable and since then the bonds of friendship have blossomed into a romantic musical collaboration that has delighted and uplifted audiences from Perth to Sydney. Come and be inspired by this duet and their eclectic repertoire featuring fine vocals and nifty guitar.
FRI 11.30am Restaurant
SAT 1.45pm Chapel
Bush Music Club Concert Party (Hut 44 Mob)
Carrying on the reason the (real original) Bushwhackers founded the Bush Music Club 51 years ago ... to let people know that they can form their own bands ... and play their own Australian music and songs. The group is made up of players from the Club’s regular Music Workshop at Hut 44 at Addison Street, Marrickville.
FRI 8.30pm Restaurant
SAT 1.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 5pm GrandStand Bar - Bush Songs
SUN 2.45pm GrandStand Bar – Session
Cameron Mather
Cameron Mather is 14 years old and truly loves Irish, Newfoundland, Scottish traditional and folk music. He is a strong singer of this music. He plays guitar, six string banjo, bodhran and spoons and is currently learning Irish Tenor Banjo. Cameron is invited to sing and play some songs each Sunday with the leading Sydney Irish folk band, ‘Claddagh’ at the Mercantile Hotel at The Rocks. Also sings and plays in sessions with ‘Green Jam’ at the Hero of Waterloo Hotel and attends ceilis and sessions at The Harp Hotel.
SAT 3.50pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Canberra Contra Club
Swing your way into dance nirvana with the Canberra Contra Club. Open stage for musicians and callers. Needless, to say there is an open floor for dancers as well. All welcome - no experience needed.
SAT 9.30am Global Green
SAT 9.30pm Global Green
SUN 9.30am Global Green
The Cashews
The Cashews are contemporary acoustic nuts. When they describe their stuff as acoustic-brain-pop, friends and family start looking awkward...coz..what doesthat mean? Try…querky, catchy,melodious, grounded original music with a lingering social conscience.
FRI 4.15pm Nag’s Lounge Charlie McMahon
Charlie McMahon
Charlie McMahon has been the first non-Aboriginal musician to introduce didgeridoo to rock music. He started in 1979 with Midnight Oil. In 1980 he played in America with the Greatful Dead and Van Morrison’s band and performed as support on a Timothy Leary lecture tour. In 1981 he formed Gondwanaland. McMahon is acknowledged as the most technically accomplished didgeridoo player in the world. For his style is known for its rapid breathing and rhythmic complexity, he accentuates the foundational drone by overlapping multi-tonal splashes and interjections.
fri 8.35pm Nag’s Lounge
SAT 11.45pm Grevillea Park
Chloe & Jason Roweth
Based in central western NSW and inspired by the people, history and landscape of regional Australia their repertoire recognises no boundaries; traditional early country, more recent material and their own compositions combine in a dynamic mix distinctly Australian in character. New CD Daisy Hill out now. ‘Chloe and Jason Roweth are at the forefront of Australia’s new generation of folk revival performers’ - Keith McKenry.
THU 9.55pm Restaurant
FRI 3.30pm Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
FRI 8pm Restaurant
SAT 9.30am Black Diamond Marquee
SUN 2pm Heritage Hotel
Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance Troupe
The Cinnamon Twist Belly Dance Troupe, numbers around 20 and perform Middle Eastern folk and contemporary belly dance. Virginia Keft-Kennedy is the director of Cinnamon Twist School of Belly Dance, the Illawarra’s largest centre for the study of Middle Eastern dance. Cinnamon Twist’s dynamic performances showcase the energy, diversity, and beauty of belly dance.
SAT 12.10pm Global Green
SUN 4.10pm Global Green
Claudia Aphrodite
Claudia is a 14 year old singer songwriter and left handed guitarist from Wombarra.
FRI 7pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
SAT 4.20pm Nag’s Lounge
Coolfinn Mac
This mainly acoustic, multi-instrumental group delivers ‘traditional’ music with a contemporary edge, combining the magic of music from the Celtic nations with Australian and original material, creatively blending instruments and styles. Coolfinn Mac will take you on a journey that bridges traditions with an exciting fusion of past and present, songs and tunes, both contemporary and traditional.
FRI 10.30am Restaurant
FRI 5pm Slacky Flat Bar
SAT 5.30pm Restaurant
SUN 11.45am Nag’s Lounge
The Counterfeit Gypsies
This high velocity Melbourne band combines hot-blooded gypsy melodies with a hard swinging rhythm section. Known to incite pole climbing, table dancing, crowd surfing and spontaneous circle dances The Counterfeit Gypsies never fail to play up a storm!
