Graced with vulnerable yet powerful vocals and poignant lyricism, Jo Davie offers up genuine storytelling. Bursting onto the Australian scene as runner-up 2018 Folk Alliance Young Artist of the Year, she has since won audiences and accolades across Australia and become a regular on the festival circuit, performing at Sydney Festival (NSW), Woodford Folk Festival (QLD), The National Folk Festival (ACT), Caloundra Music Festival (QLD) and many more. Last year Jo won the 2024 Carol Lloyd Award, a grant administered by QMusic & Arts Queensland enabling her to record and release her debut EP. In the last couple of years, Jo has taken her music to new heights, performing a sold-out solo show at the 2024 Sydney Festival, and supporting ARIA-winning artist Katie Noonan to sold-out audiences at QPAC Concert Hall, Sydney Festival, Bleach Festival and Darwin Festival. In conjunction, Jo has gained recognition as lead vocalist of jazz/folk ensemble 'Cigány Weaver' (2 x National Live Music Award nominations) and as long-term ‘Asha Jefferies’ band member. This year marks the release of Jo’s debut EP ‘Nothing Comes Free’ (recorded by Sam Cromack, Ball Park Music) where she leans into her full band sound, wrangling drums, bass, electric guitar and three-part harmonies into her delicately curated world. Above all, Jo’s primary focus is to share stories, hoping to put a little bit of herself into every song she performs.

Follow The Robin weaves enchanting tunes that capture the essence of raw emotion and poetic storytelling. Her spellbinding melodies and evocative lyrics transport listeners to unknown worlds, exploring the depths of human experience with a delicate and introspective touch.

Delving into themes of longing, belonging, and the bittersweet transitions of life, Follow The Robin invites listeners to connect with the hidden parts of themselves. Through her music, she creates a space for vulnerability and self-reflection, making each performance a deeply personal journey.

Follow The Robin has established herself as a compelling presence in the local music scene. As a finalist in the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMA), she continues to gain recognition for her heartfelt and poignant artistry - with notable recent performances in Warburton at The River Folk Festival 2024.

Cigány Weaver
Fusing the passion of folk music, the precision of classical, and the spontaneity of jazz, 'Cigány Weaver' create a rich and vibrant atmosphere for both the heart and mind. Front woman, Jo Davie's soaring vocals and enchanting gentle demeanour combine with the fiery violin, dynamic guitars and driving rhythm section to create a purely acoustic group that effortlessly navigates the musical nexus between intimacy and raucousness.

Recently the band were nominated for two National Live Music awards (NLMAs) for Best Australian Jazz Act, and Best QLD Act. 2019 delivered the release of the band’s debut eponymous album, premiering the group’s first original compositions within the genre and receiving a highly commended for the track ‘Janome’ in the Jazz category of the 2020 Queensland Music Awards. The album was received with great acclaim, finding airplay on ABC, Triple J, Double J, and community radio stations across Australia. The band's second album was released January 2024.

Apolline
Australian folk trio Apolline is an award winning neo-trad band whose intricate arrangements and high-quality performances have stunned audiences since their debut. Known for their creative and nonconformist style, the band utilises a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, Scandinavian folk and a healthy dose of Eurovision to inspire an innovative sound like no other. Whether it be fiery, quick-paced reels or intimate and slow ayres, the group’s technical artistry and creativity consistently wows audiences. Within their repertoire of tune arrangements, Apolline’s music also features original melodies and songs that showcase the member’s deep connection to the music they create and perform.

Shark & Fox - Emily-Rose Sarkova and Jaron Freeman-Fox
Frenetic Bulgarian dances, haunting Appalachian twangs, droning Irish reels, Swedish polskas and songs that speak into existence the ephemeral mysteries of life, all effortlessly yet meticulously woven together by the vast shared history of the fiddle and accordion as musical companions. This irresistible Canadian-Australian collaboration shape-shifts between traditions, occasionally to the point that the instruments themselves transform; a fiddle to viol d’amore or fretless guitar, an accordion to modular synthesiser, all driven by the swish and thrum of guest drummer Rose Callaghan.

Jaron's projects have garnered multiple Canadian music awards, whilst Emily-Rose has been an ARIA and Art Music Award finalist. Both have traversed the globe to learn from musical masters, and imbue their compositions and performances with great depth whilst indulging their penchant for mischief.

