2026 Programme
It is a great pleasure to announce the Fairbridge Festival 2026 programme. The return of the FolkWorld Festival to its traditional home at Fairbridge Village after a five-year hiatus has offered an opportunity to reflect on the festival’s heart and soul, and on the enduring value of its revival, made possible through the dedication of passionate supporters and volunteers.
This year’s theme, Honouring the Past – Reimagining the Future, reunites the Fairbridge Festival family to celebrate a much-loved and iconic community event first presented in 1993. It also acknowledges the emergence of new generations of artists and audiences, and the excitement of the festival’s ongoing evolution.
The artistic programme reflects FolkWorld’s values, showcasing a rich diversity of folk and world music and dance, alongside the festival’s core children’s and youth programs. In 2026, there is an added focus on collective participation and strengthening connections across our festival community. We hope you enjoy the wonderful range of creative offerings from the many talented artists, and we look forward to sharing the precious Fairbridge Festival experience with you this April.
Jon Cope
Artistic Programme Coordinator
Chris While and Julie Matthews (England)
They have been playing to packed houses at festivals across Australia – their final Aussie gigs are here are Fairbridge Festival!
Long-term fans are delighted to hear that legends of the English and Australian folk festival circuit, While and Matthews return to Fairbridge for the first time in 15 years.
Apolline (Vic)
Australian folk trio Apolline combines fiddle, cello and double bass into genre-bending arrangements of traditional Celtic melodies that inspire a new generation of contemporary folk.
Baba Lala Musical Playtime
A joyful early childhood music program from Penny Lane’s Music Workshop in Freo. Relaxed sessions where little kids and their grown-ups explore rhythm, movement and song together.
Emily Barker
An award-winning Australian singer-songwriter. She had early success as the writer and performer of the theme to the hugely successful BBC/PBS Masterpiece crime drama Wallander.
Bluegrass Parkway
Bluegrass Parkway remains faithful to the 1940s genre using to a single microphone and
incorporating strong harmonies, great picking, fancy footwork and lots of fun into their traditional sounds of bluegrass.
Peter Bugden
Peter Bugden and Bernard Carney join forces to break boundaries with beautiful ballads balderdash and bullshit.
Bernard Carney
Bernard Carney OAM , Inaugural Fairbridge Patron.
Community Bluegrass Jam
Bluegrass is fun! Bring your acoustic instruments (traditionally but not exclusively guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and bass) and jam in a friendly, relaxed, inclusive environment. All levels of musicians are welcome. Spectators too!
Bryan Dalton
Irish singer/songwriter Bryan Dalton’s music is unquestionably moving. From delicate fingerpicked guitar to soaring vocals wrapped up in an Irish folk story. Undeniably true to his craft Dalton’s live performances are intimate yet powerful.
Jack Davies
Renowned west Australian folksinger and rambler Jack Davies blends his warbled guitar with intimate thought provoking lyrics.
De Cuba Son
Cuba Son lights up the night with electrifying Afro‑Cuban rhythms! Led by Arvis Mena and Jeremias Sosa, this powerhouse band brings son, salsa, and Latin jazz that’ll have you moving till the last note.
Duende Indalo
Duende Indalo take their audiences on a journey from the deserts of the Middle East to the sun drenched streets of Latin America. Every performance is a fusion of melody, rhythm, and storytelling- woven together by virtuosity and soulful expression.
Emily Gelineau
Award-winning Jazz Violinist Emily Gelineau brings the fiery energy of Gypsy Jazz, French Jazz and Brazilian Jazz to the stage at Fairbridge Festival.
Hunter Gordon
An emerging singer, songwriter and producer from Walyalup/Fremantle creating emotive, folk-inspired music with poetic lyrics and soft, angelic vocals. Her songs blend personal storytelling with vulnerable, melody-driven soundscapes.
Huaira
Huaira brings the vibrant sounds of the central Andes highlands to life. In a traditional sextet formation, they perform captivating folk songs and rhythms on authentic South American instruments, played the original way.
The Human Highway
If you’re a Neil Young fan, we’re very confident you won’t be disappointed – you’ll hear the classics, though with over 1100 songs that he’s released we can’t nearly do them all.
David Hyams
An accomplished Fremantle producer, singer-songwriter and instrumentalist. Equally comfortable across many genres, he is now touring his 4th album bringing together influences, from gentle acoustic fingerstyle, to bluesy electric and country.
Jane and The Rain
Winners of Song of the Year at the Yungaburra Folk Festival in 2020, Australian duo Jane and The Rain deliver a rich blend of delicious, thought-provoking lyrics, soaring harmonies and intricate guitar.
Ari Jasper
A solo indie-acoustic act, featuring all-original music from his new album.
Kavisha
A warm, engaging, and thoughtful singer-songwriter who invites audience participation in her concerts.
The Luca Gatti Unit
Playing Fairbridge to us is certainly a new and exciting experience, me and the boys have been pretty keen to do something like this for a while, and were stoked to be playing alongside Lucky, performing country music and western swing, something are all super passionate for.
Lucky Oceans
World Slide Summit is a special feature concert celebrating humanity and sonic connections across cultures. The Slide Summit band was born out of the unusual migration of two of the world’s top slide instrument players to Perth.
Ciaran O’Sullivan & Ross Hume
Originally from Donegal in the northwest of Ireland, Ciaran performs and sings throughout the traditional Irish music sessions in Perth.
Jazz Tupi
Jazz Tupí brings a high-energy Brazilian-jazz dance party to Fairbridge. Blending samba, maracatu, choro and forró, their bold sound channels Banda Black Rio and Hermeto Pascoal, delivering driving rhythms, soaring melodies and irresistible groove.
