April Maze
April Verch (Canada)
April Verch doesn't just perform music, she exudes it. The internationally renowned Canadian fiddler, singer, songwriter and stepdancer has a passion for performing and her goal is to touch the lives of those who are listening at any given moment. "The world is this amazing puzzle that we can't fully understand and music is the joy that pulls it all together and makes sense of it."
www.aprilverch.com
Clementine (won Yackoustic competition last year as The Two Girls)
Dreamboogie
Graham Wilson
With a powerful and melodic voice, a guitar style influenced by Dick Gaughan and Martin Simpson and a rhythm all his own, Graham performs a choice selection of traditional songs from his native Scotland and contemporary songs from some of the finest songwriters of our time.
After many years involvement in the UK scene and following a sabatical from music, he came to Perth, Western Australia, settled in and decided to rekindle his love of performing. The National Festival, Fairbridge, Newstead and various Eastern States' clubs have benefitted from his re-emergence.Having lived in both Belgium and Italy Graham is also tri-lingual and on occasion will drop a beautiful French ballad or Belgian tune into the mix.
www.grahamwilson.com.au
Faye Blais (Canada)
Hat Fitz & Cara
The skilful blending of pre war hill country and delta blues with early Australian folk and traditional Celtic tunes has produced a truly unique musical style that's seen fans worldwide drift off into he early morn, often drenched in sweat and always covered in smiles. Their music is like no other, and although their debut release, "Beauty 'n the Beast" is already considered by many to be a classic it's experiencing one of their live shows that's exciting global audiences.
www.hatfitzcara.net
Humbug
Kym Pitman
Luke Legs
Luke Legs is a Melbourne/Geelong based performer inspired by the songwriting greats; Leonard Cohan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Kelly. His sound has been described as having the ‘Irish heart of the Pogues, with the depth and melting lyricism of Gillian Welch and Ryan Adams’ (Beat Magazine). Having just returned from a sold out national tour and support slots with Xavier Rudd and Jordie Lane, Luke Legs & the Midnight Specials's energetic, honest and harmony filled performance is not to be missed!
www.facebook.com/pages/Luke-Legs/176996692311478?sk=app_178091127385
Maggie Rutjens
Indie singer-songwriter Maggie Rutjens hails from the small country town of Crystal Brook in the mid-north of South Australia.
At just 17 years of age Maggie is fast gaining a reputation as a songwriter whose topics reflect maturity and sensitivity to societal values, youth, happiness and her own love of life experiences.
… “A lyrical depth and song crafting ability on pa with her influences at their peaks” –Richard Perso
... “If Maggie and her contemparies are the future of folk music in Australia then that future is in very good hands" -Eric Bogle
www.maggierutjens.net
Muhanamew (Africa)
Nathan Rogers (Canada)
Dry Bones is the perfect combination of contemporary songwriting highly influenced both by traditional music and by the great songwriters of earlier times. In some ways it's like new wine in an old bottle, you can taste the freshness, but the ghosts of times past weave their haunting melodic strands throughout the music. Nathan Rogers is joined by Leonard Podolak (the Duhks) and J. D. Edwards who have all cindividually cut their own swath within the folk world. Together they are a powerful combination.
www.nathanrogers.ca
Nick and Leisl
Rebecca Moore
Singer/guitarist Rebecca Moore is an intensely original and imaginative songwriter. Her songs combine the beauty of ancient folk music, storytelling, metaphor and lyricism, with contemporary vision and awareness. In 2011 Rebecca released her Closing the Distance EP at the Sydney Opera House supporting the Afro Celt Sound System. She is currently raising funds on tour for Burmese Orphans. This project has raised over $14,000 to date. Rebecca's new album has just been completed in London and will be released in 2012.
www.rebeccamooremusic.com
The Bluehouse
The Eastern (NZ)
The Rainmakers
With four glorious voices and exquisite harmony, this band sing provocative and endearing songs - original compositions which bringing their landscape , issues and environment vividly to life, and a rich mixture of extraordinarily moving acapella arrangements. Jane Thompson, and James, Maggie and Elsie Rigby accompany songs on guitar, fiddle, ukulele, banjo, accordion and maracas. They released a highly acclaimed album ‘Yandoit’ last year, to add to ‘Singing up a Storm’. Maggie and Elsie won the prestigious Lis Johston award for vocal excellence at last year’s National Folk Festival.
www.makingmusic.com.au
The Two Girls (winners 2011 Yackoustic competition,)
Truckstop Honeymoon
Truckstop Honeymoon play breakneck breakdowns or heartbreak waltzes.
Like a Dodge with a burnt out clutch, their music has two speeds and no reverse. Katie Euliss pounds a doghouse bass while Mike West picks his banjo mercilessly. Together they sing songs and tell stories too funny not to be true. Since hurricane Katrina washed them out of New Orleans, they have toured relentlessly, playing festivals from Norway to Tasmania.
www.TruckstopHoneymoon.com
Wouter Kellerman (South Africa)
Wouter Kellerman's latest album 'Two Voices' won 'Best Instrumental Album' at the 2011 SAMA (South African Music Award equivalent of the Grammy or ARIA), thus reinforcing his status as one of South Africa's foremost musicians. In 2010 he performed at the FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony to a global television audience of 700-million people. A true crossover artist, he thrives on experimenting with the shades, textures and colours that his magic flute is capable of creatively blending with other instrumentation and vocal sounds.
www.wouterkellerman.com
Zeptepi.
Zikora
"Zikora" formed in 2010 to undertake an unusual project, to make music blending non-traditional instruments with the more standard spread. Zikora has worked hard to hone their sound to lift you up with acoustic dance vibes and share down to earth stories with mellow folk tones. Not too heavy, not too light, stories of life made up and real life.
Not really knowing how best to describe their music, they've coined the genre "Drum & Harp" with a fresh vibe, that you wouldn't think would work until you hear it!
Percussion.Harp.Piano.Voice.
www.facebook.com/zikorasmusic
More to follow shortly