Apolline is a lively group of young folkies, equipped with alluring voices, innumerable instruments and an extensive collection of colourful socks. The group views folk music through fresh eyes with foot-stomping sets, original songs and a dash of sisterly bickering in order to bring a unique experience of genre-bending folk.

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Carefree Road Band are a local Illawarra group of nine musicians who have been performing on the folk festival scene for around ten years. Over the past year they have been performing their Simon and Garfunkel Tribute show which highlights the multi-instruments band members play.

This year, Cigany is coming to Folk by the Sea in quartet form, while Jo is touring overseas, the instrumental quartet will bring a mix of Cigany Weaver originals, French manouche and Romani tunes to the festival. With some guest appearances from some of the festival’s most talented singers, 'Cigány Weaver' create a rich and vibrant atmosphere for both the heart and mind. Fiery violin, dynamic guitars and driving rhythm section merge to create a purely acoustic group that effortlessly navigates the musical nexus between intimacy and raucousness.

Recently the band were nominated for two National Live Music awards (NLMAs) for Best Australian Jazz Act, and Best QLD Act. They have released a brand new album in January 2024 and have been touring it around Australia. 2019 delivered the release of the band’s debut eponymous album, premiering the group’s first original compositions within the genre and receiving a highly commended for the track ‘Janome’ in the Jazz category of the 2020 Queensland Music Awards. Both albums were received with great acclaim, finding airplay on ABC, Triple J, Double J, and community radio stations across Australia.

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Cymbrogi hail from the Blue Mountains and Bathurst, and take their name from the old Brythonic word meaning 'companions of the heart'. Fellow travellers, join these musical companions of the heart and tread the ancient musical drove roads and byways of Britian and beyond.

Eric Avery, Kabi Marrawuy Mumbulla, is a violinist, vocalist dancer and composer from the Ngiyampaa, Yuin and Gumbangirr people of NSW. He works with his family’s custodial songs and his haunting compositions often feature him singing while playing violin, predominantly in the Ngiyampaa language.

Quickly gaining an international reputation, Eric has appeared alongside and in association with some of the greatest artists of our time, from Yo-Yo Ma to Tina Arena. He has commissions and performances booked with Camerata Queensland, Ensemble Offspring, the JACK Quartet, Marrugeku and several of Australia’s major orchestras. He is a 2021 Myer Creative Fellow.

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Fiddledance is an Illawarra-based band, performing various genres of music, which ranges from bush songs through to Irish/ Celtic and Bluegrass. Essentially, a fun band that loves to involve the audience. There could even be a bush dance called!

“Fred Smith is simply the best folk/country musician working in this country…beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.” (Bruce Elder, SMH).
Fred and band will be presenting songs from his rich back catalogue and his new album ‘Look”,

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Glover & Sorrensen. Two-handed stand-up comedy – where two comedians are onstage at the same time – takes a special comedic relationship. Welcome to Glover & Sorrensen, where you get twice the laughs, twice the drama, and twice the unexpected. Each show is different and unpredictable. Are you ready? Language warning as well just in case you haven't seen or heard them before.

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David De Santi has been accumulating 'good' tunes for over 30 years and wants to share them.Be ready for a musical tour around Australia, Italy Quebec, Scotland, Scandinavia, Spain, France, Ireland, England and beyond! Sheet music available or use your ear to join in.

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Hedy Blaazer is a singer-songwriter based on Gadigal land. With ‘honest’, ‘emotional and raw’ lyrics, ‘unique’, ’genre-bending’ music, and a voice described as beautifully distinct’ and ‘simply sublime’. Call it Australiana, Indie Folk, or Alt Country, or just boil it down to a gifted songwriter on the rise.

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Isobel Knight writes and plays songs where the venn diagram circles of Julia Jacklin and Bruce Springsteen cross over. Her heart-stopping voice, ear-worm melodies and lyricism have carried her music into hearts and charts. After touring the world throughout 2023, Isobel has returned to Aus with new songs and the same warmth and vigour.

With green hair and a golden voice, singer/songwriter Jessica Allen’s solo project showcases her indie-folk style, vocal looping talent and massive vocals.

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Kelly Brouhaha is a powerhouse vocalist, transversing the lines of folk, country, blues, soul and jazz. Likened to the Eva Cassidy's and Linda Rondstadt's of the world, this is an artist who's unique style cannot be put into a box. From big blues to soulful country, it is music that is real and raw and vulnerable.Just so much fun, that girls got amazing pipes, she sounds like Amy Winehouse - but with more of a soulful edge as opposed to a jazz hook; - TRIPLE J ROOTS AND ALL

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Kiama Pipe Band plays traditional pipe band music with celtic origins from Scotland and Ireland. The band regularly performs at community events including the Bundanoon and Berry Celtic festivals.