FRI 6.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 10.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SUN 6pm Heritage Hotel
Craig and Simone
Simone and Craig perform original songs and instrumentals which cover a range of folk music styles including early Delta Blues, Ki Hoalu (Hawaiian slack key) with occasional Celtic and Country Music influences. Their songs are often poignant, occasionally capricious hard hitting ballads which explore a variety of political, social and even ludicrous topics.
FRI 8.15pm Grevillea Park
SAT 10.30am Restaurant
SUN 3.05pm Nag’s Lounge
Crazy Creek
Bluegrass music with a modern flare for fiddle tunes and songs that you will recognise featuring the warmth of acoustic instruments.
SAT 10pm Restaurant
SUN 3pm Slacky Flat Bar
David Meyers
David Meyers is a Singer/Songwriter Poet and Folk Historian who loves to entertain his audience. He brings to the stage a huge variety of material including Australian Bush Ballads and poems, humorous parodies and hilarious bush yarns. He encourages his audience to join in with rollicking choruses of songs they know and love. He has performed extensively in the Southern Region from Sydney to Eden. He is also a founding member of Canberra’s infamous Shiny Bum Singers and Convenor of the Queanbeyan Bush Poets.
FRI 8.30am Show Pavilion - Poets Breakfast
SAT 2.30pm Chapel - Alternating Poets
Dog Trumpet
The Dog Trumpet story began at the dawn of the 1990s as a side project for brothers Reg Mombassa and Peter O’Doherty from their main band Mental As Anything. For thirteen years they had been touring and contributing songs such as ‘Berserk Warriors’, ‘Egypt’, ‘Brain Brain’, ‘Apocalypso’, ‘Psychedelic Peace Lamp’ and ‘Surf and Mull and Sex and Fun’ (to mention a few) to Mentals records, but with four songwriters in the band a certain overflow of unrecorded material was inevitable. The critically acclaimed Two Heads One Brain was followed up in 1996 by Suitcase, their quirky second album featuring Andy Travers on drums and Amanda Brown from The Go-Betweens on violin.
SAT 2.30pm Black Diamond Marquee - The Musicians
SAT
Duncan Chalmers
A great voice - here to have fun. If I’d known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of my self.
FRI 5.30pm Chapel - Songs Learnt at School
Ecopella
Ecopella is an environmental group that sings original a cappella compositions and arrangements about the fragile beauty of our world and the struggle to protect it. By engaging with the public with our music and its strong environmental message we try to bring about positive changes in people’s thinking and behaviour and offer support and encouragement for those who are engaged in trying to ease the current stress on the planet. Ecopella is based in Sydney and has branches in the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra and all members join together for gigs.
SAT 9.50am Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
SUN 1.55pm Nag’s Lounge
Elwyn Jordan
Elwyn Jordan has been a music teacher in the Illawarra for over 25 years. I play and teach guitar, banjo, bass and mandolin. I also sing and write songs. I play and teach a wide variety of styles, from heavy rock to classical, but specialise particularly in country and folk.
SUN 12.30pm Chapel
SUN 2.30pm Nag’s Lounge
Eric Bogle and John Munro
Eric Bogle and John Munro have been doing their down-market Everley Brothers impersonation for about 25 years now, both in Australia and overseas, and so far have mostly managed to get away with it. They intend to keep doing it until they drop dead, which will hopefully be around 2045AD and 2048 AD respectively.
FRI 2.30pm Chapel - An Afternoon of a Dog’s Breakfast
FRI 6.45pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 2pm Heritage Hotel
SAT 6.50pm Show Pavilion - May you live in Funny Times
SUN 4.25pm Black Diamond Marquee
The Fourth Realm
Enter the FOURTH REALM, a place where Kiss, Abba, and the Moody Blues meets the world of tradition. Sisters of song, Tahlia and Ingrid Racz, combine two completely different voices, one crystal and pure, the other deep, warm and full of timbre, “one creating the perfect harmonic foil for the other”. Their captivating voices are mixed with more than 120 strings with Jackie Luke on Hammered Dulcimer, Electric Cello, and Bouzouki, and Greg Wilson on Para-Celtic Harp and Concertina. Visit a different world with this rich collection of song from the golden songwriting era of the 60s 70s infused with traditional folk, and original music.
