performers

40 Degrees South ("The Forties") is a group of four highly characterful singers who have been maintaining a tradition of unaccompanied singing since 1988. They have performed at shanty and folk festivals in Mystic Seaport (USA), Paimpol (France), Bie Diap (Netherlands), Fleetwood (UK), Wellyfest (NZ) and around Australia. Despite being...

"Albannach Lass" (AKA Flossy from Albany's own "The Shantylillies") is originally from Scotland and regularly sings folk and traditional music from her homeland (and beyond) at the monthly Folk and Shanty Club, at King River Hall in Albany. She has had a passion for this music from a young age,...

Banjo Worm - kids songs to murder ballads, voice of an angelic drunk.

Brian Mooney hails from Belfast in the north of Ireland. He played with several innovative Irish Traditional Bands in the 1980’s playing concerts around Europe. At this time Brian also represented Ireland with the band Tus a Phota at the Interceltique festival at Lorrient in Brittany. Brian plays guitar, tin...

Erin and Lachlan Heycox create intricate folk arrangements for banjo, guitar, violin and voice. Drawing on diverse sources including union songs, Old-Time banjo tunes and Celtic fiddle traditions, they recontextualise songs, stories and musical traditions from the past to revive them for our present moment. Growing up in rural Australia...

Singer-songwriter Darcy Hay is a lifelong Geraldton resident, and is proud to write songs about the Wheatbelt communities he’s a part of. The 28 year old fingerpicking, slide guitar and harmonica sensation has branched into the festival circuit, with appearances Nannup Music Festival, Gascoyne River Music Festival, Boyup Brook Country...

David Rawet grew up in the northern outskirts of Melbourne and discovered guitar and song writing in his mid-teens. After working for a few years in Victoria – writing songs along the way – he moved to Bunbury in Western Australia, where he still lives. His days now see him...

A regular on the live music scene in Perth, West Australia, Gav Brown has performed his soul-fuelled mix of country-rock, folk and pop around Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. A singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Gav uses guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica, mandolin, cigar-box guitar, and ukulele to craft honest uplifting music that...

Geoff has a strong connection to his Scottish roots through his late-grandfather’s passion for the family’s history and heritage. His playing style is influenced by his passion for traditional Scottish culture, piping, and dance music. For over 30 years, Geoff has been interested in all aspects of piping, and plays...

Combining a rich blend of harmonies with folk, pop and original songs from yesteryear and today. Harmonix are a four part harmony acoustic group. Marty and Simon write original tunes , both fellas play guitar and bass (not at the same time) and sing. Julia and Sandy feature sweet harmonies...

International folk dance is new to Albany but a long history of folk dance exists wherever people thrive. International folk dance grew from the melting pot of cultures in the 20th century and collects together a stunning variety of music and dance for all to join in with - young...

John Matthews Rockingham-based singer-songwriter John Matthews is a talented multi-instrumentalist. John’s melodic style of banjo picking and was honed during the“Bush Band Dance craze of the ’80s. John is unique in his musical ability to improvise and accompany others in the acoustic music scene with performance experience in the Colonial,...

John Ralph (Aus/UK). John’s songs and tunes reflect the diversity of music influences from a lifetime of playing in Folk and Irish Country and Rock, Bands. He has played at Cambridge Folk Festival and Ely Folk Festival UK and Fairbridge, Denmark, Folk in the Forest, Illawarra and the Wintermoon Festivals...

Julian's love of folk music began with a passing comment as he was busking on fiddle at 15 years old - 'Why don't you play some Irish music instead of this classical s---?' He's now played fiddle around Ireland and live on ABC radio. Julian adds salty, blistering energy to...

Lee Shore does traditional ballads in the folk style of the 60s and 70s, and more contemporary songs by some of the great singer songwriters.

Interested parties from January 2020. following screening of movie "Fishermens Friends" in Mandurah. Launch of group delayed due to COVID. Shanty workshop conducted by Bunbury Anchormen in October 2020. We meet each Thursday at Three Rivers Brewery at 2/6 Harlem Place, Greenfields 6210 at 6-30 pm. We only have a...

Have played guitar for many years and have recently discovered the songs of John Prine (R.I.P) and I thought some people might like to hear them. I play with a new Band called Midnight Special with a distinct bluesy folk rock feel. My early guitar influences were Chet Atkins and...

Michael O'Doherty is a genuine Australian treasure. Artist, poet and musician, he is a weaver of stories and teller of tales. Mick will be the perfect accompaniment to the spooky lantern lit tours of Albany's Historic Convict Gaol Museum.

Mike and Lesley have been singing and performing together for many years. With a wide repertoire of songs ranging from traditional folk through country and bluegrass, they also pen some of their own material. Their critically acclaimed CD 'Strangers on the Shore' contains a dozen songs ranging across 300 years...

Recently formed Albany ensemble Nine Mile Hill forge a sound that is akin to neo-classical folk. Story-telling meets refined playing and explores acoustic instrument textures, rich harmonies and tight ensemble playing. Nine Mile Hill are Jenny Greenwald (vocals), Peter Grayling (cello), Jude Iddison (violin) and Rod Vervest (guitar).

Gaelic songs. Jigs. Reels. Fiddle. Bouzouki.

Nornalup is a small hamlet on the South Coast of Western Australia, 108 kms west of Albany. Norne is Noongar for "black snake", so we live in the "Place of the Tiger Snake". The Nornalup Inlet has a long maritime history and was a base for sealers in the early...

