Austral
Winners of “Group Of The Year” 2024 and Traditional Folk Album of the Year at the Australian Folk Music Awards,
Austral will transport you into full festival party mode. They are a high-energy, four-piece Australian Celtic group combining didgeridoo, Irish pipes, high energy fiddling, journeying songs and energetic foot percussion. Whether you see them on stage or at the session afterward, Austral will get your festival going. HUP!
Austral features Angus Barbary on fiddle, vocals and mandola, Caity Brennan on fiddle and vocals, Rhys Crimmin on guitar, percussion, didgeridoo and vocals, and Connor Hoy on Uilleann pipes, flute and whistle. Austral's music is infectiously toe-tapping and you may find it hard to resist the urge to get up and dance yourself. They have developed their own high-energy live stage sound and have a debut album hot off the press. Austral are carving a new face for Celtic music in Australia and are a band not to be missed.
Austral have recently released their debut album 'Thylacine', to widespread acclaim, winning them an AFMA and a nomination for the Music Victoria Awards. They are hitting the festival scene, ready to start a few festival dance parties.
The Bushwackers won the Contribution to Folk Award 2024 at the Australian Folk Music Awards.
The Bushwackers play Australian music, much of it based on the traditional folk and working songs from the early 20th century, infused with their own brand of contemporary subject matter and instrumentation.
With a laconic, distinctive Australian sound, Dobe Newton and Roger Corbett voice 50 years of songs, tunes and dance calls. As much as the music has changed, the spirit of the songs and stories that inspired the first Bushwackers have not.
With their politics and social conscience proudly worn on their sleeve, the band combines original material with a traditional repertoire. Songs such as ‘Beneath The Southern Cross’ and ‘When Britannia Ruled The Waves’, sit easily alongside a musical setting of Lawson’s epic poem ‘Faces in The Street’ and ‘The Ballad of 1891’ celebrating the great shearers’ strike.
More recently is the irreverent and controversial ‘Marijuana Australiana Rehashed’, a great crowd favourite together with ‘Leave It In The Ground’ highlighting the fight against the mining companies in Australia.
Often an enthusiasm not shared by a number of members of the constabulary who regularly take the band to task with issues such as becoming a republic, equality, cultural diversity and more recently, climate change and legislation of medical marijuana.
The Bushwackers continue to take their unique Australiana brand of music through the country and around the world, bringing spirit and energy to festivals, clubs, pubs, schools and events.
The Bush dances in the late 70’s and early to mid 80’s saw the band’s Bush Dance Spectaculars attract 2000 – 3000 people to major venues throughout Australia. The Dance Album and the accompanying instructional Dance Book became, and remain, a primary school staple across the nation, with scarcely a school kid alive who hasn’t learnt a bit of bush dancing to the music of The Bushwackers.
Now in their 52nd year, The Bushwackers are led by the mighty lagerphone of Dobe Newton and the musical direction of Roger Corbett. Both are joined onstage with a great team of musicians wielding fiddles, accordions, mandolins, guitars, bass, and drums. Their shows are filled with an enthusiastic diversity of fans who dance, sing and enjoy this unique Australian music.
Halfway to Forth blend different styles of roots music into their own brand of earthy, homegrown and honest song-writing. Brothers Dan & Kyle deliver tight vocal harmonies, banjo driven ballads & toe tapping grooves for all ages.
They take their name from the location of their family home, nestled in the hills, surrounded by rich farmland just outside of Devonport on the North coast of Tasmania.
FREYLOK - A mythical Tasmanian Celtic band of legendary players. Last reported sighting was in Geelong (2002), sharing a stage with Andy Irvine & Donal Linny’s mythical band Mozaik
Rosie Haden's Under The Radar
"Beautifully crafted songs delivered with integrity, finesse and power" (Matt Fell, producer - Fanny Lumsden, Sara Storer)
Pathos-driven dark bluesy folk. Intense rhythmic grooves accompany melodic tales on modern life.