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Francesca Sidoti
Francesca is a musician hailing from
the
SAT 3.20pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Franklyn B Paverty
Franklyn B Paverty
has been a well known and popular bush band for many years - especially in and
around the
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SAT 8pm Global Green - Bush Dance
SUN
Frencham Smith
This unique collaboration blending Liz Frencham’s voice with the internationally acclaimed
songwriting of Fred Smith began in a session tent at the National Folk Festival
in 2002. The next year they recorded the album Into My Room and have gone on to
become a major force in Australian folk music. In 2005 Liz released here first
solo album
THU
FRI 11.30am Show Pavilion
FRI
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SUN 4.30pm Restaurant - Fred Smith only
Gary Og
WED
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The Go Set
The Go Set formed it 2004, and includes former members of Weddings, Parties, Anything, The Killjoys, and Chris Wilson band. The Go Set are a rare Australian act. Fiercly independent - they have released 3 full length albums, with the most recent, titled ‘A Journey for a Nation’ in June 2007. The Go Set have played more than 500 shows, and in the past twelve months have toured Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, selling more than 10,000 albums. They have been likened to The Pogues, the Clash, Weddings Parties Anything, and early Midnight Oil. They combine elements of traditional folk with contemporary rock, and a strong political and social voice.
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Gregory North
Discovered in the
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Harp Irish Set Dancers
The Harp Irish Set Dancers perform sets
from around
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High Fidelity
High Fiddelity is an innovative new instrumental trio, from the Illawarra region in N.S.W., whose music explores the many wonderful facets of fiddle/violin playing. Niki Donald (violin/viola), Caroline Trengove (violin/viola) and Simon Dyos (guitar) bring together a wealth of performance experience from accross the fields of classical, folk, and popular music to write and arrange all of their original music.
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Illawarra Union Singers
Illawarra Union Singers have been singing songs of peace, the environment, social justice and songs relating to worker’s struggles throughout the world for the last 15 years.
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Jane Aubourg
If you heard Jane with your eyes closed, you would think you were listening to an energetic, young string/voice/percussion ensemble playing alternative style folk that just blows your mind. If you opened your eyes, however, you would think she is so much cooler for the fact that she is going solo. Come and see the magic that can happen on just one electric violin.
SAT 4.50pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Jarrah Reay
Having spent his life on the beaches of the East Coast, Jarrah’s music has been heavily influenced by the happy-go-lucky nature of the surfing culture. His instrumentals on his trusty 12-string allow his audience to wander and lose themselves in the moment.
FRI 5pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Joe Dolce
Joe Dolce’s co-written for the Terminator soundtrack, composed oratorios for the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, released cult hit albums but is still best-known for his 1981 novelty hit, Shaddap You Face. Over the past two decades Joe has been keeping a lower profile and pursuing his original goals of successful song writing and serious musicianship, both solo with guitar and blues harmonica.
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John Broomhall, Johnny Spillane & David De Santi
Singer songwriter John Broomhall
originally hails from Broken Hill, but has lived in the Illawarra enough years
to become a local. Many of his compositions are based on his intensely personal
recollections of his childhood and his love of the desert landscape of Broken
Hill. In contrast he has spent the last few years as the resident bard on the
sailing ship, The Bounty, moored in
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John Dengate
John Dengate
is
FRI 2.30pm Chapel - An Afternoon of a Dog’s Breakfast
FRI
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SUN 2.30pm Restaurant
Junior
After driving countless miles around
the US and Australia Junior return with their second album Time in the Sun.
Junior weave contemporary tales through their songs and their naturally affable
stage presence. Junior’s stories are a peek over the back fence and into
Australian culture enhanced by acoustic instruments and on-stage humour. Junior is a three-piece band from
THU
FRI 2.30pm Chapel - An Afternoon of a Dog’s Breakfast
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Just a TAD & Moz
Tom Bridges, Alison Jones and Deanne Dale (TAD) and Maurie Mulheron (Moz) combine their long and varied experience as musicians to perform classic songs and under-sung gems from the folk canon, including many that invite chorus participation. Taking any opportunity to use expertly arranged close vocal harmonies, they also teach parts to a sing-along audience. Their vocals are supported by Maurie’s guitar or banjo.
