Nanga 2023 Artists
Artistic Director Tim Fisher curates a line-up of great Australian artists for a series of
intimate, moving concerts, all in the one venue.
We look forward to welcoming back some Nanga favourites and to introducing our audience to some acts they may not have seen before. Aside from their musical virtuosity, our artists are big-hearted and generous with their time, and we are pleased to be able to support them.
If you are an artist with a query about performing at Nanga Music Festival in 2024, contact artists@nangamusic.org.au
The Good Behaviours (VIC)
The Good Behaviours play contemporary folk wrapped in old time banjo. Celebrated jazz musician and clawhammer enthusiast, Nick Henderson, composes music described as chamber-folk-meets-post-rock and is inspired by the flowing Hawkesbury River (Dyarubbin) he grew up on.
Joined by festival favourites Chris Stone (fiddle) and Holly Downes (double bass), Emily-Rose Sarkova (accordion) and Felix Lalanne (guitar), they make a veritable super group spanning the Australian Folk and Jazz scenes.These musos are as well trained and good looking as a prize winning pooch, so prick up your ears and get ready for a show stopper.
Joined by festival favourites Chris Stone (fiddle) and Holly Downes (double bass), Emily-Rose Sarkova (accordion) and Felix Lalanne (guitar), they make a veritable super group spanning the Australian Folk and Jazz scenes.These musos are as well trained and good looking as a prize winning pooch, so prick up your ears and get ready for a show stopper.
Great Aunt (VIC)
Together, songwriter/instrumentalists Megan Bird and Chelsea Allen draw inspiration from the traditions of old-time, bluegrass and gospel music, and their diverse backgrounds in punk and jazz, to craft modern musical stories. The instrumentation and arrangements are bare and bold: using only various combinations of mandolin, guitar, or resonator with double bass and percussion, and the elegant voices of Bird and Allen in joyful harmony. The duo has delighted audiences at some of Australia’s finest music and arts festivals, including Woodford Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Music Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Deni Ute Muster, The GAS, Wintermoon, Healesville Music Festival, Fleurieu Folk Festival, and Newport Folk Festival, amongst others. They have shared stages with notable acts including Vika & Linda Bull (AUS), The Weeping Willows (AUS), Sue Ray (AUS), Smith and Jones (AUS), Mary Flower (USA), Paisley Fields (USA), Wiley Gaby (USA), The Belle Miners (CAN), and more.
Listen, and you'll hear tales of joy and grief, whiskey and wine, gratitude and purpose-seeking.
Great Aunt Live @ Rolling Stock Recording Room
Great Aunt - Oh, Won't You Save Me
Great Aunt - Tell Me When It's Over
Listen, and you'll hear tales of joy and grief, whiskey and wine, gratitude and purpose-seeking.
Great Aunt Live @ Rolling Stock Recording Room
Great Aunt - Oh, Won't You Save Me
Great Aunt - Tell Me When It's Over
Jane and the Rain (QLD)
“Life is like an onion; you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.”
― Carl Sandburg
The exquisite, lyric-driven songs of Jane and The Rain will mesmerise you with their beauty and eloquence. Jane Cornes Maclean is a multi award-winning author, journalist and songwriter. Her songs are poems that explore what it means to be human.
Winners of song of the year at the Yungaburra Folk Festival in 2020, Jane and her husband Neil "The Rain" Steward deliver a blend of thought-provoking lyrics, soaring vocals and intricate guitar that will stay with you for a long time.
― Carl Sandburg
The exquisite, lyric-driven songs of Jane and The Rain will mesmerise you with their beauty and eloquence. Jane Cornes Maclean is a multi award-winning author, journalist and songwriter. Her songs are poems that explore what it means to be human.
Winners of song of the year at the Yungaburra Folk Festival in 2020, Jane and her husband Neil "The Rain" Steward deliver a blend of thought-provoking lyrics, soaring vocals and intricate guitar that will stay with you for a long time.
We Mavericks (NZ/NSW)
They pack punches but have songs to heal your scars. Featuring a foot-stomping Kiwi and a small-town Australian, We Mavericks make music that sounds like more than the sum of its parts.
Lindsay Martin’s masterful strings and vocal meets Victoria Vigenser’s captivating voice and rhythm guitar, wrapped in a crazy trademark tightness.Their original blend of contemporary folk and acoustic pop has echoes of both Americana and traditional Celtic roots amongst the harmonies.
