Illawarra Folk Festival punters will have multiple opportunities to see headline acts during the weekend.
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With more than 150 acts from the Illawarra, throughout Australia and overseas, music fans will have plenty of choice at the annual four-day event at Bulli Showground on January 16-19.
The final program was released this week, and the headline acts will be appearing on multiple occasions and on different stages.
This includes perennial festival favourite Eric Bogle performing four times, as will the Toe-Sucking Cowgirls.
Award-winning Canadian songstress and guitar shredder Mo Kenney is scheduled to appear two times, while emerging international star, Scottish teenager Brighde Chaimbeul - a young Gaelic-speaking performer from the Isle of Skye who has made a huge impact in the UK with her debut album The Reeling - will play four times over the weekend.
Wollongong-born international guitar maestro Michael Fix, who is teaming up with regular collaborator, English singer Christine Collister, will also perform four times, as will popular gypsy-jazz exponents Cigany Weaver.
"We love the fact that most of our acts are in Bulli for the whole festival, and so are available to play multiple times," artistic director David De Santi said.
"Not only does that mean people can make sure they see all the 'must-see' acts, but they can also choose to see them on one of the big stages, or in a more intimate venue like The Chapel or the Global Green, where you really can get up close and personal with the performers."
Thursday night's acts include Brighde Chaimbeul, the Toe Sucking Cowgirls, Shellie Morris, Cigany Weaver, Fly Little Sparrow, English folk legend Rory McLeod and Canada's Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra.
"Thursday night is traditionally our charity night, and this year the proceeds will go to Hidden Harvest," Mr De Santi said.
"And whereas in the past it used to be a fairly quiet start to the festival, in recent years it has become much bigger. This time the Thursday night program is a real feature of the festival, so we are hoping that it will really attract a crowd and set the tone for the rest of the weekend."
The Illawarra Folk Festival will celebrate its 35th anniversary in January.
Regular festival features including a range of food stalls, Green Music Trains from Sydney and environmental sustainability initiatives.
The festival is run entirely by volunteers.
The program can now be viewed online on the festival website at www.illawarrafolkfestival.com.au.
Early bird four-day passes at $150 are also available until December 23.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