Shasa Bolton is a Sheffield based guitarist, singer song writer who enjoys playing with catchy melodies and cryptic lyrics. With influences such as Paul Simon, Don McLean and Leonard Cohen, be prepared for many metaphors and a subtle philosophical bent. Shasa has a regular gig on the Spirit of Tasmania ship and enjoys a captive audience that appreciates a little story to go with each song.
Pete Hay and Bert Spinks
A Tasmanian Map...
Regarded as two of Tasmania’s most distinct storytellers, Pete Hay and Bert Spinks have been touring the island with their show, ‘A Tasmanian Map’, which draws on their colourful experiences travelling to all parts of Tassie.
Originally a Wynyard boy, Pete Hay is one of Tasmania’s most highly respected writers, with a lengthy career of telling the island’s stories. He has a number of books under his belt and his writings can be found in countless publications. Pete has never been one to flinch from tough subjects, and his eclectic career has brought him in contact with Tasmanians of every kind of background. Pete’s voice is authentic and well-rounded, and over his career, he has developed a deep and far-reaching insight into how we connect with our places.
Bert Spinks grew up in Beaconsfield and now has a reputation as a uniquely Tasmanian performer. Sharing work in a variety of forms and on almost any subject matter, Bert has carved out a unique path as a storyteller and poet. Having worked for many years as a mountain guide, Bert lives in the bush and has a unique view on human experiences in the environment. His podcast on this theme, ‘In a Train Carriage, Going Nowhere’, has listeners from around the world.
We Mavericks
Masters in the art of connection, Lindsay Martin (AU) and Victoria Vigenser (NZ) interweave effortless strings, soulful vocals and driving rhythms to form a singular, intense musical voice. The couple have been called contemporary folk, alt-country and acoustic pop, but words don’t capture their unbelievable musical kinship, or the deeply heartfelt way they relate to their audiences. Nominated Best Folk Artist in both AU and NZ, this troubadour duo have an inexplicable appeal that has seen them on a steep and fast rise to countless festival billings throughout 2022/23, with NZ, AU, UK and EU tours to accompany their highly anticipated sophomore release in 2024.
Kristen Lang & Mount Roland Land Care - Sat 12.30, Drill Hall
A little poetry. A little camera footage. A little time spent on the plateau. Kristen has been immersing herself in the life on
Tarinimari / Mount Roland. Cheeseberries to canary worms, potoroos to spinebills, frog calls to the songs of stones. Hear a poet's take on a survey of the mountain. Hear also from the wonderful Greg Taylor on the work of Mount Roland Land Care.
Kristen Lang moved from Melbourne to regional Tasmania as a child. She now lives in mountainous country in north-west Tasmania. In her writing, closeness and connection combine with a beyond-human view that celebrates ecological continuity. Her collection of poems and photographs Let me show you a ripple was self-published in 2008. In 2017, her poetry books SkinNotes and The Weight of Light were published by Walleah Press and Five Islands Press. The latter was longlisted for the 2019 Margaret Scott Award. Earth Dwellers, published in 2021 by Giramondo, was longlisted for the 2021 Laurel Prize.
The Folksters are Bernadette and Anthony O'Neill. They will delight you with their beautiful renditions of traditional Irish ballads and original works and spirited jigs and reels to get your feet tapping.
The Folksters have performed at some great festivals including the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, the National Folk Festival, and many other music venues throughout Australia.
Patrick Evans has been making music his whole life. From his heartfelt original songs of Australian life to his unique treatments of traditional folk songs and fiddle tunes Patrick uses his music to take audiences on a journey through his musical heritage and experiences as well as a journey through some of Australian culture’s highways and byways. A skilled singer, songwriter, guitarist, fiddle player and entertainer Patrick is also a senior guitar maker at Maton Guitars
Rose Turtle Ertler is an instigator of art. Her participatory work brings people together for meaningful, empowering and enjoyable experiences.
Her projects often challenge misinformed stereotypes and aim to amplify voices that can get lost in this chaotic world.
Rose is a musician, regularly performing her original wonky-folk/precarious-pop-songs solo on various instruments - lately it’s mostly piano and baritone uke through effects pedals.
She has toured extensively including overseas. She has also collaborated with many musicians over the years and been in bands including pop/punk band The Night Before Tomorrow.