With their debut album Grief’s a Gardener they’ve seen nominations for Best Folk Artist 2022 in the Aotearoa Music Awards, Australian Folk Music Awards "Artists of the Year, Best Duo/Group/Ensemble" 2021, showcased at Folk Alliance International 2022, and are recipients of Australia Troubadour Foundation Award 2020
https://www.wemavericks.com.au
Lindsay Martin’s masterful strings and vocal meets Victoria Vigenser’s captivating voice and rhythm guitar, wrapped in a crazy trademark tightness.Their original blend of contemporary folk and acoustic pop has echoes of both Americana and traditional Celtic roots amongst the harmonies.
With their debut album Grief’s a Gardener they’ve seen nominations for Best Folk Artist 2022 in the Aotearoa Music Awards, Australian Folk Music Awards "Artists of the Year, Best Duo/Group/Ensemble" 2021, showcased at Folk Alliance International 2022, and are recipients of Australia Troubadour Foundation Award 2020
https://www.wemavericks.com.au
Michael Waugh (VIC)
Michael Waugh is a songwriter’s songwriter, a compelling live performer and an extraordinary storyteller. Michael Waugh’s insightful tributes to friends, family and parenthood are both deeply personal and nationally recognisable; we see our own brothers, parents, pubs, rivers, struggles and joys reflected in the faces of his characters. His 2019 album The Weir received two Golden Guitar nominations - Male Artist of the Year and Alt Country Album of the Year – as well as a nomination at the 2020 Victorian Music Awards. In 2022, Dirty River, Michael's tribute to his home town of Melbourne from his most recent album The Cast, was voted Heritage Song of the Year at the Golden Guitar Awards and was nominated for Alt Country Album of the Year.
“Waugh shapes and colours his songs with the kind of unique Australian qualities associated with Tim Winton and Paul Kelly.” Rhythms Magazine
www.michaelwaugh.com.au
www.facebook.com/michaelwaughfm/
www.instagram.com/michaelwaugh71/
“Waugh shapes and colours his songs with the kind of unique Australian qualities associated with Tim Winton and Paul Kelly.” Rhythms Magazine
www.michaelwaugh.com.au
www.facebook.com/michaelwaughfm/
www.instagram.com/michaelwaugh71/
The Ebb Tide Men (WA)
Scan the vocal groups in Western Australia and you won’t see many four-part a cappella male quartets performing folk song. Time for The Ebb Tide Men, comprising Nick Eustance bass, Peter Ormond baritone, and tenors Lionel Pierson and Rey Rombawa.
Just a year old, the group’s inaugural performance was at the Dunsborough Songfest. From a varied repertoire grounded in Anglo-Celtic folk and embracing traditional song and languages from Europe and beyond, with existing and new arrangements, we offer a strong, original and engaging small group sound.
Just a year old, the group’s inaugural performance was at the Dunsborough Songfest. From a varied repertoire grounded in Anglo-Celtic folk and embracing traditional song and languages from Europe and beyond, with existing and new arrangements, we offer a strong, original and engaging small group sound.
Bernard Carney OAM (WA)
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. We are very grateful for Bernard’s ongoing support of the festival and for again leading our Nanga Songbook Singalong on Saturday evening. On Sunday evening Bernard will present a set of new and rarely heard gems from his back catalogue. This year Bernard is celebrating 40 years working full time in the Australian entertainment industry. His longevity in the business confirms his great talent as a musician and wordsmith, his versatility and ability to relate well to different audiences with both humorous and serious repertoire. Bernard's shows focus on his original songs which are exceptional for the wit and smartness of the lyrics and the flawless guitar style that accompanies them.
Formidable Vegetable (WA)
United Nations acclaimed permaculture electro-funk/swing outfit Formidable Vegetable are back home after their sold-out 8-month national album launch tour with some all new fresh beets and positive ecological action that the whole neighbourhood can dig. Having toured to over 20 countries (until 2019 when, according to the BBC they became the first band in the world to turn down a show at Glastonbury after pledging not to fly), Formidable Vegetable are spearheading the kind of grassroots revolution that the whole family will want to dance to.
Lemon Myrtle (WA)
Lemon Myrtle is a lover of connection & joy & sing-alongs, especially if you don't know the words.
She’s inspired by courage, how ache & delight hold hands, & the delightfully noodley gooey business of being human.
Together with the love of her life Benny, & the formidable Kevin Jones, she hopes you feel seen & like you're in a melodic hug. She also wants to give you a real hug.
