Papa Chango

Whether you’re lulled into a trance by Ethiopean inspired melodies, energised by afro beat dance rhythms or wooed by sexy soul and funk vibes, you will be moved by Papa Chango. The band have held down long term gigs at venues all over Melbourne including Bar Open, Open Studio and The Espy, playing along side some of Melbourne's finest funk-merchants: The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra and Deep Street Soul, amongst others. Papa Chango have also made a solid mark on the festival scene, being return visitors to Folk Rhythm and Life, The Renaissance Music Festival and more.

The Blue Mosquitoes

The Blue Mosquitoes play original contemporary folk music with a strong Celtic influence. This hot young Tasmanian band are making waves in the UK folk scene. The band enjoyed a highly successful 24 gig UK/Ireland tour in 2011 where their music was variously described as being “startling good musicianship”, “implausibly fast”, “truly professional beyond their years”, “None better in 30 years running this folk club”, and “the highlight of the Edinburgh Fringe festival so far”. The band is looking forward to playing to Tasmanian audiences and writing new material before heading back overseas for a 2013 tour.

Tobasco Tom and Doc White

Mix one part old-time medicine show, one part hillbilly swing, spice with a bit of country blues and New Orleans jazz and you have the Tabasco Tom and Doc White show. Tabasco hails from Long Island, New York, Doc is from Melbourne. They are joined by Australian music legend Broderick Smith on harmonica.

New Holland Honey Eaters

Stan Gottschalk, Rebecca Gottschalk, Steve Ray and Jane Ray specialize in the broad musical traditions (mostly pre-1945) from the rural southeastern United States – including Anglo-Celtic and Afro-American traditional music, minstrelsy, ragtime. Tin Pan Alley tunes and songs, cajun music, gospel and jug band music. A new radio show this year.

Tim Thorne

Tim Thorne is an Australian poet, critic and publisher. He is also the originator, and for 17 years the guiding light, of the Tasmanian Poetry Festival, which at its inception, started the now famous Launceston Poetry Cup. Tim is highly acclaimed and an award winning Poet. It is our great pleasure to have him along for our 21st festival.

Lucie Thorne & Hamish Stuart

Acclaimed Australian songsmith Lucie Thorne returns to the Tamar Valley on the back of a national tour in support of her stunning new album, Bonfires In Silver City. Lauded for her unique voice, poetic lyricism, and tender-to-gutsy electric guitar playing, this new album has been receiving extraordinary praise across the country, described by many as her best work yet, and sees Thorne further hone her spacious, gritty, “exquisite miniatures of distilled emotion” (The Canberra Times), with that signature warmth and intimacy for which her live shows have become so renowned..

Folk Train

Based in the Hills area in Melbourne, and play mainly original songs written by Matt and Chris, with ocassional traditional songs or covers. Matt sings the majority of songs, and plays acoustic guitar. Chris sings a few songs, and plays octave mandolin, tenor banjo and harmonica. Rudy sings and plays fiddle, mandolin,accordion and harmonica

Vince Brophy & Cora Browne

Vince Brophy & Cora Browne- corner that wonderful market place of ballads and Irishness in the world of folk and contemporary music. It’s been twelve years since Vince accomplished his song-writing residency in Tamar valley and he still writes of its beauty with two of his new songs, ’Lavender Blue & The Measure of a Town’. As songwriters a lyric and melody are never far from the plate and they bring a new Cd to the world this year. Cora with her blue/jazz voice, swaps seamlessly back to her roots to honour her Irish heritage.

Penny Larkins and Carl Pannuzzo

With a focus on sharing the stories of current australian song-writers, Penny Larkins and Carl Pannuzzo, currently based in the lovely central victorian town of Castlemaine in Australia, have created their own niche in Aussie folk music. Telling stories of their own and others couched in Pannuzzo’s accompaniment of piano, uke or guitar - the closeness created by their harmonies will soothe and stimulate. They bring their latest album “The Cradle” to Tasmania for the first time.

Slings & Arrows

Slings & Arrows are a fantastic duo from Launceston. Fiona Brown and Joe Hextall began singing and playing guitar, bass, keys and percussion together to brighten the winter of 2010. They have written over thirty songs between them so far with a brilliant debut album already released and a second helping expectant in the summer of 2012. Harmonised narratives delight the ears of all who hear them with tunes and lyrics that will bring a smile each time you find yourself humming them.

Mem and Dennis Taberner

Mem and Dennis have been singing together for over 40 years (but who’s counting they say). Their passion is telling stories through folk music. Mem’s rich voice is complimented by harmonies and instrumental work from Dennis. The songs are embellished with introductions to place the song in context (real or imagined). The moto is - “never spoil a good tale for want of a pinch of truth

Bruce Watson

Bruce Watson is a favourite of festivals and folk venues all over Australia. He delights audiences with his silliness and then suddenly floors them with his incisive writing and beautifully delivered unpalatable truths. He plays guitar, mandolin and snare. Bruce is a well known children's entertainer.

