KIAMA will again play host to a diverse range of national and international acts at the second annual Folk By The Sea festival on September 26-28.
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The initial announcement of acts is headed by American Beth Patterson and Australian legend Mic Conway
Festival organisers have also stated that more headline acts will be revealed in the lead-up to the festival.
Grammy-nominated Patterson, from New Orleans, will bring a mix of Celtic and Bayou music to the festival, joining the Australian headliners and many South Coast and Illawarra acts.
ARIA Award winner Conway has been a crowd favourite since the 1970s, when he established the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band.
He will be joined at the festival by other leading Australian acts including Miriam Lieberman and the Wheeze and Suck Band, as well as a contingent of Illawarra and South Coast performers.
The Illawarra Folk Club - renowned for its annual Illawarra Folk Festival each January in Bulli - started Folk By The Sea last year at Kiama Showground.
The inaugural event was a success, drawing a capacity collective audience of 1000 for the three days.
A total of 37 international, national and local artists performed in 55 concerts, workshops, sessions and dances.
This year’s program is also packed, boasting two-and-a-half days of folk, world, acoustic, Celtic, traditional, gypsy, blues and bluegrass music, as well as poetry, spoken word and dance.
Festival artistic director David De Santi said organisers were building on last year’s success.
‘‘We’re really excited to have attracted quality performers like Mic Conway and Beth Patterson,’’ he said.
‘‘I think that shows that the festival is already well and truly on the musicians’ radar, and I can promise that we will be revealing another top headline act in coming weeks.
‘‘The first festival was a great success and we plan to build on that.’’
Mr De Santi also praised the location.
‘‘Kiama is one of the prettiest coastal towns in Australia, and the Showground is on a headland with the surf beach on one side and the famous Blowhole Point on the other.
‘‘Kiama Showground was a new venue for us last year, and it worked really well with a large performance space for the main acts, and some more intimate venues where the audience could really interact with the performers.’’
Early bird two-day pass tickets are now available for only $50, a saving of $15.
Camping will be once again available at the Showground, although organisers have advised booking early.
Buy online from www.folkbythesea.com.au/tickets or by phoning 1300 887 034.