The 'Folk By The Sea' festival returns to the Kiama Showground for its tenth year, from September 20-22, featuring a dynamic new lineup curated by newly appointed Festival Director, Neil McCann. Known for his involvement with the Water Runners band and his extensive experience as a folk performer, Neil is set to bring a fresh wave of talent to the annual event.

This year's festival will showcase 44 acts performing 100 concerts across nine venues over three days. Neil is enthusiastic about the new generation of folk performers, many of whom are classically trained, elevating the standard of folk music and expanding its audience.

Among the standout performers is Eric Avery (Marrawuy), a violinist, vocalist, dancer, and composer from the Ngiyampaa, Yuin, and Gumbangirr people of NSW. Avery's international reputation is growing, thanks to his unique performances that blend violin playing and singing in the Ngiyampaa language.

"I am so looking forward to seeing Eric perform live," Neil said. "I've only seen him on YouTube, and he is amazing."

Other notable acts include Apolline from Victoria, who describe themselves as genre-bending neo-folk with a blend of extraordinary musicianship and alluring voices, and Queensland’s Cigany Weaver, featuring Jo Davie's enchanting vocals accompanied by a fiery violin, dynamic guitars, and a driving rhythm section.

The festival also welcomes back past favourites like Indigenous singer-songwriter Shellie Morris from Queensland and Canberra’s diplomat-turned-folk-singer Fred Smith. Kiama resident and respected music critic Bruce Elder once described Smith in the Sydney Morning Herald as “simply the best folk/country musician working in this country…beyond writing some of the finest songs about Australians at war, he has created a repertoire that is wry, literate, witty, powerfully emotional and insightful.”

Smith and his band will perform selections from his extensive back catalogue and his new album.

“We had literally hundreds of applications from performers, and we feel that we have selected a really exciting cross-section of artists,” Neil said.

In addition to the new acts, the festival will feature traditional folk performers and local talent from the Illawarra region. The lineup includes the Carefree Road Band, The Con Artists, the Kiama Sea Shanty Club, the Kiama Pipe Band, and singer Penny Hartgerink.

Early bird three-day passes are available for $100 until July 30 at www.folkbythesea.com.au  Don't miss this opportunity to experience the best in contemporary and traditional folk music by the sea.

Here is the full festival line-up of musicians – more info can be found on their website: 

Allan  Stone, Antipodeans, Apolline, Broken Creek, Bruce Watson, Carefree Road Band, Cigany Weaver, Cymbrogi, Eric Avery (Marrawuy), Fred Smith, Glover & Sorrensen, Hedy Blaazer, Isobel Knight, Jessica Allen, John Fegan, Kelly Brouhaha, Kiama Pipe Band, Kiama Sea Shanty Club, Marco and Rusty, Mariah McCarthy, Mike Martin, Penny Hartgerink, Peter Willey, Pirritu, Rare Birdz, Redfern Shanty Club, Rheinberger and Wilson, Robyn Sykes, Shellie Morris, Southern Cross Bush Band and Friends, The Bottlers, The Con Artists, The Don’t Be Too Polite Girls, The Gleaners, The Groove, The Other Noonans, The Pie Eaters, Tribal Jewels Dance Co.