Performers for 2004 will include:

Vin Garbutt

Vin Garbutt (UK) is reputed to have said that he is not interested in becoming a big star in the accepted sense. Nevertheless in the area of music where he performs, there is no bigger star. He prefers to be a big fish in a small pond. What the world realised long before Vin did, was that the small pond had grown over the years into a considerable lake.

All this has happened without the hype from big Record Companies, and without the usual publicity from the mass media. He has performed all over the globe, and in parts of countries that the biggest stars will never see. This phenomenon has occurred solely by word of mouth, spread by people who have come across him, and felt the need to share this unique experience with their fellow countrymen.

"The most sought after Act on the scene today. ‘House Full!’ signs are the norm. Because of his popularity, life is one long tour for Vin..... doing what folk singers have done for ages and ages - presenting a different view to that expressed by the media. Vin Garbutt entertains in a unique manner. " - Music World

Website: www.vingarbutt.com

Alex Legg

Alex Legg is a Scottish born songwriter and singer. He is a seasoned performer based out of London UK, and now in Melbourne. Solo and with his band Wild Geese, he has worked Irish pub, club and comtemporary acoustic venues all over the UK and Europe. The British Acandemy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (RASCA) gave his song, "Too Many Children" the Best of the Best award at The London Songwriters Showcase. He has collaborated with Nashville writers Phil Madeira, Hunter Moore, Casey Keyy, Billy Sprague and others. My songwriters workshops and seminars have inspired many new writers.

Website: www.alexlegg.com

Niamh Parsons

Niamh Parsons (Ireland) has come to be known as one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music. Her voice has drawn comparisons to such venerated singers as Dolores Keane, June Tabor and Sandy Denny. The great Scottish balladeer Archie Fisher said of Niamh, "a songstress like her comes along once or twice in a generation." Niamh will be performing with her guitarist Graham Dunne

Website: www.niamhparsons.com

Kavisha Mazzella

Singing in English and Italian, Kavisha sings traditional and original, contemporary music that is inspired by her rich Asian, Mediterranean & Celtic heritages. The daughter of an Irish-Scots/ Burmese mother and an Italian father, Kavisha was born in London, England .Her family migrated to Western Australia in the sixties , where the desert meets the sea. Whether working solo or with others, Kavisha has carved a strong reputation as a songmaker, composer and theatre worker.

Playing guitar, mandolin, piano accordion, it is her hauntingly beautiful voice, capable of power and nuance, humour and spontaneity on stage that makes no two shows alike. Singing in English and Italian, Kavisha's songs take you on a joyful, raw, poetic, emotional journey.

Website: www.kavisha.com

Merri-May Gill

Merri-May Gill has recently been described by Crack Magazine (UK) as a ‘unique Australian treasure’. Following several independent releases This Is…, her first release on Hot Records, beautifully showcases the eclectic and captivating songwriting that has earned her 5 star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Born in outback Australia and raised with an Aboriginal community on a 50,000 acre sheep station, Merri-May will take folk music to places where no one thought possible! Don't miss the journey! " Merri-May Gill is a consummate performer, captivating, incredibly gifted, possibly insane, a joy to watch. There sure aren't many around like her." - The Scotsman

Website: www.merrimaygill.com

The Comedy Festival Company

Peter Willey, S Sorrensen and Alan Glover have come together to entertain us with comedy, fun and laughter. They are all seasoned festival comedy performers and will be a must see in Yack.

Martyn Wyndham-Read

To date his recording career spans 33 years and more than 30 albums, many considered classics of their genre. One of the most engaging performers you're ever likely to see, his exceptionally intimate performance combines songs, humorous bush poetry recitations, stories and anecdotes of outback life and comments on Australian history and culture.

Kate & Ruth

Kate Burke and Ruth Hazelton perform traditional English, Irish, Scottish and American and Australian songs. They have become renowned for their vocal harmonies, imaginative and expressive arrangements and outstanding musicianship. Most of all, these young women have a great ability to challenge audiences with serious issues as well as being able to tell a good story.

Bernard Bolan

Whether he sings of his dogs, his loves, his life as a city lawyer or getting his equipment caught in lift doors, a Bernard Bolan performance is an unforgettable experience.

Cassidy Buxton

Cassidy Buxton has been singing folk Ballads in Canberra and at folk festivals for many years. Catch her on stage with her new bouzouki for some traditional songs and tunes from Ireland.

Damien Neil

Damien Neil is a singer/songwriter/guitarist from central Victoria with many of his songs often played on our local ABC. He has been playing professionally for over 10 years solo or more recently with Ashley Davies in the line up Mighty Servant. His playing style is woven from a rich tapestry of blues, jazz, country, folk, rock and contemporary styles. Damien has recently composed the music score for a short film by a Melbourne filmmaker which will be entered into the Cannes Film Festival, giving Damien an international audience for his music.