Rose has been playing ukulele for twenty five years and has helped to promote it in Australia through performing, teaching and organizing of ukulele events. She specialises in ‘fancy’ strumming and often teaches beginners and advanced workshops on her travels. She has taught workshops in numerous ukulele clubs in every state/territory of Australia. Rose played uke in the Black Orchid Stringband with members of the Melbourne West Papuan community.
Daniel J Townsend is an AFMA-nominated songwriter and award-winning educator, poet, storyteller and creative facilitator, based in lutruwita/Tasmania. His latest album The Eye Begins to See is an exquisite song cycle about grief and renewal produced by renowned mandolinist Luke Plumb.
Matt Fell began his musical career in Sydney as a sideman for some of Australia's top artists. After countless tours at home and abroad, Matt decided to unpack his suitcase and focus on his true passion . . . making records.
As a producer/engineer Matt has won many ARIA & Golden Guitar awards, produced countless Albums, EP's and singles and in 2019 starred in The ABC's "The Recording Studio".
In early 2022 Matt and family moved house and studio to their new home in Tasmania, nestled under the glorious Mount Roland. Their new recording setup offers a quiet, tranquil and endlessly inspiring environment for artists and musicians alike
Sparrowgrass
A fledgling folk trio from NW lutruwita/Tasmania, Sparrowgrass combine 3 divine voices and a range of acoustic instruments. Versatile and fun, with roots firmly rooted in celtic folk traditions, Sophie Leslie, Tessa Lee and Alex Morse make music to please themselves, first and foremost.
In the Groove, who have been enchanting local audiences for over a decade. Initially planning just one performance, their passion and joy for music have kept them entertaining us with their diverse repertoire ever since. From jazz and pop to country, folk, and even opera and classical, their special talent for a cappella is sure to leave you with a song in your heart and a smile on your face.
Women Who Drum
Formed out of the ongoing weekly drumming workshop facilitated by Lavender Lily in Sheffield. This group has been playing together for two years, exploring African, World, and Improvised beats and rhythms.
The Saraswati Symphony is a small group of dedicated kirtanists from different backgrounds and lineages coming together to inspire and uplift through music. Comprised of yoga teachers and musicians who play with appreciation of how music can open the heart (the band expanding to include other musicians and singers who add to the soundscape), their intention is to give listeners an opportunity to explore the depths of their own heartspace, through a combination of meditative music and joy-evoking mantra medicine.
Session Players Tasmania was created to support Celtic session musicians across Tasmania and to nurture the next generation of trad players. At this year’s festival come and join us for our slow sessions as well as the Festival session on Friday and Saturday nights.
Mountain Echoes is a vocal group based in the Kentish district of Lutruwita / Tasmania. It started in 2020, with some experienced adult mentors, providing an opportunity for young people to develop and express their vocal talents, working together as an ensemble. It quickly grew to include some parents and other adults who felt compelled to join in, not by any deliberate coercion, but because of their joy of singing.
As a community group Mountain Echoes focusing on people they are inclusive of all ages, genders, abilities and capabilities.
Trouvers
Take a swag of new songs, really good songs, and introduce them to the world.
That’s the aim of Trouvers who strive to bring these ‘unknown’ songs to audiences wherever they can.
Add some better known songs, songs with a purpose/meaning, and the mix is delectable.
Presented with three part harmony and quality guitar backing, the sound of Trouvers garners praise wherever they perform – most recently the March 2024 Kunanyi Folk Club and opening for Mike McClellan.
Trouvers know that good songs need to be remembered. They understand that for every songwriter there needs to be a thousand interpreters.
The Latrobe Federal Band commenced in 1875 and we are the oldest continuous functioning brass band in Australia. We are located in Latrobe, Tasmania.
Cerulean Rose Sound Healing brings listeners sonic meditative journeys, through instruments such as crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, bellow wind instruments, flutes, and more. The addition of a layered vocal soundscape makes this an ethereal & mesmerising sound healing experience that leaves participants floating in a deeply relaxed state, often experiencing profound energetic shifts and epiphanies