Performers

Masters in the art of connection, Victoria Vigenser and Lindsay Martin interweave soulful vocals, effortless strings and driving rhythms into dynamic originals with roots firmly in folk and alt-country. With rave reviews across Australia, NZ the UK and Europe, expect laughter, tears, and soul-stirring songs with a worldly appeal. “...an undoubted masterclass in music delivery and songwriting” Fatea Magazine, UK

“Acoustic ripples upon a sea of imagination!” Armed with harp and guitar, flute and bodhran, Barbara Jeffrey and José Garcia forge a unique perspective on folk, using cultural perspectives from Australia, Scotland, Ireland, the Philippines; and even Mexico! Singing in different languages, their combined soprano and baritone harmonies blend together seamlessly. Stunningly beautiful, traditional and original music!

Thomas Weaver honours Irish and Scottish ancestors by singing Celtic songs, old and new, accompanied by a gorgeous octave mandolin. Singing about joy, love, inclusiveness, understanding, and courage, and is no stranger to laughter. They will beguile you with dulcet tones, taking you places where you can see the wonder of the world we live in and the beauty of the people around us. Don’t be surprised if you leave this act feeling better about yourself, the world, and your place in it.

Experience the beauty of Irish ballads, and the energy of Irish jigs and reels when you see The White in Between. Melbourne musicians Cora Browne and Felix Meagher present an evening of all your Irish favourites from Will Ye Go Lassie Go, The Galway Girl. The Fields Of Athenry to Danny Boy. Cora Browne has been singing gigs in Melbourne for a number of years including with Cora and The Crop Boys, Pat Evans and Cora Browne Duo, The Chamber Pots and The Other Band (A jazz combo). Felix Meagher, Program Director of the Lake School of Celtic Music 2000-2024, has played around 4,500 gigs around Australia with Bushwahzee, The Gundaguys and numerous combinations. The White In Between takes its name from a song composed by Felix about namesake Thomas Francis Meagher and adoption of the Irish flag - The White In Between The Orange and Green.

We are music loving friends whose busking debut occurred at Tamworth Festival. Since then we have been chomping at the bit to perform again. The Yass Festival seems like the welcoming venue we are hoping for.

The Sweet Sorrows bring Celtic charm and edge together with soft harmonies to create an Americana/Celtic/Roots fusion. (CrossRhythms UK) Based in Co. Wexford, Ireland, The Sweet Sorrows are veteran Irish singer-songwriter Sammy Horner and his Aussie/irish wife Kylie. They tour globally with their blend of original and trad music delighting audiences with their humour and vocal harmonies. Sammy’s guitar and bodhran is matched well by Kylie’s whistles, melodica and accordion. An evening with The Sweet Sorrows always promises to be highly entertaining, provocative and moving. Their intimacy, transparency and strength of passion on stage has won them many fans.

Tasmanian based folk trio led by charismatic Scotsman, Graeme McColgan, accompanied by two seasoned Tasmanian musicians, Neil Gray and Bob Connor, create a dynamic blend of Scottish and Irish folk music. From lively Irish classics to 200 year-old heartfelt Scottish ballads, they deliver an unforgettable performance filled with infectious energy, incredible 3-part harmonies and a shared love for Celtic musical traditions.

The Go Two’s - Rosie McDonald & Nigel Lever are individually well known in the Folk and festival scene, but it is the music they play together that shines with an intimate and heartfelt intensity. They are joined by the uber talented Quentin Fraser on Dobro & Guitar & the wonderfully talented Ann Palumbo on vocal & Double Bass

The Full Irish bring the Irish pub session to the stage. Their performance ranges from powerful up-tempo songs to haunting ballads steeped with the earthy sound of their Irish roots. The Full Irish perform traditional Irish folk songs and tunes, as well as contemporary Irish music and original songs.

We Ch00ks are energetic, humorous, entertaining and verrrry musical. We keep our audiences guessing. Traditional one minute, Rolling Stones the next—then we slip in some of our own table thumpers, tear jerkers or nonsense songs. It feels like we’ve made a bunch of friends by the end of a set.

For five decades, The Bushwackers have performed regularly around Australia. Following the band’s appearance on 'The Voice,' in 2024, their shows have been selling out nationwide.The Bushwackers are all about Australian voices and stories within our country and folk music. The Bushwackers bring stellar musicians and play an infectious mix of Australian classics, original songs and virtuoso instrumentals with all the humour and spirit that has made the band a household name since 1971.

