The Illawarra Folk Festival will feature 150 acts from overseas and around Australia.
NSW’s largest folk festival will witness Eric Bogle perform four times, as will the Toe-Sucking Cowgirls and Shellie Morris.
Award-winning Canadian songstress and guitar shredder Mo Kenney is scheduled to appear two times, while emerging international star, Scottish teenager Brighde Chaimbeul – a young Gaelic-speaking performer from the Isle of Skye who has made a huge impact in the UK with her debut album The Reeling – will play four times over the weekend. Brighde will form part of the Year of Scotland Australia 2020 program at the festival.
Eric BogleWollongong-born international guitar maestro Michael Fix, who is teaming up with regular collaborator, English singer Christine Collister, will also perform four times, as will popular gypsey-jazz exponents Cigany Weaver.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Fred Smith will play three shows, as will the “Balkan Elvis” – Mikelangelo (Michael Simic), who is a late replacement for Nicky Bomba in the program.
“We love the fact that most of our acts are in Bulli for the whole festival, and so are available to play multiple times,” Artistic Director, Mr De Santi said. “Not only does that mean people can make sure they see all the ‘must-see’ acts, but they can also choose to see them on one of the big stages, or in a more intimate venue like The Chapel or the Global Green, where you really can get up close and personal with the performers.”
Shellie MorrisAfter the festival-opening Folk School on the Wednesday and Thursday, the 35th Illawarra Folk Festival will kick off in earnest on Thursday night (January 16) with six of the 11 stages operating, as well as the traditional Tripe Dinner and Concert.
Thursday night’s acts include Brighde Chaimbeul, the Toe Sucking Cowgirls, Shellie Morris, Cigany Weaver, Fly Little Sparrow, English folk legend Rory McLeod and Canada’s Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.
“Thursday night is traditionally our charity night, and this year the proceeds will go to Hidden Harvest,” Mr De santi said. “And whereas in the past it used to be a fairly quiet start to the festival, in recent years it has become much bigger. This time the Thursday night program is a real feature of the festival, so we are hoping that it will really attract a crowd and set the tone for the rest of the weekend."
Kahl WilliamsMr De Santi said organisers were particularly happy with the strong line-up of young performers in the 2020 festival program, including Elephant Sessions from Scotland, Australian acts Cigany Weaver, Chaika, Finn, Greann Dove, Honeymoon Bridge, Great Aunt and Sue Ray, and a large local youth presence headed by the very popular trio Dear Violet.
Another important element is the Indigenous artist representation, headed by Shellie Morris and accompanied by Brian Morley, Kahl Wallis, Troy Brady and David Spry.
“We always have a great mix of international, national and local artists, and that helps give the festival its special appeal,” Mr De Santi said. “For our 35th festival our featured instrument will be the violin, which is certainly the most played instrument at folk festivals!”
Zumpa
