31/10/2025
It is with great regret that we announce the annual Kiama Folk Festival, Folk by the Sea, will not be continuing.
This decision was not an easy one, but it has become necessary, primarily due to the key challenge of attracting enough patrons from outside the area.
The organising Illawarra Folk Club sub- committee believes that the patronage has declined as a result of Kiama Council's decision not to allow camping over the past few Festivals.
The club acknowledges the incredible work of all the volunteers and committee members that have supported this festival over the past 13 years.
We are hoping that the Illawarra Folk Club can maintain a footprint In the Kiama municipality. Stay tuned!
Here’s a summary the festival history
Years with festivals:
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
2020 and 2021 cancelled due to Pandemic
11 festivals
320 acts - full list below.
Directors:
Peter O’Neill, David De Santi, Rod and Judy Cork, Neil McCann
Artistic Director: David De Santi
Key (and ongoing) Organising committee volunteers for those festivals:
Russell Hannah, Graeme Morrison, Robyn Jackson, Bruce Jackson, Jane Littrich, John Littrich, Nick Hartgerink, Liz Aitken, John Aitken
ARTISTS
Total number of acts booked 2013 to 2023 - 320
A Dash of Folk, A.J. Leonard & Jenny Rowlands, Across The Great Divide, Alec Randles, Alanna and Alicia, Alan Reid & Rob van Sante (UK), Alan Whitbread (UK), Alijamia, Allan Stone, Ally Row, Alma Salero, Amie Grisold, Ami Williamson, Ana Otero Flamenco, Ana Otero Flamenco Dancers, Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton, Andy Gordon, Apolline, Az-I-Am, Balkan Boogie, Berkeley Songbirds, Beth Patterson (USA), Big Erle, Blowhole Buskers, Bob Campbell, Bob McInnes, Bowralhouse, Brendan Gallagher, Brian Bell, Broken Creek, Bruce Watson, Cap in Hand, Carefree Road Band, Carol Heuchan, Casey Donovan, Cha Cha del Mar, Charles Maimarosia, Charley Castles & The Boys in the Well, Chloe & Ben Hurley, Chloe & Jason Roweth, Chloe & Jason Roweth Band, Chord-eaux, Christine Anu, Chutney, Cigány Weaver, Claire Roberts, Crooked River, Curious Rendition Orchestra, Curragh, Cymbrogi, Dale Dengate & Friends – Bush Songs from a Woman’s Perspective, Damien Leith, Dane Overton, Daniel J Townsend, Daniel Kelly, Danny & Kate, Darren Coggan, David Doyle, David O’Connor, David Rooney, Dead Men Talking, Dear Violet, Den Hanrahan & The Rum Runners, Denis McKay, Dingo’s Breakfast, Doctor Stovepipe, Doux Manouche, Enda Kenny, Enda Kenny & Dave O’Neill, Eric & Marrawuy, Fiddledance, Fintan Vallely, Fiona Ross (with Ken Nicol), Fish Ain’t Bitin’, Fly Little Sparrow, Frankie & Albert, Fred Smith Band, Fresh Off The Boat, Gallie & Paddy, Garry Tooth, Genni Kane, Glenn Skuthorpe, Glover & Sorensen, Good Tunes, Good Tunes Session, Grace Barr, Graeme “The Scotsman” McColgan, Green’s Dairy Angel Ensemble, Hand Over Hammer, Handsome Young Strangers, Happy Enchilada, Hedy Blaazer, Highlander, Hillbilly Goats, Isobel Knight, Jan Preston Duo, Jan Preston’s Boogie Circus, Jane Brownlee & Samuel De Santi, Jane Saunders, Jane Thompson & James Rigby, Jed Rowe, Jessica Allan, Jessica Grainger, Jessie Lloyd, Jez Lowe, Jodi Martin, Joe & Harmony’s Trippy Hippy Band, Joe Mungovan, John