Lachy John and the Red Bellies
Influenced by classic blues and pub rock, Lachy John And The Red Bellies blend gritty guitars, poignant lyricism and a raw, roots-driven sound; their own brand of Australiana blues rock that cultivates stories of power, heritage, love and loss.
Junkadelic Brass Band
Junkadelic Brass Band’s stage show with vocalist Jenny Gee bursts with high‑energy funk, bold brass, and dynamic original grooves, delivering an electrifying, crowd‑engaging performance.
Penny Lane
Freo-based indie/alt-pop artist, Penny’s music weaves evocative piano-led melodies, guitar, cello and rich vocals.
Penny Lane’s Music Workshop
Jam Time at Penny Lane’s in Freo is about the simple joy of making music together. These sessions invite teens and tweens to listen, interact and create music as a group.
Praaz
“Harmony in Diversity”: the latest project by PRAAZ focuses on bringing together a collective of established musicians of various styles and genres to play a unique blend of cross-cultural music.
Sophie Lilah Band
Sophie Lilah is a Perth-based Alternative/ indie artist crafting raw, soul-stirring songs that linger long after the final chord.
The Lost Quays
We are a group of blokes that sing songs of the seas with a strong emphasis on harmonies. We do a combination of traditional, contemporary, and original music and have performed at festivals and events throughout Western Australia and beyond.
Mahali
A sensational new band on the local world music scene.
Miss Friby Cabaret (Vic)
Melbourne’s boldest showgirl brings her unique brand of cabaret, vaudeville and burlesque to Fairbridge Folk Festival! Miss Friby’s world class wit, high end choreography and nail biting satire promise an unforgettable audience experience.
Kris Mizzi (Vic)
Australian singer-songwriter Kris Mizzi creates intimate and heartwarming songs with live performances that are magnetic, deeply human and highly memorable.
Rose Parker
Heart Songs by Candlelight in the Chapel is hosted by and will include many artists from the festival weekend bringing songs from their cultures and faith..songs that uplift our hearts and connect us as only music can…. Peace to All
Pearl the Guerrilla Granny
Sandy McKendrick /Pearl the Guerrilla Granny is being unleashed at Fairbridge. This senior woman is unstoppable on her hotted-up mobility scooter. She will rove or “rev” around each day creating gentle havoc.
Pete and the Good Life
In a great big world of trouble and strife, everyone yearns for the Good Life! Alma, playing superb Violin and harmony vocals. Ross, Grooving away on Bass, Guitar and vocals. And songwriter Pete, strumming up a storm on Guitar and harmony vocals.
Radujsja
Harmony and Dissonance. Radujsja are a 5-voice vocal ensemble singing Eastern European folk music
Red’s Tribe
a powerhouse Perth eight‑piece igniting Jamaican ska, rocksteady and jazz with soaring vocals, a blazing horn trio and a rhythm section built for dancing—high‑energy, vintage‑authentic and guaranteed to light up any festival stage.
Isabel Rumble (NSW)
Indie-folk artist Isabel Rumble crafts earth-rooted songs that speak straight to the heart. With
a “voice like honey” (ABC) and a gift for creating intimate, healing listening spaces, she tours her new album across Australia and overseas in 2026.
Sacred World Music Choir
Join us on a journey to heart and feeling, allow us to move you through sound and voice. Songs and prayer from cultures all over the world, honouring Mother Earth, the human spirit, community and power.
Salama – Island Rhapsodies
Island Rhapsodies is a high-energy celebration of Maloya from Réunion Island. Live percussion and call-and-response vocals invite audiences to clap and sway in a joyful gathering of rhythm, movement and shared stories.
Sambanistas
Short rhythm morning workshops for teens, Sunday 19/4. Roving performance after lunch, same day.
Scottish Stramash Sessions
Scottish Stramash is a vibrant celebration of Celtic music, where everyone is encouraged to join in.
Shannon Smith Band
Shannon Smith, 2026 WA Country Music Awards Male Artist of the Year, blurs the lines between country, soul-pop and Americana. With powerful vocals and a dynamic band, he brings stories of love and redemption to life in raw, uplifting performances.
The Stamps
Walyalup/Fremantle trio The Stamps (Sofia Hourani, Rubina Bertolini, Scarlett Graham) make coming-of-age indie pop built on lush harmonies and the easy balance of friendship.
Glenn B Swift
Your favourite Fairbridge Storyteller is back! Join Glenn B Swift for hilarious Bedtime Stories and creative Kids Kapers.
Warralakin
A Western Australian Band presenting an authentic Australian Folk journey of mostly WA songs and stories of People, Places and Happenings.
Gina Williams-Ghouse
Gina Williams-Ghouse is a Balladong, Whadjuk, Goreng (Noongar) woman with links to the Gitja people of the East Kimberley. Combining ancient Noongar language, powerful storytelling, musical brilliance and beautiful songs, her music celebrates life.
Scott Wise
Luthier Scott Wise brings his experience of building over 750 instruments to his presentation “How Acoustic Guitars Work” . A musician since 1968, Scott will also play a solo set of
some of his original songs on some of the presentation instruments.
Woody’s World
From Glastonbury to Fairbridge! Woody returns to Fairbridge with his cheeky puppet mates, wholesome ABC Kids tunes, and high-energy ukulele fun. A festival favourite, Woody brings interactive fun back to Fairbridge after 8 years!
World Slide Summit
World Slide Summit is a special feature concert celebrating humanity and sonic connections across cultures. The Slide Summit band was born out of the unusual migration of two of the world’s top slide instrument players to Perth.