2019 Artists
This year the festival welcomes an exciting line-up of local, interstate and international acoustic artists. Artists will be announced throughout August and Septmember. If you want to keep up to date, join our email list here.
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Ballpoint PenguinsWhat's black and white and singing all over the place this year? The Ballpoint Penguins, that's who.
The Penguins are in the midst of a busy final tour year, but Nanga Music's committee prevailed upon their artistic director to give WA's favourite a capella Penguins one last chance -- to subvert the Nanga community with their sardinic wit garnished with comic capers. Don't say we didn't warn you. |
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GallieGallie is a critically acclaimed songwriter from Ireland. His album 'The Occoquan River' has made it to a number of Best of the year lists from radio and press. Gallie is a natural raconteur who's performances have been getting rave reviews, at first it sounds like easy listening folk music but combine this with a killer story and you have the masterful art of Gallie and 'The Occoquan River'.
Gallie's shows are like no other; he has the capacity to reach a large audience on a one to one level due to the warmth that he brings through his songs and story telling. The stories are sometimes comical, sometimes tragic but the delivery is always from the heart. |
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Ginny WebbGinny Webb has spent her life birthing poems, songs, choirs, comedy, a novel-in-progress, health choice advocacy blurbs, and an actual boy-child. For the Fairbridge Festival World Series Comedy Poetry Debate, she once argued 'rhymingly' that poetry is NOT better than sex!
Ginny draws on mythology, biography, nature, politics, and history for her inspiration, has organised and MC’d community arts events, and teaches piano and ukulele. She is currently part of a Fremantle-based women's writing circle and also directs the Tuart Place Singers: adult Care-Leavers seeking solace and connection through story and song. |
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The Hillbilly GoatsFestival favourites and Golden Guitar Finalists, The Hillbilly Goats, aren’t just a band – they’re a 'show' featuring stories and song combined with hard fiddle, fast harmonica, clogging, bones and big harmonies, drawing from traditional folk tunes. Their passion lies in the history of the music that was created by immigrants and they seek out stories of songs almost forgotten and bring them back to life with boundless energy.
See Goat Girl running through the crowd rattling the bones, Goat Boy playing drums, banjo and harmonica at once while Giddy Goat dances up a storm whilst playing fiddle flat out! Kick yer shoes off, put yer hoe down and hang on to yer britches! These Goats are not to be missed! |
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Jack DaviesJack Davies is a Perth folksinger who weaves suburban Australiana and intimate stories into thundering folk rock ballads. After years of busking and performing solo, Jack recruited a few friends to form The Bush Chooks, an electrified take on his former folk tales.
Just a year after forming, Jack Davies and the Bush Chooks were nominated for three WAM awards and won Nannup Music Festival’s Emerging Artist Award. The now 20 year old is renowned for his witty lyricism and powerful voice. Don't miss out on their Debut EP, “Cleaning The Dishes” released May 2019. |
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John Flanagan TrioCombining 70s folk influences with a contemporary Americana/bluegrass sound Flanagan has drawn comparisons to James Taylor and Paul Kelly and proven himself to be “one of Australia’s finest lyricists” (Timber & Steel). Bluegrass guitar virtuoso Dan Watkins and versatile young double bassist Isaac Gunnoo (replacing Liz Frencham pictured) complete the dynamic trio, adding warm vocal harmonies and impressive arrangements.
Together they deliver an energetic live set that varies from light and uplifting to moving and thoughtful. In 2018 the Trio released their album ‘Honest Man’ which was a fan and critic favourite. |
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Kings and QueensWalking the line between traditional British Folk and Americana, Kings and Queens weave rich guitar with haunting harmonies, telling tales of life, death and the journey between. Since releasing their debut album in 2017, the Fremantle duo are always on the road playing regularly across all corners of WA. Their intimate and raw live sound has quickly made them one of WA’s most beloved duos.