She’s inspired by courage, how ache & delight hold hands, & the delightfully noodley gooey business of being human.
Together with the love of her life Benny, & the formidable Kevin Jones, she hopes you feel seen & like you're in a melodic hug. She also wants to give you a real hug.
Michael Day band (WA)
Raised in the beautiful Perth hills, singer songwriter Michael Day, inspires listeners to ask questions about the world, reflect on personal struggles and consider what is really important in life.
His indie folk rock flavoured music melts around you as you listen to moody soundscapes full of cleverly layered guitar and banjo, driving rhythms and soulful harmonies. Day has spent a great deal of time working on thought-provoking lyrics to match and he shares his feelings and experiences and invites the listener into a conversation about what we value.
His indie folk rock flavoured music melts around you as you listen to moody soundscapes full of cleverly layered guitar and banjo, driving rhythms and soulful harmonies. Day has spent a great deal of time working on thought-provoking lyrics to match and he shares his feelings and experiences and invites the listener into a conversation about what we value.
Spoken Word
Sari Bennett (WA)
Sari Ellen Bennett is a Regional WA based writer and performance poet who lives on Molloy Island.
Her writing style is unique - weaving whimsical imagery with hard hitting concepts, challenging the status quo, questioning human behaviours and finding the sacred hidden within the mundane.
With a background in dance, martial arts and physical theatre, Sari's embodied performances breathe life into her heartfelt poetry.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbi7EZuKgUaOQip1g2BkaOg
Her writing style is unique - weaving whimsical imagery with hard hitting concepts, challenging the status quo, questioning human behaviours and finding the sacred hidden within the mundane.
With a background in dance, martial arts and physical theatre, Sari's embodied performances breathe life into her heartfelt poetry.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbi7EZuKgUaOQip1g2BkaOg
George Walley - Welcome to Country
"When I was a child, I remember my family spending much time living in tents within bush settings and as children we made our fun from the bush materials. The bush was a place of learning bushcraft, hunting skills and finding foods. We lived in a number of places depending on where we had a work contract for the farming community to do fencing, hay carting or being a general farmhand. I remember the large tents, green in colour, several of them in the middle of bushland. This living with extended family in bush shelters was surviving at a time when we didn’t have a place where we could call our home, no purchased acreage with a house on.
Our real home was the vastness of the territory we lived in and moved around on. It was and still is referred to as our kaaleepga or homeland. Where ever we made our fire and shelter on Bindjareb Boodja, we were in our territory and part of the Noongar Nation."
mandurahdreaming.com.au/meet-george
To be confirmed.
Our real home was the vastness of the territory we lived in and moved around on. It was and still is referred to as our kaaleepga or homeland. Where ever we made our fire and shelter on Bindjareb Boodja, we were in our territory and part of the Noongar Nation."
mandurahdreaming.com.au/meet-george
To be confirmed.
Youth Scholarship
Shakaylee Wallam (WA)
"My Name is Shakaylee Wallam, I am 19 and I am a proud Wadjuk Yorga from Perth. Growing up music has been a huge part of my life, it helped me get through hardship and express my creativity. I like to sing a mix of rnb, pop and jazz, my biggest inspirations are Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse and Jorja Smith and so many others. I want to be a voice for others, I want to experiment with my own voice and start writing my own songs.
In highschool I performed in musical productions and In 2018 I got awarded The Junior Perfoming Arts Award as well as LyriK Leadership award. I did open mic regularly before Covid and found it hard to perform live.
In 2021 My Mother Passed, and I stopped doing what I loved up until recently I performed at WAKAA Festival in April and have been working hard to rediscover my passion. I put my all into everything I do and hold myself to high standards. I believe that with my past experience and passion for music this youth scholarship would help me get some guidance with my own sound and finding my confidence again when it comes to performing live."
In highschool I performed in musical productions and In 2018 I got awarded The Junior Perfoming Arts Award as well as LyriK Leadership award. I did open mic regularly before Covid and found it hard to perform live.
In 2021 My Mother Passed, and I stopped doing what I loved up until recently I performed at WAKAA Festival in April and have been working hard to rediscover my passion. I put my all into everything I do and hold myself to high standards. I believe that with my past experience and passion for music this youth scholarship would help me get some guidance with my own sound and finding my confidence again when it comes to performing live."