“As a long stablished and respected member of the Western Australian Folk scene, he is one of that rapidly disappearing, rare breed of performers possessing the ability to make you laugh, laugh louder, and cry, in the space of two songs. Having performed at major festival events around Australia, both...

Rob started playing the fiddle when he was eight years old in Perth, Western Australia, learning to play by ear from Irish fiddle players Sean Doherty (Co Mayo) and Mick Doherty (Co Donegal). Mick came from a long line of travelling fiddle players, storytellers and tinsmiths from Donegal and was...

Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia is based at the Defence Music Centre, Irwin Barracks, Karrakatta, with a compliment of 24 part-time and two full-time musicians under the direction of Bandmaster Chief Petty Officer Musician Brett Douglas. The Band is administered by HMAS Stirling, Fleet Base West, providing musical support...

The name Rum Jungle conjures up visions of a tropical rain forest full of fiesty pirates fighting over the latest treasure haul whilst a nearby rum still bubbles away. However, in Geraldton, Rum Jungle is a sometimes muddy, usually dusty wasteland where local bogans go to drink bundy and coke,...

Russell and Mark (from The Last Five Coins) also play as a duo. Russell plays fiddle and hurdy gurdy and Mark plays piano accordion. We play mainly instrumental music from European cultures, many with a maritime history. International travel greatly enhances their performance material. Think Dalmatia, France, Italy, UK, Ireland,...

Ryan "Rye-Rye" Nicholson has been involved in the Perth music scene for over 10 years - both singing, teaching and directing. After first hearing about shanties through The Lost Quays, Ryan has been a regular performer at the monthly Shanty Clubs - eventually adopting the name Rye-Beard. Ryan has a...

A core group of yacht restorers and sailors wrote a shanty while chipping away at the restoration of a beautiful old wooden boat in a Denmark (WA) boat shed. It made work fun and the group grew as weekly gatherings developed into a regular singalong. The Salty Seadogs sing a...

Shantily Clad sing songs that’ll put the wind in your sails. This Melbourne based sea shanty band’s modern twist on traditional sea shanties have made them a hit at festivals and pubs across the seven seas and will get even the most lily-livered-landlubber singing along. Part of a new generation...

Formed in self defence when the Lost Quays began to spend all their spare time together, She Shants celebrate the sea from a feminine point of view. We sing original and reworked songs about those who sail on her, those who wait ashore and the fantastical creatures living above and...

Madeline Winton and Steven Bergmann entertain with a folktastic sampler of favourite australian and anglo-celtic, songs and tunes, on concertina, folk whilstles, banjolin and banjolele. Join in the 'Shenanigans'

Step into a magical Karri woodland deep in the southwest of WA - light glancing off leaves, glimpses of electric-blue wrens and parrots flashing through the branches of tall, enchanting trees. Simone Keane’s music embodies the elemental nature of her homeland. Dreamy, dulcet tones intertwine gracefully with her bold, yet...

Slap My Thighs and Call Me Barbra share a love of music and perform an eclectic range of songs a Capella style. Singing together for over 20 years at festivals, community events and private functions has consolidated their harmonies and friendships.

TARA ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE: Our Family orientated dance group, Tara Academy, offers classes for Adults, teens and children in Albany. Home to WIDA award winners, our group gives you opportunity to learn Irish Dancing in a fun & friendly environment. From beginners to advanced, all of our dancers have...

If Australia prides itself on mateship then The Albany Shantymen distils mateship into music. A group of ordinary blokes that meet at their local pub and sing sea shanties, the joy and energy they bring to this traditional music is infectious. The lads have been disguising themselves as proper musicians...

Rising from the depths of Bunbury's Leschenault Inlet a bully crew of 20 Anchormen breach the waves and burst onto the stage with their rousing sea shanties and fo'c'sle songs. Having learnt the ropes fast the Anchormen are rowdy and boisterous, valuing only two things: having a good time and...

The Lost Quays are a vocal group based in the port of Fremantle, Western Australia. Formed in 2015, our crew sing largely a cappella but with some guitar, ukelele and accordion. We perform with energy and good humour, and relish a strong audience connection. As well as traditional material, and...

The Shantylillies are Albany's all-female shanty group. They started in late 2018. singing shanties and songs of the sea. They perform regularly in downtown Albany and host a monthly Folk and Shanty Club at the historic King River Hall. From crooning lullabies to rousing choruses and a few originals, you...

"We found a few sea shanties by and for women, meddled with others and made up the rest." From Fremantle, WA The She Shants were crowned victorious in the Denmark Festival of Voice Shanty Battle where they vanquished their Fremantle rivals The Lost Quays. This drew ae excellent singers and...

Prepare to be transported to a bygone age. Rod Vervest finger picking on a bespoke guitar made to a one hundred year old design is perfectly complimented by the timeless sound of Bob Lipinski's singing and harmonica. The pair have an intuitive feel for where to take their music. After...

With a passion for the pre-bluegrass folk music of the Appalachian mountains, The Whistling Kites feature toe-tapping guitar rhythms, old-time fiddle tunes and clawhammer banjo.

Trilogy is a versatile vocal trio singing in 3-part harmony with or without ukulele accompaniment, with repertoire encompassing a wide range of music from past to present day, and for this festival our songs have been carefully chosen to reflect aspects of the sea. In selecting repertoire we choose pieces...

Phil Gray has been playing, singing and telling stories about his beloved homeland for more years than he cares to remember…..from sitting on the front fence outside his Uncle Bill’s home in Dugan Street Kalgoorlie, as a 5 year old, waiting for ‘The Wild Colonial Boy’ to ride past. “You...