Guanaco Trio
Based in Buenos Aires, Guanaco Trio consists of three young musicians, from three different continents, performing Argentinian instrumental music. Formed by Laura Urteaga (violin), Owen Salomé (bandoneón) and Benjamín Aedo (guitar), the trio perform a compelling repertoire of original compositions and interpretations of both traditional and contemporary Argentine folkloric music.

In December of 2021 the group was awarded a grant by the Argentine National Arts Fund (INAMU) to record their first album under the mentorship of the  Pianist/Composer/Producer Andrés Pilar. The recording took place in April of 2022 at the emblematic ION studios in Buenos Aires. “Bajo un mismo cielo” was released by Shagrada Medra in February 2023.

Emily-Rose and the Wild Things
Emily-Rose and the Wild Things exist in a world which dances between jazz, folk, songwriter and experimental, where one finds lyrics of weight and beauty, underpinned by profound but constantly fresh acoustic and electric worlds. Headed by acclaimed Sydney based songstress and keys player Emily-Rose Sarkova, her full band will be travelling from Dharawal country to present songs from their debut album ‘Upon These Open Skins’, which has been compared to sounds as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Hiatus Kaiyote, Sam Amidon and Dirty Projectors. 

From performing classical piano in French cathedrals, klezmer accordion across Poland, tango in Buenos Aires and funk keyboards and synths at the infamous Pineapple Lounge, Woodfordia, there isn’t much music Emily-Rose hasn’t explored. You may know her from ARIA nominated group Chaika, soft songwriting duo Little Clouds or improvising solo piano as ‘Slow Streams’.

Mickey & Michelle
Mickey & Michelle are a harp and fiddle duo from Australia who seamlessly blend contemporary folk and jazz together in a rich, unique style of their own.Their 2019 debut album ‘A Walking Pace’ perfectly showcases the duo’s intricate sound and unusual combination of styles. 

Michelle was born into an incredibly musical family and has been performing professionally from the age of 11. Since then she has gone on to perform with the likes of Paul Kelly, Shane Howard and Fiona Ross. Her compositions on this album are deeply rooted in Celtic music while also balancing her attention to detail and nuanced phrasing from her classical studies. Mickey on the other hand developed such a passion for jazz and his playful improvisations are ever-present in his original compositions. He also takes great delight in reinterpreting traditional Americana tunes with jazz harmony and Afro-Cuban polyrhythms.

Pirritu
Ngiyampaa man and First Nations singer-songwriter Pirritu’s music is gentle, honest and from the heart. Strange and melodic chords frame this songwriters vocals that weave around his lyrics like a gentle wind, enticing you into the depths of his personal journey, singing you a story of both sadness, love and hope. Pirritu (meaning ‘Brett’ in Ngiyampaa Language) was adopted by a non-Aboriginal couple as a newborn baby and raised to be proud of his Aboriginality, to follow his cultural journey and to connect back to family, culture and language - a journey he began when he was 14 years old.

Nigel Wearne
Nigel Wearne is an Australian singer-songwriter, luthier, poet and gleaner. Equipped with personally handcrafted instruments, he melds finger-style guitar, 'up'-hammer banjo, piano and honest storytelling. Gleaning diverse influence from Kelly Joe Phelps, Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt, he tells stories of forgotten rebels, wandering poets and his love of eggs. From stories of social justice and observation, to emotional reflection and historical tales, Nigel draws inspiration from everyday people from all walks of life. Some songs are autobiographical and personal, but many are other people’s stories and an amalgamation of truth, observation, personal experience and fiction.

Kerryn Fields
Fuelled by humility, integrity and a raw clarity of vision, Kerryn Fields paints enduring musical portraits that detail the colour and feeling of everything that makes us human. Drawing comparisons with the likes of timeless creators, Cat Stevens, Townes Van Zandt, Joan Baez, Neil Young, and more, Fields’ trademark warmth of character - evident in both life and music - fuels a creative offering that’s equal parts captivating, refined and heartrendingly insightful. 

For River Folk Session #3 she will be performing a very special trio show, featuring Kat Mear and Liz Frencham.

Phoebe Laidlaw
Phoebe Laidlaw is an emerging Melbourne based singer-songwriter who is currently studying music performance at Boxhill Institute. Inspired by artists such as Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon and Greta Ray, her style can be described as somewhere between indie pop and indie folk, always with the focus of her voice, rich beyond her years.