Eddy & Owen Salome

Eddy Salome. Eddy is a guitarist singer songwriter who has performed in Bluegrass, Country, Blues and Irish line-ups for over twenty-five years. ‘Man for all seasons’ is a collection of original songs covering these different types of music. A slide guitar based album, it looks at issues and styles of music, of a diverse nature.

This is Eddy’s second solo album. His first, “Breath of the shaman” is also available at the festival office.

Owen Salome. Although only 14, Owen has established himself as a competent solo performer. Specializing in flute and whistle, he has compiled a spirited repertoire of Irish music that he performs with Eddy, blending Eddy’s fiddle, guitar, and bouzouki backing in a performance not to be missed. They have recently completed their first CD, available from them or the festival office.

Fretwork

Fretwork: Originally from Belfast but now living in Bright, Gerry McKeague, vocals and guitar, and Tracey Gormley, vocals and fiddle, have joined Corryong local, Jamie Molloy, to perform a blend of Irish reels and jigs, and songs from a wide variety of sources. All are experienced players with a wide repertoire of popular and not so well known tunes and songs from Ireland. They have recently been playing together in sessions at festivals in Victoria eg. Beechworth, Maldon, and in their lounge rooms.

Good Medicine

Good Medicine are a Blues and Roots influenced duo that features vocals, guitar and harmonica. The play a diverse range of Blues styles and aim to take the listener on a musical journey from the steel guitar sounds of the Mississippi Delta region through to the urban sounds of the Chicago Blues. They have appeared at 2003 Wangaratta Jazz and Blues festival, Echuca Winter Blues Festival and this year’s Monbulk Jazz and Blues Festival.

Horses Leotard

Roots, ragtime, harmonica and humour. Horse's Leotard is here for more musical mayhem and pure good fun. Boasting the finest of twin fiddling and vocals, clawhammer banjo, 'slap' double bass and sensitive percussion, they bring to you a high energy mix of old-timey, ragtime and original songs and tunes.

Jajungal

Sal Kimber, guitar, mandolin & vocal, and Meri Greenwood, flute, grew up in our region and return to Yackandandah to entertain us. They are a young, high energy, talented duo who have come back to their childhood home to show us just how much they have learned out in the big wide world.

Jim MacQuarrie

Jim is an expatriate Canadian, now resident of NSW South Coast and a familiar performer at clubs and festivals in this part of the world. Jim has been an active supporter of the Australian folk scene for a long time and has been a mentor for us in Yackandandah. He now has his own CD so festival goers who’ve enjoyed him over the years, can now listen to him between festivals.

John Memery

John Memery is an award winning Beechworth performer poet/singer/songwriter who will be performing some of his songs written especially for our region.

Koetong Pub Mob

Koetong has no shops - just a hotel (between Albury/Wodonga and Corryong). On the last Sunday of each month, the pub comes alive with visiting and local Folkies, nurturing their talents and friendships. They intermingle old folk favourites with original songs and poems which reflect the characters, history and beauty of the Upper Murray mountain area.

Neil Higgins

Celebrating the completion of his debut, original CD release "from the inside", Neil Higgins, singer/songwriter and accomplished solo performer has begun to entrench himself into the Australian musical industry, cutting a completely individual style. He delivers his songs in a pure manner, with a good texture of vocals, full sounding Maton acoustic guitar, crystal clear amplification and songs with substance.

Patrick McMahon

Having performed in one of the first music festivals in Yackandandah in the 1970's, Patrick is taking a trip down memory lane and is returning to Yackandandah to perform his award winning song about Yackandandah.

Rosie Haden

Yackandandah local and festival regular, Rosie Haden has a voice that international roots artist Jeff Lang likens to 60s psychedelic siren Grace Slick. Rosie's original songs of lust, desire, philosophy and shady pasts are sung with a voice both sultry and passionate. Come and hear the voice that Australian blues artist Chris Wilson describes as "one of the best I've ever heard."

Soursob Bob

Soursob Bob is a down to earth Australian story teller, with an acoustic guitar and limited vocal range. He performed in 2002 at the National Folk Festival and he's a regular at comedy and musical venues in his hometown of Adelaide. He is both a songwriter and a camel racer, but after a near fatal camelling accident, finds folk music safer. “Soursob Bob is unlike anything else in Adelaide. ..Nothing is sacred in Soursob Bob's world, as he puts his spin on everyday occurrences, the unusual, even the political." Adelaide Advertiser

Suburbia

Suburbia, an inspired and dynamic acoustic folk/funk trio base in Melbourne, draws its inspiration from the diversity of lifestyles, cultures and stories from within Melbourne Suburbs.

The Spoon Thieves

Combining crazy gypsy circus music with swampy Romanian bluegrass and Swedish Polskas (no, not polkas) with Klezmer tunes in strange keys, The Spoon Thieves have a fresh new approach to folk music that will leave even the most cynical folkie wanting more. WARNING: This show may contain Piano Accordions

Willy Golightly

Willy Golightly is a Melbourne based singer/songwriter playing contemporary urban folk. He is strongly influenced by the music of his birthplace, 60's and 70's British Folk music.