Little Foot’s Celine Yap will lead a brigade of musicians in the ‘Songs for Refugees’ concert on the festival program for Saturday September 24.

Each artist has penned songs about the plight of people fleeing their own countries for ours.

“If you don’t speak out ... you are part of the problem and that’s why I speak out,” she said.

Ms Yap, who also hosts a radio show dedicated to refugees in Melbourne, said often she has had to “hold it together” when hearing these people’s stories.

“They tell you, ‘I’m not here to have the flat screen TV or I want a big backyard, I want to be able to go to sleep at night and know that I’m not going to die tomorrow,” she said.

She said too many Australians take heed and say “‘it’s none of my business as it’s the governments doing it”, but believes that makes the problem worse.

It will be the first visit to the Illawarra for the singer who said she’s excited to share poignant issues to new crowds through song, even though people sometimes don’t like to hear her sad melodies.

“There is a difference between being sad for yourself and sad for someone else … it gives you the bravery to go out and be kind and make a change in the world.

“People’s reactions are ‘it’s too sad, I don’t want to talk about it’ … because they can’t do anything about it. But the thing with music is you can do something.”

Ms Yap said she may only be changing the minds of one or two in the audience, but those small changes add up and make a difference.

Folk by the Sea program coordinator David de Santi said the “folk scene” was all about commenting on social issues.

Some may use demonstrations and placards while others express themselves through music.

“It’s continuing the tradition of protests during the 60’s,” he said

“It’s the decent thing to do, isn’t it, to look after people, it’s not about politics.”

Mr de Santi said his mum and dad came by boat from Italy in the 50’s and 60’s for “much the same reasons as refugees today.

“They were in search of a better life and were trying to think of the future of their kids.

“The situation in Italy back then was pretty tough after the war, there was not much hope for hundreds of thousands,” he said.

“Sometimes even that generation tend to forget that.”

‘Songs for Refugees’  Kiama Folk by the Sea festival, Saturday September 24, 1pm at the Saddleback stage. Featuring Celine Yap, Mark Cryle, Lime & Steel, Jason Roweth and Terry Serio.

For ticket information: www.folkbythesea.com.au/