Broomhall, John David Tubridy Trio, John Fegan, John Tubridy, John Tubridy & The Carefree Road Band, JOCEAN, Judy Small, Kane Calcite, Karen Law, Katandra Women’s A Ca****la Choir, Kavisha Mazzella, Kelly Brouhaha, Ken Nicol, Kenta Hayashi, Kiama Blowhole Buskers, Kiama High School Students, Kiama Leagues Club Showcase, Kiama Pipe Band, Kiama Sea Shanty Club, Lagoon Hill Zydeco, Lily and King, Lime and Steel, Linda Mizzi & Band, Linda Mizzi Trio, Lisa Lazuli, Little Foot, LJ Parks, Liz Frencham, Lizzie Bennett, Lizzie Flynn, Lizzie Flynn & The Reckoning, Louzco Fouzco, Lucette, Luke O’Shea, Mad Kelpie Playdate, Malumba, Marco and Rusty, Marcus Sturrock, Margaret and Bill Winnett, Mariah McCarthy, Mark Cryle & Carmel Newman, Matt Katsis, Me & Pete, Mic Conway, Michael Waugh, Michael-John Azzopardi, Microwave Jenny, Mike Martin, Mikelangelo, Mikelangelo & Friends, Mikelangelo & the Beautiful Beasts, Miriam Lieberman, Munsterbucks, Murmur, Neil Murray, Nerida Cuddy, Nick Rheinberger, No Such Thing, Nova and the Experience, O’Leary, Oceanique, Oliver Roweth, Pat Drummond, Penny and the Mystics, Penny Davies & Roger Ilott, Penny Hartgerink, Pete Wild, Phyl Lobl, Pirritu, Poets – Morning Poets, Poncho Green, PUKARA, Ralph Scrivens, Rare Birdz, RAPT, Ray Marshall & The Bluegrass Deputies, Reedy River Show, Redfern Shanty Club, Rhys Crimmin, Riogh, Robyn Sykes, Rory Faithfield, Rosas Flamencas, Ruido, Russ Churcher, Russell Hannah, Rusty & Friends, Rusty & Shanty Club Big Sing, Rusty & The Saint, Ryebuck Bush Band, Salty, Sam Fletcher Trio, Santa Taranta Trio, Saoirse, Sarah Humphreys, Scupriri Sydney Sicilian Folk Ensemble, Seanchas, Señor Cabrales, Shanty Club, Shellie Morris, Silver River Band, Simon & Garfunkel – The Concert, Sing Australia Kiama, Singongo, Snez, Southern Cross Bush Band, Speranza Starburner, Square Pegs, SqueezeBox Boogaloo, Starboard Cannons, Steampunk Vagabonds, Stephan Caskey, Steve Tyson, Steve Wilson, Stonybroke, Stringline, Strung Secrets, Stuns’l Booms, Suzette Herft, Sweet Songs & Soft Guitar, Swingaleles, Sydney Scottish Fiddlers, Tango Rose, Ted Egan, Terry Fielding, Terry Serio’s Half Truths, The Big Seaside Singalong, The Blowhole Buskers, The Bottlers, The Butter Trackers, The Button Collective, The Con Artists, The Dead Maggies, The Dixie Chooks, The Don’t Be Too Polite Girls, The Faraway Eyes, The Gleaners, The Go Twos, The Groove, The Hannafords, The Haywood Billygoats, The Heart Collectors, The High Country, The Hillbilly Goats, The Honey Sippers, The Humbuckin’ Pickups, The Humphreys, The Lively Ones, The Lofty Mountain Band, The Lurkers, The Martins, The Mutual Acquaintances, The Other Noonans, The Pie Eaters, The Pumps, The Rhymer from Ryde, The Royal High Jinx, The Rusty Datsuns, The Rusty Spring Syncopators, The Settlement, The Timbers, The Tinkers, The Water Runners, The Weeping Willows, Three Sixty, Three-Sixty, Ti-li-li-li, Todd Cook, Tony & Helen Romeo, Tony Romeo, Tribal Jewels Dance Co, Trilogy, Vanishing Shapes, Wally Byrne, We Came for Dinosaurs, We Mavericks, Whistle, Wood & Hide, Whoa Mule, Wil Linder, Willie and the Correspondents, Witches Leap, Wollongong Welsh Choir, Wongawilli, Wolf Gordon, Zlatkos Balkan Cabaret, Zondrae King, Zumpa