Scott Balfour

As a band member, solo artist, professional entertainer and festival organiser, Scott Balfour’s involvement in the Australian folk scene spans 40 years. He has drawn on his extensive repertoire of British Isles and Australian vernacular and ‘contemporary folk’ for his contributions to concerts and workshops at national and regional festivals and clubs. His warm vocal style, expressive guitar accompaniment are a highlight of any concert. Although he prefers songs that dig into the terrain rather than skip across the surface, he is happy to dip occasionally into the pop, children’s and whimsical songbags.

Seagrass

Seagrass is an all original Tasmanian acoustic band that combines blues with bluegrass. Tim Saunders (banjo, guitar, vocals)Rowlie Walker (mandolin, vocals)Mark Phillips (bass, vocals). The music style ranges from southern Mississippi swamp music with bottleneck guitar through to hard driving Scrugg's style 5 string banjo bluegrass.

Bob Sharp

"A wandering minstrel” who headed east then north to south thru’central west. Bob’s diverse journey is reflected in his spirited eclectic style, an impressive mix of original songs, together with blues ragtime and folk, both traditional and contemporary played adeptly on his well travelled Lowden guitar.

Joy Coates

Joy has performed previously at The Tamar Valley, Cygnet and Rosebery Folk Festivals fronting “The Fence Pickets”, several times at the Fleadh in Hobart and was winner of the Tasmanian Folk Federation’s Mike Silverwood Song Writing Competition 2002. Joy loves traditional Irish ballads, Gillian Welch, Iris Dement and obscure songs from the Appalachian Mountains.

The Tribesman and the Dub

Declan Pickering, a Dubliner, has played at many a mighty session at the renowned Donoghue’s pub, before migrating to Australia. He has played with the Quarefellas in W.A., the Cockies, and many other groups and duo’s since settling at Cygnet in Tasmania. Dec sings, and plays tenor banjo, guitar and mandolin.

Mick Flanagan comes from Galway and via Bristol, then Sydney, Mt Isa, Kalgoorlie etc, to Franklin in ’77 ( where he met Dec)and presently resides in George Town Tasmania. .Mick sings, plays button accordion and enjoys a good session.

Brian O’Neill

Now living in Tasmania, Brian joins us again to perform his old favourites and more. Lovely Irish ballads an lively tunes. Catch Brian at a concert or down town on Saturday or definitely at a session.

Scott Haigh

The 2011 Youth Encouragement Award winner, will perform at the Youth Award Concert and also at a concert this year. Scott writes his own material and has recorded an album.
We are very proud to have Scott on the programme.

Alex Myers

Alex lives in Launceston is a favourite of our festival. Alex likes to invite her friends to join her concert and it is sure to be a real audience pleaser.keep an eye on our programme for more details, this concert will be held at the Yacht Club..Such a lovely venue on the waterfront.

Margie Brophy

Well known to all in the folk scene, as part of the Molly and Jack children’s entertainment duo. This year Margie will work with the children in a fun workshop called “Margies Kitchen”. The children will make yummy pasta and have lots of fun creating their snack.

Accoustic Elements

Scott Jolley and Brendan Wrightare an explosion of percussive grooves, Latin fury and raw talent. See why they’re blazing a trail across the Australian festival scene as they rip through fiery latin masterpieces and beat out rock solid grooves.

Peter Hicks, Mat Woolley and Annie Parsell

Three talented Tasmanian musicians combine with fabulous harmonies and tight musicianship to sing contemporary and traditional folk songs. Their repertoire includes joyful shepherd ballads and sharp barbs at politicians and the powerful. A little bit country and a whole lot of fantatstic celtic and British inspired folk.

Bottom Pub Ceilidh Band

A long and flexible line up of local talent make up this band. They have played for many years at bush dances around the North. Come along to the dance Saturday early evening. Always good family fun.

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The Messups

The Messups Puppets have been entertaining families for over 20 years throughout Australia and overseas. The Messups Puppets show isn't a "sit down and watch" show, it's a "get up and join in" show with no yawning allowed! With kids loving the games, prizes and whacky puppet antics and Mum & Dad singing along to the rock ‘n’ roll classics, The Messups Puppets Show is truly ‘fun for the whole family’.

The Ryebuck Sheilas

The Ryebuck Sheilas were formed by Annie Thornton and Biddy Dennis in 2002 with the idea of forming an "all girls" group that encouraged women singers and musicians who hadn't played in public before to "get out there and strut their stuff".