Growing up on a diet of BBC hits in Sri Lanka, then gravitating to her father’s cowboy song collection when they emigrated to Melbourne; later discovering the guitar slinging singer-songwriters and Celtic songbirds, Suzette Herft has emerged as a captivating troubadour in her own right with her award-winning original songs and a gift for facilitating singing and songwriting sessions. Suzette is a powerful and engaging stage performer, who shines with a natural grace and presence. "Suzette sings from her soul, she glows when she sings... every song is plucked with precision from her heart" Mundy (Ireland).

Sullie is an Irish Singer-Songwriter living in Sydney. Sullies’ songs are about leaving, love, loss, and broken hearts environmental issues and calls for peace. Sullie has performed at Sydney, Yass, Gulgong, St Alban’s, folk festival. Sullie's debut album Tears was released in 2023. Fields of Blood is Sullies latest song released in June 2025.

Stringline is a contemporary folk band playing memorable, powerful originals, influenced by Celtic, indie, country and bluegrass styles. Multi-instrumentalists and songwriters, their long history together is obvious through the chemistry in their vocal and instrumental harmonies. True folkies, they use acoustic guitars, mandolins, fiddle, banjo, and accordion to create a unique sound. Known as wonderful storytellers through words and music, Stringline captivate audiences with inspiring lyrics set to catchy melodies with refreshingly arranged traditional instrumentation.

Allan Stone is a poetry bloke Otherwise known as Stonybroke He’ll make you laugh and make you cry Or spin you tales of pie in the sky So come along, get on yer bike When Stonybroke is on the mike

Steve MacDonald and Lainey Keir play a mix of Celtic, American tunes and Folk songs. Steve plays guitar and banjo and Lainey plays a range of Irish whistles.

‘Song Brother’ was an affectionate term used by Anthony Woolcott and Miguel Heatwole during 25 years together in the Celtic vocal trio, Triantan. Sophie Moore hass happily become their sister and together they sing with skill and love. Always loyal to traditional folksongs they also harmonise 1970s prog rock and Tolkein.

Shona Williams is a Glaswegian born singer songwriter with a passion to connect others with their Celtic heritage and the songs of their ancestors. Phil Lester is a troubadour of the Folk music scene together they have been likened to the legendary The Corrie’s and the banter to match.

Shona Williams is a traditional Scottish/Irish Sean nos singer with a passion for bringing to life the stories and cultural history of the Scots Irish peoples. Delicately weaving the audience into their heritage through the events which lead to the mass enforced migration of Scots and Irish to Australian/American shores and giving them a sense of connection.

Shanagolden is a four-piece Irish-Australian folk ensemble fronted by the expressive and richly toned vocals of Cassidy Buxton. The group features Sandy Gibbney on fiddle, whose playing - characterised by impeccable intonation, fluid bowing, and expressive vibrato, defines Shanagolden’s sound. On piano accordion, Bridget Hehir emoloys simple traditional ornamentation to produce rich harmonic layers and strong rhythmic patterns to create a lively danceable feel. Percussionist Jon Jones fuses traditional styles with innovative techniques, adding intricate, tasteful rhythm and texture. With decades of experience performing in established bands and as regular contributors to Canberra’s vibrant session scene, each member brings seasoned musicianship and a deep appreciation of Australia’s vibrant folk culture, performing songs you'll love and melodies that linger.

We are a fun-loving bunch of Irish Set Dancers from Canberra. We are keen to share the joy we enjoy via participatory workshops and ceilithe (plural of ceili). We will also perform a display for those who want to experience the fun more vicariously but still be immersed in the wonderful infectious rhythms of Irish music supplied by Ian Hayden and friends

Beautiful Celtic ukulele performed in the Campanella style where her ukulele sounds like a harp. Heartfelt songs of joy and grief with gorgeous fingerpicking work. Sally's ukulele playing

Rory Phillips, 2023 NSW Folk Federation Young Artist of the Year, is a skilled guitarist, singer, and songwriter blending folk, alt-country, and blues. The youngest ever member of The Bushwackers, he advocates for mental health and environmental causes, using music to inspire positive change by writing songs with purpose.

Dynamic award-winning performer: Tick. Versatile prize-winning poet: Tick. Living Legend of Australian Poetry: Tick. Poems published inter/nationally and online: Tick.  What are you waiting for? Don’t miss Robyn Sykes!

Rachel Clark, the Australia-based self-taught Singer-Songwriter, has crafted a musical journey that blends heartfelt storytelling with a sultry and soulful acoustic folk vibe. With raw honesty, she delves into the depths of the human experience, heartache to humour, offering introspective narratives on loss, love, and the battles we all face.