Come join our communal singing of Sea Shanties / Lanties. Kiama Sea Shanties have been together for a year and have built up a repertoire of enjoyable songs. Lyrics are all accessible via the Kiama Shanty website found easily on phones. We have some books with lyrics too to ensure all people are able to sing along.Welcome me hearties!

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Mark Ballesi (Marco) and Russell Churcher (Rusty) are long-time folk musicians who share a love of the singer/songwriter tradition. Their rich vocal harmonies and down-to-earth instrumentation on guitar, banjo and dobro bring to life songs, both classic and original, that will engage, amuse and uplift your heart.

Central Victorian folk singer/songwriter, Mariah, broaches themes of love, loss, betrayal and tragedy with authenticity, and often haunting melancholy but always a glimmer of precious hope. With delicately woven songs rich in storytelling, together with her trio, Mariah captivates her audiences through honest and affecting tales that hang around in your head long after listening.

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Contemporary Australian singer/songwriter. Australian traditional dance musician. Mike Martin is perhaps best known as the driving force behind ‘The Kameruka Bush Orchestra’. His passion for traditional Australian Bush music its’ roots and history is well recognised. However, a performance also celebrates Mike Martin The musician, songwriter, thinker and philosopher. There are songs that will make you laugh… and think… and cry… there are songs of protest… of the environment… of love of the bush and community. As a performer a Folk Festival provides ample opportunity to session and share with like minded, interested, old and new friends. What a folk festival is all about

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Mikelangelo has travelled Australia and the world singing his songs at festivals and theatres as a solo artist and with his long term group The Black Sea Gentlemen. With his unmistakable baritone and his well worn guitar, he'll draw on material from his vast back catalogue, alongside new songs, interwoven with weird, wild and wonderful tales.

With his incendiary group The Pogues, Shane MacGowan reimagined traditional Irish music for a new generation. From wild folk-punk stomps to haunting, romantic balladry, Mikelangelo is joined by a festival all-star band to celebrate the life and songs of this timeless and darkly poetic troubadour.

While Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen prepare to celebrate their 25th anniversary next year, Mikelangelo debuts his new Braidwood-based band, The Beautiful Beasts, at the festival. Featuring Jake Annetts  on bass, Steve Maher on keyboard, Bruce Rose on guitar and Ben Wilson on drums, the the group have been working up new material all year and are primed to bring their eclectic, roots music to Kiama.

Penny and Roger sing songs of substance with warmth and humour, accompanied by finger-picked 12 string guitar and mandolin. Their carefully crafted lyrics and vocal harmonies are strong features of
their sound. They also sing songs by other (mainly Australian) songwriters, bringing their unique aesthetic to every song they sing.

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Penny Hartgerink has performed at Folk by the Sea with her band Penny and the Mystics, in a trio and as a solo artist. This year Penny will perform a tribute show featuring her favourite songs of one of her greatest musical influences- legendary US Blues and Roots singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams.

With a name like Peter Willey, what else could he be but a comedian?  Peter is a seasoned stand-up, singer and guitarist with an arsenal of stories, jokes, impressions, poems, original songs and parodies. He has performed at countless folk and comedy festivals, and hundreds of clubs and pubs.  Hilarious!

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PIRRITU’s music is a gentle, honest, and melodic personal journey that entices you into the depths of sadness, love, and shimmering hope. With two album releases under his belt, The songman’s work honours a cultural journey to connect back to land, language, and family with a continual thirst for deeper understanding of his people and country. Pirritu’s music features folk instrumentation weaving amongst his unique vocals like the gentle wind and waters that the Ngiyampaa man sings of.

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Rare Birdz original songs and spoken word stories revolve around love and all its entrails! They’ll take you for a wander through a heart that's had many the hard knock, yet still feels hope and joy! Lush harmonies, quirky lyrics, intimate deliveries coalesce into songs beautiful, evocative, a little edgy.

Originating from a small, noisy bar in Redfern and expanding around Sydney, Shanty Club believed quite simply that everyone can sing... they’ve just forgotten how. Come and join in with songs of the sea. Sing a harmony. Make some noise. Forget the words. It’s group karaoke done loud and right.

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A musical comedy duo combining razor-sharp songs about modern life and love with brooding accordion, gutsy guitar and sweet harmonies. Going where other couples fear to tread, you’ll hear funky songs about the challenges of sharing a bed and d**k pics, while we work through all our First-World problems together.

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Robyn Sykes is a multi-awarded spoken word artist who writes and performs original poetry. This dynamic performer entertains audiences around Australia, including Woodford FF(Qld), National FF (ACT) and Illawarra (NSW). Robyn runs workshops for adults and children, mentors emerging performers/public speakers, and organisers poetry events in regional NSW.