Hunter Gibbs (WA)
Hunter Gibbs is a young inspired guitarist, singer/songwriter who draws people in with his unique deep, rich sound full of emotion and raw feelings. His passion for music, inspired by his parents’ live performances, led him to a scholarship at Woodvale Secondary College in Perth, WA. As part of the scholarship, he is involved in a diverse range of Ensembles and Choral groups, who perform at festivals and competitions on a regular basis. Recently, he toured Queensland with his entire school music group, to showcase his musical talents to various schools along the north coast. He was then invited to join the Jazz Ensemble on bass guitar, and is working on improving his skills by forming a Contemporary rock band who rehearse regularly and are awaiting their first big gig.
In March 2023 he attended the Nannup Music Festival as a busker and was provided an opportunity to perform live on stage, where he debuted his original music. He is itching to hit the potential that experience showed and this is why Hunter is interested in pursuing this scholarship, as he feels it is a brilliant opportunity to shape his craft into something special.
In March 2023 he attended the Nannup Music Festival as a busker and was provided an opportunity to perform live on stage, where he debuted his original music. He is itching to hit the potential that experience showed and this is why Hunter is interested in pursuing this scholarship, as he feels it is a brilliant opportunity to shape his craft into something special.
Kiahna Magor (WA)
"My name is Kiahna Magor, and I am a 15-year-old singer-songwriter from Walyup. Singing and storytelling have always been part of my life. From learning the lyrics of every song my mum sang, to listening to the stories people tell each other. The desire to tell my own stories started my journey into song writing, which is influenced by artists such as Billie Martin, Lizzy Mcalpine and Harry Styles. I’m in the Contemporary Music program at Fremantle College, where I write songs and sing.
My songwriting expresses varied emotions and perspectives through soulful lyrics and upbeat indie stylings. I perform regularly at school, and this year will be performing at Bridgetown Blues. I will apply to WAAPA for contemporary performance, when I graduate. In 2022 I was a finalist in Fairbridge Quest. 2023 I entered Triple J Unearthed. If chosen for the Nanga Youth scholarship I would be able to further develop my song craft. I want to do justice to the people I write about, to show them how amazing their stories are and how beautiful they can be. I would love the opportunity of being mentored, and to play for a larger audience than I have so far."
My songwriting expresses varied emotions and perspectives through soulful lyrics and upbeat indie stylings. I perform regularly at school, and this year will be performing at Bridgetown Blues. I will apply to WAAPA for contemporary performance, when I graduate. In 2022 I was a finalist in Fairbridge Quest. 2023 I entered Triple J Unearthed. If chosen for the Nanga Youth scholarship I would be able to further develop my song craft. I want to do justice to the people I write about, to show them how amazing their stories are and how beautiful they can be. I would love the opportunity of being mentored, and to play for a larger audience than I have so far."
Emerging Youth
Timothy Veracruz (WA)
Timothy Veracruz is a creative force to be reckoned with. With songs that nestle in the corners of obscure emotion, he brings the audience down to his level as he preaches wild fear and somber joy.
Taking second place, Timothy debuted at Gozzy rock and has since taken the Perth music scene by storm and leaving nothing but raving reviews.
Coming back to Nanga this year, Tim has developed his sound in ways unprecedently unique and beautiful with a rekindled passion.
Taking second place, Timothy debuted at Gozzy rock and has since taken the Perth music scene by storm and leaving nothing but raving reviews.
Coming back to Nanga this year, Tim has developed his sound in ways unprecedently unique and beautiful with a rekindled passion.
Livid Lillith (WA)
Livid Lillith is the creative pseudonym of Bunbury-based singer-songwriter
Imogen Pinelli.
In 2022, she received the Nanga Festival Youth Scholarship Award. She has since supported the likes of Great Gable and Velvet Bloom, and won the 2023 Nannup Music Festival Busking Competition.
Drawing on influences from folk, rock, and pop, Livid Lillith vows to remain raw in representations of her experience. She aspires to illuminate the shadows she never wants to visit, and transmute them into a therapeutic medium between the artist and listener.
Imogen Pinelli.
In 2022, she received the Nanga Festival Youth Scholarship Award. She has since supported the likes of Great Gable and Velvet Bloom, and won the 2023 Nannup Music Festival Busking Competition.
Drawing on influences from folk, rock, and pop, Livid Lillith vows to remain raw in representations of her experience. She aspires to illuminate the shadows she never wants to visit, and transmute them into a therapeutic medium between the artist and listener.