A singer-songwriter, performer and activist, Peter Campbell’s music is poetic and powerful, exploring our shared humanity without flinching. His evocative lyrics, rich melodies and magnetic stage presence captivate hearts and minds. Expect raucous participation, striking finger-style 6 string, feisty 12 string, tender banjo and arresting a capella – a powerful reminder of music’s ability to heal and inspire.

Poet and reciter Oliver Roweth (he/it) has been a regular on festival stages since he was six years old. His original free verse poetry covers themes of neurodivergence, queerness, and the unique ways in which the two intersect.

Maggie Carty is a soulful banjo player and singer from the west of Ireland, now based in Melbourne. A fourth-generation musician raised in a family steeped in Irish tradition, she blends evocative vocals and driving banjo rhythms with influences from Americana and Australian folk. Her debut solo album Ebb and Flow explores themes of emigration, womanhood, and identity, breathing new life into traditional Irish folk songs with a fresh, heartfelt, and evocative approach that resonates deeply with audiences.

Mad Kelpie Playdate is an instrumental Celtic six-piece, born from a shared love of crazy dogs and high-energy tunes. Fusing Scottish and Irish bagpipes with flute, guitar, keyboard, and percussion, they bring a fresh, modern edge to traditional Celtic music. Their sound blends intricate harmonies, original compositions, and driving rhythms into a foot-stomping, heart-pounding celebration of Celtic music.

With carefully crafted lyrics balancing humour and pathos, Luke's songs & poems range from our First Peoples to refugees, larrikins to mongrels, military misadventures to the war on drugs, billionaires, battlers, fracking, farming, coal, climate change and other themes of Australian life & politics. He has performed at folk festivals and public events across the country – don't miss this powerful voice for a better Australia.

Kejafi has cultivated their own sound within the Celtic music world. Featuring dual fiddles, octave mandolin, double bass and vocals, they bring their unique take on modern and traditional folk songs and tunes from Scotland, Ireland and Australia, mixed in with fresh, original tunes.

Jeff Brown has been playing Celtic, folk and classical harmonica for over 50 years with various folk bands, classical groups, country bands, swing jazz groups and solo performances. He has taught beginner and advanced harmonica classes at TAFE, festivals and privately. Jeff was a winner the Australian Harmonica Championships in Tamworth and released an album featuring the chromatic harmonica.

Harriet Lowe is a country folk singer-songwriter from the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Raised on a sheep and cattle farm, her music blends storytelling with raw acoustic charm. With heartfelt lyrics and a voice that carries both strength and soul, Harriet captures the beauty of country life and the complexity of human connection.

Fun, energetic performances showcasing brilliant musicianship and funky arrangements of some well known tunes and songs. Sally Carter and Keith Rea artfully combine their love of Celtic music with some other genres, creating a unique sound to keep their audiences wanting more.

Gailla creates golden, driving folk-pop songs that delve into stories of climate optimism, community and cycles. Her debut EP 'Over The Earth, Under', a project inspired by Deep Ecology, has been played across FBi radio, 4ZZZ, 2SER, 3CR, 2RRR and toured with her band of guitar, clarinet, accordion and stompbox at folk festivals and concerts around the country.

Gabi Forman is an award winning 19 year old Snowy Mtns based singer, songwriter, guitarist & mandolin player and Aus and NZ National Anthem specialist vocalist. She writes to evoke emotion, connect, tell a story and make a difference. Her singing voice is powerful, distinctive and expressive. Her influences are her own Scottish heritage, her Snowy Mountains home and Molly Tuttle. She has a heart for community and launched her single, an Irish-influenced ballad, The Girl, on Do It For Dolly Day to raise funds to fight bullying. She is a regular performer as a busker, in pubs, clubs, festivals, markets, restaurants, bars and community events. She was a top 100 busker at Tamworth Country Music Festival and performed at three venues as well as winning the Tamworth Bears Football Club Talent Quest with her mum. She was a featured performer at Cobargo Folk Festival 2025, Numeralla Folk Festival 2024, Bombala ANBC 2024 and Steampunk@Altitude in 2024. She has performed on the Blackboard at National Folk Festival 2024 and 2025, in the CMAA Academy Country Music Hats off to Country Festival Tamworth Showcase 2024 and Illawarra Folk Festival Youth Traditions. She was 2nd in Open at Bradden Busking Festival 2025. and 3rd in the national grand final of the Australian National Busking Championships 2024. She was selected to the prestigious CMAA Academy Country Music Junior Residential academy in Tamworth 2024 and sang a song with The Bushwackers at TCMF and Yass Irish and Celtic Festival . She recorded a 4-original song EP in Tasmania in July 2024 and released it on streaming channels and on CD September 2024 with a promotional tour.