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SUN 4.30pm Nag’s Lounge
Kalalaya Dance Group
Classical Indian Dance Group, performes many types of indian dances including classical, folk and bollywood. Kalalaya Dance Group has been performing for in various places for over ten years. They have recieved awards and regognition for their cultural dances.
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Karen Cummings Trio
Karen Cummings, John Spence and Sarah hindson (voice,piano and violin) perform Argentinian tangos, french song and German Cabaret from the 1930’s. The music deals with exile, loss and the mass movement of artists in the 30’s and 40’s and the consequent mixing of cultural influences.
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Karen Lynne & Acoustic Shock
Acoustic Shock are a traditional Bluegrass Band consisting of multi award winning musicians Jim Rush (Guitar), Martin Louis (banjo, 5 string Dobro), Nigel Lever (Mandolin) & Quentin Fraser (Dobro & Bass). Their music is clean 3 part harmony singing traditional bluegrass instrumentation. Influences include Flat & Scruggs, the Osborne Bros and Louvin Bros and they are joined by Multi Award winning artist Karen Lynne who’s latest bluegrass album “Changes” has been hailed a ‘truly international album in the class of Alison Krauss & Rhonda Vincent’, the first 3 singles reaching the Top 5 on the Australian Country Chart. In 2005 the band completed a UK/Europe tour which included a support to top US Bluegrass act ‘Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder’.
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Karl Broadie
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Kate Fagan
Internationally acclaimed songwriter Kate Fagan continues to delight festival audiences across the country with her winning blend of country-roots folk. She delivers her lucid, emotionally persuasive lyrics in an unforgettable voice, and her solo debut ‘Diamond Wheel’ won the Best Folk Album award at the 2006 National Folk Festival. Kate appears at Illawarra Festival with renowned bluegrass and slide guitarist Robbie Long.
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Kash Mear
Kash is a local high school student with a Classical and Celtic musical background performing solo Bluegrass Fiddle and country singing in Alison Krauss style. She has a great interest traditional bluegrass and country music and takes lessons with local bluegrass fiddler, Wentchen Lim.
FRI
The Lawnmowers
Sublime & ridiculous! Naught is safe around the Lawnmowers.....they keep the audience (and each other) on tippy toes with a high-voltage selection of bluegrass classics, spiced up with beautifully composed contemporary acoustic pieces. Sample some home-grown Australian ‘newgrass’ at its best! Three times national banjo champ Dave Hellens and acoustic guitarist Robbie Long (Kate Fagan Band), and internationally recognised harmonica player Tony Eyers, to create a distinctively contemporary Australian bluegrass sound.
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The Leisure Coasters
The Leisure Coasters are a reggae ska band based in the northern suburbs of the Illawarra.
They are Dave Ritchie drums, Tim Ritchie bass, David Gale percussion, Liz Ertler keys and vocals, Andy O’Phee
guitar and vocals. They play a mix of classic oldies and original songs from
the
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SUN 12.30pm Restaurant
Len Neary
Len has a repertoire of mostly traditional Irish and Australian songs. He has been a member of the Roaring Forties, Kerfuffle and some other long forgotten groups. He mostly sings solo these days with audience participation.
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Lin Van Hek - Difficult Women
DIFFICULT WOMEN has been performing concerts in the Australian and International Art and Folk Festivals since its inception in 1993. Using the acting, narrating and singing skills of LIN VAN HEK and the musical and arranging talents of multi-instrumentalist, JOE DOLCE, DIFFICULT WOMEN brings to life on stage, in concert format, some of our most important and controversial women artists, women who were labelled ‘difficult’ in their day due to their willingness to go against the accepted norm for what it meant to be a woman artist.
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Lolo Lovina
Lolo Lovina
is a dynamic six piece band based in
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Mahri Autumn
From Middle Eastern flavoured folky, funky, latin jazz, country blues to traditional Egyptian rhythms and ancient improvisational forms using accordian, sax, slide, vocals and percussion. Mahri Autumn is the singer songwriter alter ego of local drum teacher Marianthe Loucataris aka Manthy (Cheeky Tzatziki, Obrobini, machine translations). The Chameleon Collective shifts, changes and grows depending on the occassion, the mood and the moon but often features Pedro Altuna on percussion, Noah Hampson on sax and Simon Leamon on slide.
