Straight off the back of Nanga Music Festival, come and join us for a special event with Enda in the brand new location for Little Folk in Fremantle. Twice nominated as a Finalist in the 2024 Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs) for Best Artist Solo and “The People's Choice Award”, Dublin-born folksinger Enda Kenny is one of Australia's favourite festival performers. As a storytelling songwriter, his ability to instantly engage audiences is well known, creating evocative characters drawn from life that pull you in to their stories and songs that trigger memories you didn't know you had. He has the migrant's eye for his adopted landscape, has travelled widely across and around it and found the word pictures to bring it to life like you are travelling with him. Kenny is a cracking solo entertainer, the raw emotion of songs like Heart Tattoo and Vigil are beautifully balanced by hilarious observations about everyday life and human frailty. As the world reopens it's doors to live music, his travels are taking him even further along the road. Make sure you catch him.
The Hybrid Warehouse is an exciting new cafe, bar, co-working and event space - and we are thrilled to hold our first event there in October. https://endakennymusic.com/home
7th Sept 2024: Ashlea Reale & New York Slim with The RustBuckets
Little folk are delighted to share an event in partnership with Folkworld - the organisation that hosts the well loved Fairbridge Festival. Events across the country are being cancelled from the smallest clubs to the largest festivals - and Fairbridge is feeling the heat after 3 years of Covid and other circumstances have prevented them from running a festival. Little Folk are glad to partner with Folkworld, and with the generosity of our performers - to host an event that will benefit both organisations, and support a healthy future for the music industry in Western Austrlia.
The Rust Buckets are well known to us, Rod Vervest, Peter Grayling, Dave Clarke & Bill Lawrie's last gig was sold out, and all have played for Little Folk in various groups. Early blues, jugband, hokum and swing tunes They appear in a double bill with Ashlea Reale, who was well received at Folk in the Forest as one half of Littlest Fox. The queen of the minor key, Ashlea combines Aussie folklore with the American blues fretwork of New York Slim. True crime podcast meets intimate underground concert, wrapped in foot stomping rhythms and clever lyrics, showcasing murder, mutiny and all things sinister. This marks the release of their second album, "Across the Sea", that features murderous tales from our treacherous coastline.
Thanks to all artists donating their time - all proceeds will be split 50/50 between Little Folk and Folkworld.
PLEASE NOTE : Due to expected numbers - this event is not in our usual location at the Big Picture Factory. It will be held in the Claremonth Lawn Tennis Club.
One time member of the Battlefield Band, Alan Reid has been a professional folksinger, musician and songwriter since 1976 will be bringing his performance of Scots folk song and other musical projects on a tour of Australia. With an extensive experience of playing at home and abroad Alan delights audiences and presents the very best in modern and traditional Scottish song and music wherever he performs.
Past Events
12th Apr 2024: Gordy Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane https://www.tentrees.ca/about https://jaxonhaldane.wordpress.com/ International touring Canadians Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane have performed 993 concerts together around the world. Armed with 10 instruments (banjo, mando, cigar box guitars, fiddle- saw, harmonica, resonator, acoustic, porch bass, snare) never repeating themselves onstage with brotherly harmonies & masterful storytelling . From headlining National Folk Festival (Australia) to the Woody Guthrie Festival (USA) they juggle the dark with the light, brotherly harmonies & masterful storytelling. "Organic & holistic folk, this is the wild sound of freedom and the freedom to fly" Midwest Record, USA "Very superior show with terrific records, heartfelt and hysterical” R2 MAG (5 Stars), UK
30th Mar 2024: RustBuckets
The Rust Buckets is the newest collaboration of several people well known to Little Folk audiences.
Peter Grayling, Rod Vervest, Bill Lawrie and Dave Clarke are four top shelf musicians with a combined experience of multiple decades of live performance, exploring early blues, jugband, hokum and swing tunes.
The Rust Buckets performed a great show involving sing-alongs and and some phenomenally dreadful dad jokes.
24th Feb 2024: Bev Abela Trio http://www.bevabelamusic.com.au Bev Abela has had 2 songs in the Australian Songwriters Association waards, with 1 in the top 10. Her debut album “Heartfelt” will capture your soul.
It has been well received in Australia, and internationally, featured as international artist of the week inter UK, and the USA’s The Women of Substance podcast in their Songs with a Conscience Series. Plus locally featured Artist on The Australian Country Songwriters Show and many other Australian stations.
