Briefly ... about the performers...

Adrian Barker master of trad. Irish instrumental music, AJ Leonard's Tropical Lounge versatile group led by ukulele master AJ with a blend of classic swing and island music from the '20s and'30s, Andy Rigby & Polly Christie fabulous harp meets fabulous voice ... pivotal members of the Vic folk scene, Ange Takats Qld journalist songwriter, 21st century version of the best of the '60s folk dames, Bernard Carney WA's best known folky, master guitarist and comic and serious songwriter, Broderick Smith legend of Australian music, lead singer of The Dingos and Big Combo, master of harmonica, revered internationally, joined this weekend by singer songwriter guitarist Matt Walker, Bruce Watson mandarin, songwriter, satirist and humourist, totally sane and slightly mad, much loved, Christina Green powerful and clear-voiced singer of original songs with depth and meaning, Crosswind local fun-loving bunch of veteran musos playing everything from Bluegrass to Beatles, country classics to folky faves, Ealey & Tyers multi instrument and vocal harmony female duo not afraid of being entertaining and thought provoking, Fay White wonderfully clear voiced singer who grew up on a diet of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, Geoffrey Graham high energy actor, poet, comic and story teller who entertains across the length and breadth of the land, Graham Wilson Scottish guitarist and singer, beer and rugby fanatic, specialising in great songs of lesser known writers, Hilary Blackshaw & Joel Bloom multi-instrumental duo, playing blues tinged folk songs & moody tunes, James Rigby and Jane Thompson the elder two fifths of The Rainmakers and half of Blackwood, very versatile and prominent local folkies, Jan Wositzky banjo playing yarn spinner, author and original Bushwacker, Janette Geri very fluent guitarist and singer who has been something of a star of the Victorian folk scene for far more years than she would like to admit!, Jordie Lane rising international star in the country folk / country rock world, reminiscent of Rodney Crowell and starting to make waves in the USA, joined this weekend by Matt Green, Keith McKenry poet, author and long time champion of spoken word in Australian folk circles, who once won the coveted Golden Gumleaf for Album Of The Year at Tamworth, Ken & Fiona White blues and folk stalwarts from the heady days of Traynors and the folk revival of the '60s and '70s, Le Blanc Brothers Cajun Band play happy Cajun country music, Lindsey Meldrum youthful and very mature singer and writer, lead vocalist of The Fooks, joined by guitarist Jeremy Martin, Lucy Wise & The B'Gollies a young bunch of high calibre musicians decorating the singing,songwriting and playing of the middle Wise Girl, Luke Plumb & Peter Daffy world renowned Tasmanian mandolin and bouzouki player teamed with Victorian country and bluegrass singer, instrument maker, player and yodeller extraordinaire, Maggie & Elsie Rigby two thirds of The Rainmakers, the new generation of Rigbys and winners of the Liz Johnston Award at the last National Folk Festival, Martin Pearson folk singing comedian and story teller with razor sharp mind and wit, (Michael Kennedy has had to cancel because of a medical procedure), Michelle Chandler songwriter guitarist at the core of the Dandenong Ranges musicians collective who has shared a stage with Janis Ian, Mike Jackson vintage member of UK and Australian trad folk scenes and much sought after childrens' entertainer, Neil Adam & Judy Turner well established husband and wife duo featuring top flight guitar and fiddle and original songs, this year presenting a special show based on Robert Louis Stevenson, Neil Robertson engaging contemporary folk artist and writer with 8 CDs to his credit, Noel Gardner socially and environmentally aware Sunshine Coast songwriter who has been a mainstay of The Woodford Folk Festival since its start, Richard Perso young one man folk rock band with 3 didjs, 4 guitars and 2 feet, Pam Connell & Dave Bail accordion and concertina meet bagpipes and more, Roger Montgomery & John Angliss Roger is a somewhat indescribable comedy poet and former bushband founder in W.A. - classic, unique, outrageous and extremely funny, in harness with long time musical partner John, Robert Ryan & Clayton Fleming Newstead teenage musicians making their festival return, with vocalist Elspeth Lewis-Taylor from UK and a mix of original songs and covers, Rory Ellis big voiced original songwriter enjoying success in the UK at present, accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Tim Hackett, Rose Bygrave & Marcia Howard outstanding musicians and songwriters and founder members of the great Goanna Band, Salvation Jane reformation of the great all girl a capella group that headlined major festivals almost 2 decades ago, Stax unique didgeridoo player and instrumentalist, Stephen Whiteside noted environmentalist and writer reciter and singer of poems and ditties for grown ups and children, with a twenty five year performing history going back to the Troubadour days, The Beez Berlin based band playing fast and furious Eastern European and Western pop hits with a lot of cabaret style and comedy, The Blenders local all girl a capella group, The Ice Haloes a capella quartet with tight arrangements that make cool pop / rock songs their very own, The Paper Street Soap Company 5 piece teenage collective blending folk, country and old-timey music, hints of The Old Crow Medicine Show, The Almanac Singers and The Waterboys, The String Contingent new acoustic music for virtuoso violin, double bass and guitar, The Ugly Uncles notorious local good time jug band, Thom Jackson son of Mike, ukulele master and a singer who can make the phone book sound great, Tim Edey revered young English concertina player and multi-instrumentalist, joined by rising singing star Isobel Crowe, Tracey Roberts songwriter and outstanding pianist who crosses many musical genres, Urban Ukes ukuleles and vocals duo presenting classic covers, intricate instrumentsals and a few original songs .......