FRI 3.25pm Nag’s Lounge
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Margaret Bradford
Margaret has that knack to bring out the heartfelt essence of a song. Her latest CD …“Ten Years On - Collection of Requested Favourites”.. songs you like to hear and Margaret loves to sing that reflect this subtle sensitivity. With guitar and bowed psaltery accompaniment she uses a vast emotional range. KIDS …come and “sing and dance”, “make and play” in the band-turn recycled junk materials into musical instruments.
FRI 11am Nag’s Lounge
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SAT 6.15pm Chapel - CD Launch
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Martin Pearson
Variety and wit and effortlessly polished vocal performances. Martin has the outstanding ability to engage the audience, swapping banter and taking them on a wonderfully varied trip. One moment there are members of the audience rolling in their chairs and the next, you could hear a pin drop while they’re spellbound by a simply sublime performance.
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Mendala
Mendala was begun by Peter Thomas who plays guitar and banjo and writes uplifting songs about the sea and life’s bigger questions. Stephen Goldrick adds more original songs about spirit of place, and with songwriters Phil Preston (harmonica) and John Nichols (percussion), they play with humour, harmony and energy.
SAT 1.30pm Nag’s Lounge
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The Miles To Go Trio
In this compact version of the 7 piece Miles To Go band line up, David Hyams is joined by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Andy Copeman; widely known for his innovative approach to a range of acoustic styles and cellist Jennifer Tingley; who has adapted her extensive classical background to the more rootsy styles of the band. Expect some of the more guitar based pieces from the band’s albums and a few more songs thrown into the mix. While its roots are deeply planted in Celtic traditions, the sound is unmistakably Australian, with musical narratives strikingly evocative of the landscapes that inspire them.
THU
FRI 4.30pm Restaurant
SAT 3pm Heritage Hotel
SUN 10.30am Show Pavilion
Mithra Cox
Mithra is a political activist following the tradition of Peggy Seeger, Roy Bailey and Faith Petric. She plays original and traditional folk songs on banjo and guitar.
SAT 12.50pm Nag’s Lounge
Mothers of Intention
The Mother of Intention are the 2007 MusicOz Folk Category award winners! They are a dynamic four piece folk band, reinterpreting the classic Celtic folk songs and tunes. Lush three part vocal harmony, driving guitar, fiery yet soulful fiddle ,lilting recorder and the steady bodhran heartbeat define the Mothers sound. A Mothers set takes you on a journey from heartfelt ballads and airs to joyous tunes to dance to. Rosie McDonald - lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Lainey Balsdon - recorders, percussion. Penny Rankin Smith - vocals and bodhran Antoni Pyrzakowski -fiddle, viola, mandolin, vocals.
THU
FRI 1pm Heritage Hotel
SAT 2.30pm Restaurant
SAT 7.30pm Slacky Flat Bar - Karifolkie
SUN 12.45pm Show Pavilion
Mountain Jam
An acoustic trio who play around the Illawara at local restaurants / private functions and charity events. The name originates meeting at the South Country Music Association jams at Mount Kembla. They have award winning status through our song writing ranging from amateur talent including Belinda reaching the top 10 in the Tamworth 2006 star maker final.
SAT 9pm Grevillea Park
SUN
Nano Stern
Nano Stern (age 22) is a rising star of Chilean music, with a debut album, after a solo European tour. No-one else of his generation has made such a bridge between the “Nueva Canción Chilena” (The New Chilean Song) and modern rock.music. He has toured extensively in European and Chilean folk clubs and festivals.
THU 9.30pm Ryan’s Hotel - Fringe Event
FRI 5.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SAT 7.15pm Heritage Hotel
SUN 5.25pm Black Diamond Marquee
Neil Adam and Judy Turner
Back working as a duo after some years devoted to the family band and the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, brilliant guitarist songwriter Neil Adam and award winning fiddler/violist Judy Turner bring a swag of new songs and tunes along with a lot of their old favourites to this, their favourite festival. Great playing and great songwriting in the modern Anglo-Celtish style!
FRI 4.25pm Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
FRI 5.30pm Chapel - Songs Learnt at School
FRI 8.30pm Show Pavilion
SAT 12pm Heritage Hotel
SUN 2.45pm Show Pavilion
The Nester Lou and Slim Knackers Show
The Nester Lou and Slim Knackers Show will rattle your dags and tickle your chookskin. The show featurs ‘Truck Driving Woman (But She Used to Be a Truck Driving Man)’ and Nester Lou’s heart-rending anthem, ‘Line Dancing Alone’. Slim recounts his early experiences droving out west in, ‘Thinking About Ewe’ and Nester Lou recalls her brief tenure as the reigning ‘Mungindi Rodeo Queen’. The Nester Lou and Slim Knackers Show is a country music experience with more twists and turns than a taxi ride to Sydney airport.
