We are delighted to announce our final line-up. If you like world music, rhythms and dancing then this is the festival for you. Of course there’s masses of other stuff too but the range of percussionists and dance groups, covering an extraordinary array of world music genres, is truly outstanding. The spectacular combined live music and dance shows include ‘Spice’ from percussion geniuses Tetrafide and the Temple of Fine Arts Dancers. We’ve the top flamenco troupe in Australia, Arte Kanela from Melbourne, Balkan dance fusion from Mara! and even a specially commissioned Irish Dance show The Three Tunes. Add to that Greg Sheehan and Tunji Beier with Linsey Pollak as well as Taal Naan and it starts to look like a programmer’s dream.
And that’s before we even start to look at the international acts: Eddi Reader, Genticorum, James Keelaghan & Hugh McMillan, Andrew Cronshaw, Nano Stern, Vin Garbutt – the list goes on and on. Closer to home a lot of people are getting excited about Melbourne act The Barons of Tang’s punk-Gypsy dance stage melt-down following their astounding success at CircusFest.
In Youthopia The Dave Mann Collective, Toby and Code Red - just back from their Winter Wonderland tour of Canada - and the Simon Kelly Band will be rocking your socks, along with Echoes of Django, Carolann, Prita, Elk Bell and many more and workshops galore. Over at the Children's Festival the all-time favourites from England, Chipolatas, are back and Adam Hall and the Velvet Playboys will perform one of their first ever children's shows - and don't forget that children up to 13 get free entry to the festival this year. The Kid's Craft Club is back along with lots of other exciting workshops for the littlies.
Other amazing acts include Andrew Winton, Nathan Kaye, Dream State Circus, Lucky Oceans and his all star Darling Rangers, Jane Germain and the Yahoos, Beleza, Daniel Champagne, The Fiddle Chicks, The Giant Seagulls (watch out for your chips and your kids), Iris, Nathan Kaye, Five Point Turn, The Fancy Brothers, Lemonwise, Richard Niyoyankuze and the Burundi Children's Choir, the amazing Sally Dastey from Tiddas, Suitcase Circus, Tin Dog, Wadumbah Noongar Dance Group and more - far too many to mention here so have a look at the program listing and start planning your festival now.
Regrettably Tom McConville has had to pull out of the festival for health reasons. However, we are happy to announce that we have been able to replace him for his Friday and Saturday gigs with long-standing Fairbridge favourite, Californian singer-songwriter Kristina Olsen, performing with cellist Peter Grayling.
| Genticorum (Quebec) |
The runaway hit act of the Canadian folk circuit bring you exuberant tunes, songs and foot percussion from the vibrant Quebecois French Canadian tradition. |
http://www.genticorum.com |
| Eddi Reader (Scotland) |
Scotland's goose-bump-raising queen of traditional and contemporary song has journeyed from the chart-topping 80s band Fairground Attraction to becoming one of the world’s most feted exponents of Scottish balladry. Her all-star trio includes Irish accordion star Alan Kelly and brilliant English guitarist-songwriter Boo Hewerdine. |
http://www.myspace.com/eddireader |
| Vin Garbutt (England) |
Teesside’s favourite son - troubadour, songwriter and the folk world's most hilarious raconteur. |
http://www.vingarbutt.com |
| Beppe Gambetta (Italy) |
Flat-picking guitar wizard with a bluegrass soul, guaranteed to hold audiences in the palm of his hand. |
http://www.myspace.com/beppegambettamusic |
| Arte Kanela Flamenco (Vic) |
Unsurpassed passion, fingerwork and footwork from Australia's leading flamenco troupe. “The best concert act of their type in the country”…The Australian. |
http://www.kanela.com.au |
| Sally Dastey (Australia) |
After making her name with Tiddas, Sally’s warm and generous performances keep her in the front rank of Australian festival performers. |
http://www.myspace.com/sallydastey |
| James Keelaghan (Canada) |
Multi-Juno-award-winning songwriter and storyteller and unforgettable golden-voiced singer of memorable song-stories. |
http://www.keelaghan.com |
| Tetrafide Percussion with the Spice Dance Ensemble (WA) |
Perth’s globe trotting percussion virtuosos team up with a spectacular troupe of dancers to celebrate the stunning beauty of Indian classical dance. |
http://www.tetrafide.com |
| Dva (Queensland/Germany) |
Linsey Pollak and Tunji Baier - breathtaking improvisation on woodwinds, percussion and electronics taking you to a whole new place. |
http://www.linseypollak.com/projects-DVA.html |
| Mara! (NSW) |
Australia's foremost world music band, melding jazz with Balkan and Middle Eastern roots, featuring stellar saxophonist Sandy Evans and the amazing voice of Mara Kiek. |
http://www.maramusic.com.au |
| Greg Sheehan (NSW) |
Byron Bay’s inspirational percussion master |
http://www.myspace.com/gregsheehan |
| Nano Stern (Chile) |
Exciting young singer and multi-instrumentalist with a global repertoire and charisma to burn. |
http://www.myspace.com/nanostern |
| The Chipolatas (England) |
This exhilarating street theatre act has been mixing circus, music theatre and comedy over an 18 year career spanning 43 counties and six continents. Back to Fairbridge by overwhelming popular demand. |
http://www.chipolatas.com |
| Barons of Tang |
Leaving a trail of blazing and battered dance floors across the nation the Barons of Tang head to Fairbridge to launch their new EP and ignite the dance floor! Lashing Tango Rockabilly Latin and Gypsy with breaks, double kick blast beats and massive horn arrangements, The Barons Of Tang serve up their gypsy ‘deathcore’. With accordion, double bass, saxophone and tuba to name just a few the catchy tunes and wild punk ethos all tie together to mean one thing: dancing is inevitable! |
http://www.myspace.com/thebaronsoftang |
| Fiddle Chicks (SA) |
The amazingly full sound of just three fiddles and three voices - how do they do it? |
http://www.musicsa.com.au/artists/fiddlechicks |
| Kristina Olsen |
One of the most entertaining and compelling performers on the international folk circuit. A fine instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, steel-body slide guitar, saxophone, concertina and piano) as well as a powerful songwriter with a big bluesy voice, Californian Kristina has audiences around the world coming back for more. Her mix of strong songs in the troubadour tradition, some jazz-inspired sounds and powerful bottleneck blues (as well as her hilarious storytelling) makes for a diverse and satisfying musical experience, on stage and on disc. |
http://www.myspace.com/kristinaolsen |
| Graham Wilson |
Graham Wilson is an extremely accomplished Scottish guitarist and singer with an easy and engaging stage manner who was prominent on the British folk scene before he left the UK to emigrate to Perth, Australia, half a dozen years ago. His music is as stark and raw as the mountains of Central Australia and those of his native Scotland. There is an authenticity to Graham that is very rare nowadays: a fine entertainer. |
http://www.myspace.com/grahamwilsonaus |
And lots more local and interstate acts to be announced.
Provisional program details is currently available. Find out more.
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