Prepare for five days in a perfect place with the first official line-up for the 2019 National Folk Festival in Canberra.
The National Folk Festival has been the home and heart of folk music for over half a century. In its 53rd year, the festival will deliver an incredibly diverse array of talent from all over Australia and the world.
The first part of the 2019 line-up (this crop includes 27 artists with more than 200 acts scheduled to play the event) features the inimitable Irish Mythen (Canada), UK’s award-winning Nancy Kerr with James Fagan, Australia’s Freya Josephine Hollick and Luke Plumb & Kate Burke, plus a very exciting collaboration between the acclaimed Glenn Skuthorpe and Canada’s First Nations artists on 'The Homelands Tour'.
It also includes one the most renowned Italian groups on the world music international scene, Riccardo Tesi & Banditaliana, The Exciting McGillicuddies, lead by Mick Slocum (of the legendary Bushwhackers), celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter Ken Yates, renowned American guitarist Darol Anger and The Republic Of Strings, award-winning Canberra favourites, Guyy & The Fox and more.
“We are over the moon to launch 2019’s programme with such a diverse selection of Australian and international talent,” National Folk Festival director Pam Merrigan says.
“The National is known for expanding peoples’ understanding and experience of folk culture, so to be announcing artists from all our states and territories as well as countries like USA, UK, Canada, Greece and Italy is important and exciting.”
Other acts include WA a capella comic trio Ballpoint Penguins – who will be starting their 12-month farewell tour at the festival – Celtic rockers Manran, SA vagabond singer-songwriter Jimmy Bay, the raw, power-driven vocals of Candice McLeod and expressive quartet Green Mohair Suits.
With more than 750 shows taking place throughout 20 venues over 5 days, a kids festival, themed bars, food and market stalls, roving entertainment and an engaging, multi-discipline arts programme, National Folk Festival is one of Australia’s favourite and longest-running folk festivals.
An antidote to the challenges of modern life, National Folk Festival seeks to engage audiences in the full spectrum of experience folk offers, including song, spoken word, dance, craft, music workshops and more.
The National Folk Festival is on in Canberra 18-22 April 2019 (Easter long weekend). Tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information.
National Folk Festival 2019 Line-up
Ballpoint PenguinsBlack Mountain String Band
Brothers On Fire
Candice McLeod
Darol Anger And The Republic Of Strings
East Row Rabble
Freya Josephine Hollick
Green Mohair Suits
Guyy & The Fox
Irish Joe Lynch
Irish Mythen
Jimmy Bay
Ken Yates
Lucy Wise
Luke Plumb & Kate Burke
Manran
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
Penny Davies & Roger Ilott
Praashekh Quartet
Riccardo Tesi & Banditaliana
Roguery And Brooke Friendly
The Dorsal Finns
The Exciting McGillicuddies
The Homelands Tour Ft Glenn Skuthorpe
The Marios Papadeas Ensemble
The Vegetable Plot
Tiffany Eckhardt