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A tormenter of accordion players and a lover of tripe, the cuddly president of the Illawarra Folk Club, aka Sir BigRuss will be spotted at spoken word gigs all over the place.

Multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Dr Shellie Morris AO creates music and sings in around 17 Australian Aboriginal languages, preserving and promoting culture. A celebrated international touring vocalist, feature performer in Black Arm Band and part of the internationally award-winning musical documentary Prison Songs, she is a varied and captivating artist.

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Speranza Starburner is a kaleidoscope of charisma, who has been mesmerising audiences with his vibrant stage shows for over a decade. He combines his skills in flow arts, LED spinning, and contact juggling to create an unforgettable spectacle of crystal, light, and fire.

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Southern Cross has been providing great music for bush dances for over 40 years. Many of these dances are simple folk dances, and with the bands' callers helping you put your feet in the right palces, easy to learn and fun to do.

Now Allan Stone is a poetry bloke otherwise known as Stonybroke  He’ll make you laugh and make you cry. Or spin you yarns about pie in the sky
Raising awareness of global pollution. And how we all must be part of the solution Three young lads fresh out of luck. Towed through the Bush by a big Mack truck A driver chap who gets into fights. First Nation people with sacred sites There’s even a bloke who had a lamb. And Mulligan who blew out a lamp So come along, get on yer bike. When Stonybroke is on the mike.

The Bottlers bring to the stage a very danceable, melody enlivened, high energy, 9 piece folk music experience, bringing generations together to celebrate what has been, what we've seen and what the future has to bring. Traditional instrumentation meets modern elation in a soaring chorus of whalloping bush ballads, sing alongs, poetical amazements and broadside emblazonments.

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The Butter Trackers are a collective of musicians who play tradtional Irish Music sessions at venues on Dharawal and Gundungurra country ( Illawarra & Southern Highlands). We welcome all acoustic instruments and players of any level who would like to come and join in!

Fun and irreverent, The Con Artists are a carnival of percussion, wind, brass, accordions, and fiddles. This all-ages community band combines young up-and-coming WollCon students, adult community musicians, and some of the region’s most prominent folk musicians, playing dissident and celebratory folk music from around the world.

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Dale Dengate, Kerith Power and Molly Jane Ellis have been performing at folk festivals since the 1970s. They have drawn on their own experiences of life, considering the importance of words, rhymes, with a sense of humour and parody in getting their ideas across to audiences Songs have been selected from Sally Sloane’s collection, Henry Lawson, John Dengate, Kerith Power, Judy Small and others. The Don't Be Too Polite Girls have selected folksongs often with choruses for everyone to enjoy singing along.

The Gleaners are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new joyful arrangements. Made up of Sam De Santi (runner up in the All-Ireland Fleadh) and Hannah Pelka-Caven (Liz Johnston Vocal Award winner), they blend guitar, bouzouki, and vocals with boundless energy and an unmistakable joie de vivre.

The Go Twos, Rosie McDonald and Nigel Lever, are individually well known in the folk and festival scene, but it is the music they play together that shines with an intimate and heartfelt intensity. They are joined by the uber talented Quentin Fraser on dobro and guitar. With special guest Anne Palumbo on upright bass. Rosie and Nigel weave vocal melodic lines with a rhythmic and driving pulse to reinterpret the folk song and tune tradition along with originals played with fingerstyle and flat pick guitar, mandolin and bouzouki. The Go Twos present a joyful antidote to current times.

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The Groove was founded by the dynamic duo of Sako and Damo who deliver a cultural blend of spanish, flamenco and classical guitar inspired riffs with driving syncopated afro percussive grooves. From roots to Latin, blues to middle eastern and eclectic flavours in between The Groove tweak your sense of fun and familiarity. They are versatile, vivacious and vibrant and their sound has been captivating audiences of all ages and cultures for over 7 years.

The Other Noonans blend satire, parody, social justice and more with harmony and musicianship. Oh and their both blind so don't expect any dancing! What you can expect however is humour, banter, contemporary and trad folk combined with snarky originals covering everything from Guide Dogs to grand kids to wokeism!.

The Pie Eaters play Australian traditional music with a gritty rootsy edge. Toe-tapping fiddle and piano duets as well as accordion,guitar and vocals. Alan Musgrove and Robert Stephens perform Australian dance music and songs from early colonial days through to the 1930s and beyond. Alan has been collecting and performing this traditional music for forty years while Robert is a thirty-year

Tribal Jewels Dance Co brings a colourful engaging gypsy style belly dance to the stage. Their dance allows women of all backgrounds, sizes and ages to enjoy dance and be proud of who they are. Their mission is to broaden the appreciation of women celebrating dance and cultural diversity.

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