Acoustic ‘BAT’
Malc Battersby was given the nickname BAT when he worked at a Studio complex in London. At that time Malc was trading hours spent cleaning the studios for time in the recording and rehearsal studios with his band.
Originally from a small farming village in NE England and touring the working mens club circuit with cover bands he moved to London to do his own thing from where he has travelled, writing and playing his own brand of music.
Now living in Murdunna BAT has written and released four albums of Rock Instrumental music with his Australian band and is enjoying radio plays in the USA. He still retains a chunk of original Acoustic songs that hark back to his roots in the English countryside amongst other influences. |
 |
Angus and Nessa
Living by the sea near Marion Bay, this husband and wife duo bring a down to earth style to songwriting and performing their favourite songs. Blending vocal harmonies, chunky guitar and mandolin riffs, Angus and Nessa tell uplifting stories about Tasmanian life. They started playing together while in Ireland three years ago and have since developed a solid repertoire of music from contemporary folk to country gospel. |
|
Anna and Ryan
This young, irresistibly energetic musical twosome play thrilling, mostly Celtic, folk tunes. Ryan provides vital and exciting rhythms on bouzouki while Anna blisters away on the violin. They perform at the New Sydney Hotel and can also be found busking at the Salamanca market.
This dynamic duo will have you bursting with music-listening bliss at their sparkling melodies. A must-see for all those who enjoy a friendly, lively, talented act. |
 |
Balding & Croft
Balding and Croft is a blues duo featuring Gerry Balding on guitar and vocals, and Ian Beecroft on harmonica, flute and vocals. They have been described as Tasmania's "Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry", the greatest exponents of a duo that features the guitar in a "marriage" with the harmonica. Their music is typified by Beecroft's "blues harp" weaving seamlessly through Balding's finely honed country blues styled guitar. To this they add Balding's Mississsippi Delta vocal stylings and Beecroft's spontaneous vocal harmonies. The repertoire is mainly classic blues songs with a few twists and turns for variety. |
 |
Camel Sunglasses
Whilst lost in the deserts of their own minds, Ben Ross and David Squires encountered, in an oasis of memories, a Reader's Digest Songbook from a very bygone era of jazzy pop . They are now on a quest, riding through sandstorms, on camels wearing sunglasses, so that they can bring some of these tunes to Koonya, to you! Where is that anyway? |
 |
Chris vonderBorch & Cate Foley Burke
are likely to have a boat full of home-made instruments when they go sailing. Ukuleles, a guitar or two, a concertina, the occasional harp, and resident tin-whistle, usually get a good airing. If they can sail to a gig all the better, they will! Chris sings sea-shantys and sea songs and has been a regular performer at Cygnet over the last 4 years. Cate puts on the sea boots for a few shantys and also sings and plays “trad” and contemporary folk. Both Chris and Cate are inclined towards penning the odd home-grown song about Tasmania and sea-faring. |
|
Cow Jones and the All Ordinaries
Cow Jones and the All Ordinaries play a special blend of country bluegrass, tex mex, hawaiian, western swing, country and eastern, and their favorite genre......pop grass. They deliver some hard pickin’, driving instrumental work which underpins the sweetest four part harmony singing likely to be seen north of the Koonya back hills (the bands spiritual homeland).
Plenty of twangy string things are on show in the sometimes capable hands of Ali Hart (bass, vocals), Andrew Scott (guitar, vocals), Hugh Stubbs (percussion, vocals) and Andrew Smith (banjo, dobro, vocals)
Other likely suspects, dancing sensations the Wahini Wigglers and the Turkish Delights, are also often seen lurking around the band |
 |
The Cutouts
Quirky folk-roots band and a toe-tapping temptation. Featuring folk music played on various banjos, double bass, mouth organ and washboard. The Cutouts play everything from child ballads, through mountain music, an original or two and on down to their Holy Modal Rounders favourites. You'll never know just what you're going to get except that it'll be good. |
|
Dancers Delight
Dancers' Delight's original arrangements of acoustic music come from Irish, Scottish, Quebecois, Shetland, Scandinavian and Balkan traditions. With the twin fiddles of Stephanie Anderson and Pat Oxbrough in the lead, the powerhouse bouzouki of Malcolm Fielding driving the rhythm, and whistle, mandolin and flute from Amy Jansen adding edge and variety, this is a band you won't want to miss, in concert or for a dance. From polskas to crooked reels via strathspeys, jigs, oros, hornpipes and waltzes, journey with us through a selection of fine traditional tunes. |
 |
Doublemen
The Doublemen are a three-piece acoustic folk group specialising in celtic, american and australian material. Formed in 1994 they are Malcolm Brooks, guitar, Tor Fredheim, 12 string guitar and mandolin and Peter Costello, fiddle and mandolin. They have been playing regularly at the New Sydney Hotel in Hobart since 1995 and have built up a large and loyal following. They have also performed fairly regularly at the Cygnet Folf Festival, the Georgetown Folk Festival, Taste of Tasmania, Taste of the Huon and the Wooden Boat Festival through the 1990s.
