Adam sings from beyond the borders of his heart - he is a man who is committed to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and has a passion for making things better. Adam has twice performed benefit concerts at Risdon Prison (Outlaw), tool up playing guitar when he was laid up with an injury from 'running over rooftops' (Folklore) and has had a marriage proposal on his myspace sight (potential inlaw!)

Well known for her fun & emotive presentations, Adriana & her Bellywood Dancers will delight you with their swirling skirts & shimmering veils & maybe even the odd tap on a tabla!

This young irresistibly energetic fiddle and guitar twosome play thrilling folk tunes: mostly Celtic with the odd rice from places including Canada and Finland. Ryan provides vital and exciting rhythms while Anna blisters away on the violin. As seen at the New Sydney Hotel.

Annie Parsell and Peter Hicks are performers of contemporary and traditional folk who combine beautiful harmonies, great musicianship and simple but effective arrangements of folk and acoustic material. Annie and Peter supported Dick Gaughan and Alistair Hulett when they played Hobart. Be sure to check out their first cd ‘Listen’.

Keep our Australian culture alive by participating in a session on old Australian songs. Join in, sing or play the great bush songs, mostly from the nineteenth century. We want to hear any old Tasmanian material as well.

Billy Whitton is one of Tasmania’s finest blues guitarists. Billy specialises in old style acoustic blues and traditional/folk  styles, some American, some British. Legendary with his band the Swinging Hepcats Billy has played around Hobart for many years. The band has a more electric influence and a greater Amerian influence.

Sea Shanties at the Slipway / Musical Instrument Makers Display

Daideo and the Blue Mosquitoes play high energy Celtic music, combining traditional and contemporary Irish an Scottish music these four talented young musicians entertain and excite. Hannah Foley, Chris Boon, Moire Meaney and Stuart Foley. The band supported Peggy Seeger to high acclaim and has played at the Taste of Tasmania and Cygnet 2008. Watch out for their original song, Winston Churchill ’98, a haunting requiem for the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart yacht race.

The Foley Artists playing a blend of Celtic and Bluegrass with an emphasis on improvisation have gained experience and professionalism beyond their average age of 14.

The songs that come from Mathew’s pen can be gentle and intimate to lively and energetic, taking note of old sounds and applying new stories. Performing in an increasing number of venues, festivals, folk clubs and studios, Mathew’s participation in the Living Tradition has added a unique sound based on a creative ear, lively rhythms and lyrical photographs of Tasmania, its people and culture.

Last years festival saw patrons queuing out the door to catch a glimpse of these two in action.  Local songstress Melanie Gent and Melbourne folk legend Kate Burke (Kate & Ruth, Trouble In The Kitchen) have teamed up as a sensational acoustic duo.

Unaccompanied singer, songwriter, also play jigs and reels on box. Performed at several national festivals, started singing in folk clubs in 1960 in Bristol, England.

One Step Back consists of Michael Cole (lead vocals, guitar and banjo), Graeme Kirkwood (mandolin, guitar and harmony vocals), Richard Arnold (harmonica and occasional harmony vocals) and Duncan Kirkwood (acoustic bass). They execute with precision a range of genres and bring the old time, bluegrass and country sound to life with a toe-tappin’ feel for young and old. One Step Back performs regularly around Hobart at venues such as the Lark Distillery, New Sydney Hotel and Brookfield Vineyard (Margate) and have performed at the major Tasmanian folk festivals and events in recent years.

Best selling and award winning poet, Phil Rush has performed his poetry from Birdsville to Burnie, Sydney to Cygnet, and many places in between. Author of 17 books of poetry, Rush has also been the ABC’s ‘Country Hour’ poet for the past 15 years and has also told stories on the ‘Sunday’ programme since 1993. Rush has been in each of our Great Poetry Debates since their inception and has MC’d the Poet’s Breakfast for many years.

Silkweed have become extremely popular for their themed performances, incorporating music with visuals and dramatic representations of social justice issues and historical (mostly Tasmanian) events.“Maria – Island of Dreams” was presented during 2007’s Ten Days on the Island” festival to capacity audiences and “Jane Franklin – an examined life” premiered at the  2008Cygnet Festival to a standing ovation. Silkweed are currently writing music set to the poetry of Rose Vasseghi, an Iranian refugee now residing in Melbourne. Silkweed are Erin Collins, Marjorie Gadd, Susan McGowan and Anna Spinaze. Michael Thomsen is engineer and artist.

Scott Hunt and Marc Smith met when touring and recording as session musicians based in Melbourne in the early eighties. Each has a lifetime of professional experience and they share a love of country blues music which forged a bond between them on the road all those years ago. Now both resident in Southern Tasmania, they continue to speak the same musical language and by chance they both prefer the mobility of short scale or "baby" guitars. Scott plays a Baby Taylor and Marc a Baby Martin, so, pressed for a name they chose these two great guitar manufacturers and Taylor & Martin was born. Of course their show also features lap steel guitar and mandolin but who hires an act called Dobro & Gibson? They have combined acoustic blues and outlaw country music to create a fresh sound. Both Scot and Marc are strong vocalists and accomplished musicians.

A creative concoction of traditional tunes and original songs from this young celtic trio. Featuring Lindsey’s sweet vocals and honest, thought provoking lyrics (winner of 2008 Cygnet Youth Blackboard Concert), Bridget’s fabulous fiddle (winner of the Westbury Irish Music Awards 2008) and newcomer to the folk (and fook) scene, multi instrumentalist, Nick. Lindsey Meldrum, Bridget Hickey, Nick

Relive the early days of Bakelite radio when it was the entertainment. The String Chickens (Lindi Wall, Sue Dilley, Louise Bell & Russell Dobie) really swing those strings, twang those thangs and sing those things!
They’ve got cool harmony, hot rhythm and more ukuleles than you can poke a stick at – along with some guitar, mandolin and accordion for a heady mix of home-grown entertainment. You’ll revel in swingin’ vocals from the 1920’s and beyond: gems from The Boswell Sisters, Cliff “Ukelele Ike” Edwards, Jimmie Skinner, Gillian Welch and many more. Close harmony is the key to their sound in the tradition of those great ‘sister acts’ such as The Andrews Sisters and The Barry Sisters. Their tasty blend of old and new will leave you with a smile on your dial and humming a catchy tune.

This Hobart based high energy Celtic band, with local Celtic roots legends Tom Meldrum, Michael Shegog, Matt Woolley, Jeremy Sibson and Annie Parsell play a mélange of contemporary Celtic folk tunes and traditional Scottish and Irish songs. Their arrangements are original and use a variety of instrumental approaches.

A high speed Celtic machine with great detailing. Three drivers, no passengers! Airbags are standard – so we don’t sing much. Kathy and John Hickey have played in several well-known folk bands including Bandecoute and Bombarde but in recent years have concentrated on Irish music their daughter Bridget. Bridget won the 2008 Westbury Irish music award and was a grateful recipient of the 2007 Folk Federation of Tasmania Scholarship to attend fiddle classes with Chris Duncan at the Music under the Southern Cross summer school. The Wheels were featured at the2008 Fleadh in Hobart and are keen players and supporters of quality Irish music.