Fletcher Von Holstein are a duo from the Upper Lachlan Valley who have been performing together for many years, you'll be captivated by this Celtic / Irish Contemporary set, featuring U2, The Saw Doctors, Bob Geldof, Sinead, & The Cranberries etc with beautiful harmonies, Guitars, Piano Accordion, Fiddle & Banjo.

Eric Purdie, winner of the Pat Glover Memorial Storytelling Award at the 2020 Port Fairy Folk Festival, has been sharing his humour at folk festivals for many years. Delivered in a Glasgow 'stand-up' style, Eric's comedy presentations features humorous stories and anecdotes about life in Glasgow and the humour of the streets. His outrageous gags and unaccompanied songs provide a window into a culture few of us have seen. Eric's stories tell of an Industrial Scotland and the Socialist Struggle in which he grew up. Eric's observations, describing the more recent trials and tribulations involved in becoming an ‘Aussie’ through and through, have delighted festival audiences

Emmy’s music carries the weight of solitude and the warmth of solidarity. A semi-finalist in the celebrated International Songwriting Competition in 2024, Emmy’s soul-stirring vocals and intricate guitar and mandolin playing feel like desert winds – gentle one moment, powerful the next. Emmy’s songwriting has been compared to that of Laura Marling, Rachel Baiman, and Sarah Blasko, but her sound is uniquely her own.

Daniel Kelly is a local songwriter and ballad collector. He has a strong interest in the storytelling nature of ballads and their connection to history and cultural identity. Daniel sings his own songs and traditional Celtic material in a bass/baritone with guitar accompaniment. In addition to local Yass concerts and events, he has also performed Internationally at the Ohio Valley Filk Festival in 2023, the Kiama Folk Festival in 2022 and Bundanoon Folk Festival in 2024.

“Damhsa Comhla” Dancing Together. This Award Winning Celtic Dance collaboration from Cape Byron Celtic Dance and Dubbo Celtic Dancers will perform original high energy routines based on the dance traditions of Scotland and Ireland. From jigs and reels, high kicks and spins this group will entertain from start to finish.

Christina Green is a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She performs original songs in a contemporary folk idiom that draws on folk, folk-rock, blues, jazz and cabaret elements. Christina’s songs have been described as ‘snapshots, portraits, landscapes, stories and moments in time, pieces of mindfulness’ - observational and lyrically engaging, they are delivered with a mix of guitar/ukulele with occasional harmonica and percussion additions.

The Roweths have been researching and presenting the living tradition of Australian music for over thirty years together, forging unique combinations of music, poetry and folklore. They bring you powerful and delicate songs, room-stopping recitations, seamless combinations of new and old Australian material presented with the easy warmth of old-style bush entertainment.

BIO COMING

Blue Mallee are an inspiring duo that fuse multi-folk genres of indie rock, ambient dreams, and trad folk influences into their sound. This original act, comprising of Evan and Niev, are pushing the boundaries of contemporary folk music with injections of primal rhythms, storytelling and great banter in their live shows. Blue Mallee have fostered a wide music following and have played multiple music venues and festivals in NSW.

Lou plays big fiddle. Jess plays little fiddle. They have been drinking tea together and playing tunes for 10 years. They laugh, chatter, and play raucous arrangements of and original choons. The fiddles battle for supremacy!! No, not really. It’s a sort of gentle chaos, their joy is infectious.

Australian Folk Music Award winners and Music Victoria Award nominees, Austral are a high-energy, four-piece Australian tunes band 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!

A weaver of everyday dreams, Anousha Victoire tells poignant stories across cultures and time with fingerpicking guitar and bell-over-water clarity of vocal tone, in French and English. Recent duo performances with violin at festivals across the eastern seaboard have resulted in full audiences, queues outside venues and listening from the doors, and loyal audiences that stay for the full show.

Romanian-born Akka Ballenger Constantin has swapped the beloved mountains of her homeland for the Australian grasslands. Akka has a special interest in visual arts and poetry and her work is never unilateral; words and images complement each other most often in rendering an idea. She chooses to express herself in various languages and unsurprisingly, her poems move from English to French, Spanish and Romanian from one verse to another.

Ais O’Neill is a trad tin whistle player and vocalist. Fresh off winning the Young Folk Artist Award in 2024, Ais has teamed up with Ken O’Neill on Irish bouzouki, cranking it up with banging modern tunes alongside beloved reimagined songs. Get ready for an unforgettable performance that will captivate audiences of all ages!!