The Doublemen feature music by Tasmania’s Ray Singline, Irish writers Jimmy Macarthy, Barry Moore and the Saw Doctors and American writers Guy Clark, Jackson Browne, Neil Young and Bob Dylan. One of their strengths is their three-part vocal harmonies which help give their arrangements a unique sound. Their instrumental lineup allows for a wide range of styles from celtic through bluegrass to blues and acoustic rock. |
 |
Hobart Ukulele Group (HUG)
HUG (Hobart Ukulele Group) & CHUM (Channel & Huon Ukulele Mob) -
eclectic groups of ukulele strummers and singers from all walks and of
all ages. They have one aim in life: to strum the ukulele as much as
possible and to have as much fun as possible while doing so. Let your
hearts sing along as they strum their versions of popular songs, old
and new. "We sing, we strum, we tap dance, we HUG and we're great
CHUMs...and boy, do we have fun!! |
 |
Koonya Festival Express
Paul Roberts and Andrew Smith of Andrews Brothers infamy will be teaming up for the first time with Sue Dilley of The String Chickens and legendary bassman Paddy Gearman. Together they will be choofing through a top-shelf selection of American folk, pop and country songs with perhaps a song from Paul's own stash. Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Neil Young, Gillian Welch are just a few of the songwriters that will be featured in this folk music homage. Not to be missed! |
 |
Ned Trewartha
Singer/guitarist, wooden boat builder, golfer and well dressed maker of ukuleles. Songs and stories from Australia, Texas and many places in between. |
 |
One Step Back
Formed in 2002, Hobart band One Step Back (Graeme Kirkwood, Michael Cole, Duncan Kirkwood and Richard Arnold) has developed a reputation for tight and innovative arrangements of their extensive repertoire of bluegrass, country and old time music, dating from the 1930’s to the present.
With mandolin, guitar, banjo, harmonica, acoustic bass and great vocals, One Step Back is able to involve their audiences with their obvious and infectious enjoyment of performing.
Recent notable performances have included events such as the Taste of Tasmania, Cygnet Folk Festival, Australian Wooden Boat show, Taste of the Huon, and various other venues around Tasmania over the years. |
 |
The Fooks
Young Hobart folk band 'The Fooks' played their first gig together live on ABC Radio in January 2009. They have since played at festivals around the state, and have just returned from Victoria's Port fairy Folk festival. Lindsey Meldrum’s passionate songwriting combines with Bridget Hickey’s award winning fiddle and Josh Dunn’s jazz–celtic influenced guitar. |
 |
David “Odd socks” Wanless
David “Odd socks” Wanless is a danceoholic from Hobart, Tasmania, dance organiser and dance caller for many Tasmanian bands. He has called dances from Mawson station in Antarctica to the National Folk Festival in Canberra and regularly appears at the Cygnet Folk Festival. He calls dances from many traditions including Irish, Scottish, Contra, English, Renaissance, traditional and contemporary Australian, Balkan, and his own compositions. David believes that dancing not only gives you the joy of moving to beautiful and lively music, but it’s lots of fun, good exercise, fun, sociable, fun, a great way to meet people, fun, has a low environmental impact, and did he mention, fun? He and partner Cathy run the Folk Federation's dance series in Hobart and Danceoholics Unanimous.
No partner or dancing experience is required to join in David's dances, and all ages are welcome. |
 |
Tam & Mike
Celtic roots meets contemporary folk
This Hobart based duo have been mainstays of the fabulous TóRags for 5 years. Tam Meldrum (vocals/guitar/bouzouki/whistle) and Mike Shegog (vocal/guitar/bouzouki) will connect to your inner Celt with great renditions of sing-along ballads and original songs from the Scottish and Irish traditions. Delivered with the cool harmonies, great energy and fine playing reminiscent of the TóRags. |
 |
Terri Lukacko
Terri Lukacko, old time fiddler and internet geek, has been obsessed with fiddling and field recording since 2001. Commuting between Albany, NY and Hobart, Tasmania, she's collected tunes and instruments along the way, dabbling on the banjo, uke, and upright bass. She's helped to organize the Fiddlers' Tour and miscellaneous old time jam sessions locally. In Tasmania, she joined in with the Hobart Old Time Stringband, the Heritage Fiddles, and a monthly Tassie Tune Sessions. Terri has lead workshops on Appalachian-style jamming, alternate fiddle tunings, and slow jams at the Cygnet Folk Festival in Tassie and the Yarra Junction Fiddler's Reunion near Melbourne. She is known for her enthusiasm in collecting and sharing old tunes, be they American or Australian. |
 |
Big Wheels - The Wheels got Bigger!
The Hickey family joined by the Bester/Hildyards - Bigger is Better!
A bunch of Big Irish tunes, some Big Australian songs, perhaps a little Balkan song, and some very Big applause for the Special Singers, Siobhan and Sabine giving a teen angle to family band repertoire. |
 |
Xenos
Xenos family band, bagpipes and drums, sax and voice.
From the mountains and valleys of the Balkans, hauntingly beautiful songs, powerful rhythms - rhythms crafted by countless generations of dancing feet and drumming fingers.
Xenos are an internationally acclaimed Balkan Gypsy music band, have played at Womadelaide and Womad in the UK, and toured Europe for many years. |
 |