THU
FRI 7.45pm Slacky Flat Bar
SAT 10.55am Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
SAT 1pm Heritage Hotel
SAT 6.30pm Show Pavilion - May you live in Funny Times
SUN 1.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
Newcastle People’s Chorus
Folk/union based choir performing with the Combined Unions Choir.
SUN 11.30am Show Pavilion - Union Concert
Nick and the Big Bang Theory
Nicks ‘Acoustic Cabaret’ combines a multi-instrumental approach to original songs with poetry stories and some fun and games. He’s played at The Basement La Bar and The Commercial in Sydney the Illawarra Folk Club in Wollongong and The Troubadour in London (a career highlight). Nick has also written comedy for Television shows such as ‘BackBerner’ and ‘Good News Week’ and is currently the main writer and performer for Humour Australia ABC Radio’s nationwide comedy producers.
FRI 8.30pm Heritage Hotel
SAT 12.30pm The Shed - For the Kids
SAT 4.10pm Show Pavilion - Keeping them Honest
SAT 9.30pm Show Pavilion
SUN 6pm Slacky Flat Bar
No Such Thing
No Such Thing is a group of musicians who, under the leadership of well known collector Alan Musgrove, play collected Australian dance tunes. The band recreates the authentic feel of the old time dance bands and will soon get your feet tapping. They are a favourite of the dancing fraternity, playing monthly at Wongawilli Hall and other dances. They have appeared regularly at the Illawarra Folk Festivals at Bulli and Jamberoo.
FRI 7.30pm GrandStand Bar
SAT 3pm Global Green - Bush Dance
SUN 10.45am GrandStand Bar
Obrobini
World Beat Fusion Obrobini brings some of the best percussionists on the South East Coast together in one line up. Their influences include African Egyptian and Latin beats infused with vocals wind instruments and melodic percussion. From sweet trance to funky dance Obrobini will definitely have you dancing and swaying in and out of your seats!
FRI 7.30pm Global Green
SAT 7.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
SUN 3.30pm Black Diamond Marquee
Once Upon a Song
Internationally acclaimed story teller Anna Jarrett and renowned local musician/ music therapist Ann Lehmann give fresh takes to traditional tunes and tales for young kids. Once Upon a Song has evolved from Ann and Anna’s passion to bring families and friends together to laugh dance sing and play around with music and stories.
FRI 10.15am Nag’s Lounge
SAT 9.30am The Shed
SUN 1.15pm The Shed
Paddy
I’m Paddy Kelly and I’m 13 years old. I have been playing violin for 3 and a half years.
FRI 6.30pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Paris Dreaming
Ewan MacKenzie and Kay Sullivan play guitar and accordion, evoking images of the Paris Cafe scene. They have released a CD titled Paris Dreaming, a collection of Musette waltzes, Gypsy Swing, Django Reinhardt tunes and Ewan’s originals.
THU
FRI 2.45pm Nag’s Lounge
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Pat Drummond
Having recently celebrated ‘30 years without a Real Job’ Pat Drummond is an Australian Singer/ Songwriter who is one of the real survivors in Australia’s musical landscape. With a swag of Awards for recording and performance in Folk and Country music Pat’s career has also had a very theatrical side with his creation of characters such as the beleaguered Schoolchild from his 1980’s Rock Opera Skooldaze; the earnest newspaper reporter from ‘’Tales From The Local Rag’, and most recently the highly political Black and White Knights from his Chess Set creation. Stories to burn and an enviable history of professional survival in a volatile industry.
THU 5.30pm Slacky Flat Bar
FRI 4pm Show Pavilion - Australia on the Move
FRI 5.50pm Slacky Flat Bar
Paul Jamieson & Ruthi 2 Shooz
Paul Jamieson is a well known
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Pettibone
A quartet of eighteen year old multi instrumentalists drawing influence from modern folk bluegrass and swing as well as traditional europeanbalkan and gypsy music. This combination of influences thrown into the pot along with guitars double bass cello violin clarinet and four part harmonies for the emotive easily loveable brew of Pettibone Stout. They will be releasing their first CD.