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Ko-KoKo-Ko is an a capella group bringing lush, five-part harmonies and soulful renditions of their favourite music. Reece, Laura, Nicole, Annika and Jason deliver the marvel and excitement of a capella music through powerhouse vocals and intimate improvisations influenced by artists such as Idea of North, The King’s Singers and Bobby McFerrin. Ko-Ko perform a varied range of music, sure to excite and delight.
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Mal Webb & Kylie MorriganVocal adventurer, multi-instrumentist and looping beatboxing songwriter Mal sings his brain provoking songs using all sorts of vocal techniques, guitar, mbira, slide trumpet, trombone, chromatic harmonica and a loop recording pedal called Derek.
And Kylie (who's played with Orchestra Victoria and the likes of Stevie Wonder and Barry White!) provides violin and voice in a perfect balance to Mal's nutsness. Their arrangements are intricate and playful. Imagine Einstein, Dr Seuss and Paganini making pancakes. Ebulliently eclectic. Nefariously varied. Family fun free from facile frippery. And they won't repeat a song all festival! |
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Monique ClareMonique Clare of The Maes is joined by American fiddler Joe D’Esposito of The Railsplitters, in a collaboration that will duck and weave through the duo’s diverse influences. Dancing between intricate, rhythmic cello lines, compelling lyrics and heart-tugging harmonies, Monique Clare is an award-winning cellist and singer-songwriter.
Joe D’Esposito is a multi-genre fiddle player and skilled improviser whose work with The Railsplitters has seen him play Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Woodford Folk Festival and Celtic Connections. Together they combine their classical training, obsession with fiddling traditions and a mutual love of Björk to deliver intricate arrangements of original songs and tunes. |
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RibsRibs is the solo project of Georgina Cramond; a storyteller, songwriter and seriously big feeler. Ribs’ music is vulnerable, emotionally charged lyrics with stripped back piano accompaniment. Her authentic, original performances have grown in strength and momentum over the past three years. In 2017 she created Interrupting a Crisis, a solo live music and storytelling show, showcasing her own experiences with songwriting and anxiety.
Ribs received critical acclaim for this performance, winning the Best Newcomer Award at the 2017 West Australian Performing Arts Awards. She creates music not for those looking to forget life’s troubles, but for those looking to overcome them. |
Short 'n Sweet Artists
Nanga supports emerging artists with twenty minute showcase spots on the main stage. Please welcome our 2019 artists.
Biggles Biggles has always been a performer. His early days were in stand-up comedy. He then went on to Musical Theatre and light opera. It was after this he took time off from entertainment to become an accountant, get married and have children. A decision that he describes as “Who are you? How did you get into my scullery?!”
But Biggles is back as a solo performer employing the skills from his past exploits to sing you songs about aliens, samurais and gypsies. |
Frank’s Fish Tank hail from the windy west coast of Australia, somewhere between port city of Fremantle and Deep South Albany. They huddle together to play bluegrass and old time inspired melodies over hot coffees. Since their mildly brilliant 2018 EP Tubular Snouted Sessions, Frank’s Fish Tank have since recorded and released a debut 10-track album Muddy Landing - a musical ode to good camp spots, tall trees, yabbies, jingles, road trips and weatherboard cottages.
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The Happy Girls is the fold (in-and-out of focus) project of duo Alexander Turner and Be Gosper. The two work to expand each other’s poetry through intricately wound melody and song. Overarching vocal lines and bright guitar arrangements support wholesome lyrics, sharing their enjoyment of life’s everyday simplicities and stories. With guitars in hand and voices strong, The Happy Girls hope to sing your heart right home.
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Special Guests
Bernard Carney is one of the inaugural patrons of the Fairbridge Festival and a former Artist of the Year at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Songwriter, storyteller, choir leader and Beatlemaniac, Bernard’s distinctive ragtime guitar style and songs of humour and emotional power have won him many fans. Bernard will lead the Nanga Songbook Singalong.
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