THU
FRI
SAT 11am Slacky Flat Bar
SUN 1.30pm Restaurant
The Poi Pixies
Two female poi dancers aged 15 and 18 years, performing contemporary choreographed dances LED glow pois.
FRI 8.15pm Global Green - Youth at the Folkie
Prestons Historic Punch and Judy Show
Join Professor Preston and Antonio Doylissimo …The Wizard of Wind’ for a special version of the famous Punch and Judy Puppet show. Celebrating 345 years, Mr Punch is the world’s most famous handpuppet. From his origins as an Italian commedia character and marionette he developed into England’s iconic rascal and hero to millions. Mr Punch rules his little stage and all who challenge him…see the traditional story of Punch and his wife Judy together with the Crocodile, the Policeman, Joey the Clown and maybe the Hangman and Ghost make an appearance too. A special musical tribute to the true folk-puppet tradition by Australia’s foremost exponent. Joining Keith will be blind whistle player Tony Doyle from Adelaide.
SAT 10.40am The Shed
SAT 5pm The Shed
SUN 11.45 The Shed
SUN 3.30pm The Shed
SAT 3pm GrandStand Bar - Tony Tinwhistle Workshop
The Puddin’ Eaters
A colourful mixture of story-telling, play acting, join-in music and dancing for kids of all ages. Meet ridiculously tall but extremely silly Rob the Storyteller, not-so-tall Stuart with his squeeze box and lovely Sally the Dance Caller (she’s the one in the fabulous dress).
FRI 11.45am Nag’s Lounge
SAT 10.05am The Shed
SAT 2pm The Shed
SUN
Replay
Formed at Cobargo Folk Festival in 2003 Replay is the amalgamation of some of the Illawarra’s top young string players. With an age range from 7 to 12 they have already impressed audiences at several folk festivals. Currently working on more orignial music with input from each member of the band and the expert assistance of Rita Woolhouse.
FRI 12.30pm Nag’s Lounge
SUN
The Rhythm Hunters
Inspired by
Japanese Taiko and remote music from West Sumatra, Indonesia. The Rhythm
Hunters fuse the thunder of taiko drumming with
indigenous Islamic music from
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Russell Hannah
Russell has been the anchor man of the Folk Club and the Festival since its inception. Russell is the traditional default MC, publicity guru, stalwart of the workers, councillor extraordinaire, upholder of the environment, brunt of large jokes, tripe connoisseur, tormentor of accordion players and generally all round good bloke. If you run out of drinking partners, look for Russell who will gladly share a drink and a good yarn.
THU
SAT
Sanskriti & Dheeraj Shrestha
Sanskriti Shrestha is a phenomenom! At 17yrs of age she is an acclaimed tabla (Indian drum) virtuoso. A hit at
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Scarlett Affection
Scarlett Affection is a theatrical acoustic/folk sister act that will charm, tingle spines and move you. Hightlight performances in 2007 included Canadian Music Week, Toronto; Pitter Patter Music Festival, Toronto; The Knitting Factory, New York; The International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, Tennessee; and the Bangalow A & I Hall, NSW. Both classically and dramatically trained, sisters Melia and Nerida create a hugely entertaining show with their charismatic performance.
THU
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Shadow Folk
Shadow Folk comprise of three local guitarists from Thirroul/ Austinmer. They write their own material and arrange contemporary folk tunes.Their debut performance was at the 2006 Illawarra Folk Festival and since then they have also played for the Illawarra Fok Club.
SAT 2.50pm Nag’s Lounge - Youth at the Folkie
Shannon Evans
Hailing from
FRI 8pm Nag’s Lounge
SAT
Shimmy N Sheik
Shimmy n Sheik Belly Dance Co are a local Belly Dance School run by teacher/performer Julie Abela. They have 2 performing troupes; The Sheik Charmers and The Sheik it Babies. Classes are held in Corrimal and cover beginners right through to performance level.
SUN
Shiny Bum Singers
Sing along with the wicked parodies
written and sung by
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SUN 1.15pm Nag’s Lounge
Solidarity Choir
The Solidarity Choir was formed in 1987
as part of a City of
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SUN
SONiA & disappear fear
Grammy Nominated SONiA
has performed at bomb shelters in
THU 8pm Ryan’s Hotel - Fringe Event
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