Originating from the UK, Bev moved to Canada in her youth and now lives in Australia. Her producer and arranger David Hyams has helped to create a fusion of influences from these diverse cultures and blended them into a blues, roots and country feel, to compliment the intriguing, melancholic and sometimes humorous lyrics.
20th Jan 2024: Steve Turner UK http://steve-turner.co.uk/steve-turner.co.uk/ Steve is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and tenor banjo. Steve began his career on the Manchester, UK folk scene at the end of the ‘60s, with the Geordie band “Canny Fettle”, touring with them for eight years and making two albums with them. In 1979 he won the UK Melody Maker’s national “Stars of the 80s” competition, which persuaded him to turn professional, and for the next 12 years he toured solo, nationally and internationally, releasing four albums with Fellside Records during this period (Out Stack, Jigging One Now, Eclogue and Braiding). After 13 years away from the folk scene he made a welcome return in 2004 performing in folk clubs and festivals, and in 2008 producing his 5th album, the highly acclaimed “Whirligig of Time” which featured UK luminaries Martin Carthy, Nancy Kerr and Miranda Sykes. Since then he has released further albums, “Rim of the Wheel” , “Spirit of the Game” and “Late Cut”, and his latest much anticipated 9th album “Curious Times” featuring Martin Carthy was released in Spring 2023.
30th Sept : We Mavericks - Lindsay Martin and Victoria Vigenser https://www.wemavericks.com.au/ Masters in the art of connection, Lindsay Martin (AU) and Victoria Vigenser (NZ) interweave effortless strings, soulful vocals and driving rhythms to form a singular, intense musical voice. The couple have been called contemporary folk, alt-country and acoustic pop, but words don’t capture their unbelievable musical kinship, or the deeply heartfelt way they relate to their audiences. Nominated Best Folk Artist in both AU and NZ, this troubadour duo have an inexplicable appeal that has seen them on a steep and fast rise to countless festival billings throughout 2022/23.
8th Jul : The Wayward Earls
The Wayward Earls present a new show where the band play and talk about the stories, genres and themes that have influenced their repertoire over decades. Fresh off presenting the show at the Denmark Festival of Voice, they are excited about bringing it to Perth audiences. Brimming with instrumental prowess on guitar, mandolin, cello, harmonica and voices, the "earls" guarantee an entertaining and fun-filled evening.
23rd Jun : Enda Kenny
On his way from Victoria to do a 3-month gig tour in Europe, UK and Ireland, this will be your only chance to see him in Australia for a while.
Enda Kenny is an Irish-born songwriter who has made his home in Australia since the late 1980's. His thoughtful, descriptive stories of his adopted homeland have struck a chord with festival audiences here and beyond. His songs are always memorable and spiced with plenty of humour. Rock and Reel describes him as a cracking live entertainer.
"On small stages to intimate audiences or large stages to festival audiences he always holds the crowd in the palm of his hand. Witty and intelligent songwriting and a brilliant night's entertainment" Eleanor McEvoy “Enda Kenny is one of the new generation of singers and songwriters in Australia who is attracting international attention. He writes of the world in Australia, of his personal journey, of his desire for peace and the conservation of our environment. His songs are gentle as well as hard hitting when he tackles difficult subjects. He commands our respect. As a singer who depends on writers I am delighted to have discovered his work. If you get a chance go and listen to him, for above all you will have a stimulating and enjoyable evening's entertainment.” Roy Bailey
8th April : The Papercollar Pickers - Rod Vervest and Craig Sinclair
Don't miss this opportunity to see a rare combination featuring two of Little Folk's staunch supporters before they go their seperate ways to Albany and Sydney..
Rod Vervest and Craig Sinclair have both performed at several sold out gigs in recent years. This is your chance to get two for the price of one, and see the music they have just showcased in Sydney and the Illawarra Festival. With a shared love of fingerstyle guitar, two of Austrlaia's finest pickers bring a show of refined songwriting woven with neatly twined guitar and vocalDon't miss this opportunity to see a rare combination featuring two of Little Folk's staunch supporters before they go their seperate ways to Albany and Sydney..
Rod Vervest and Craig Sinclair have both performed at several sold out gigs in recent years. This is your chance to get two for the price of one, and see the music they have just showcased in Sydney and the Illawarra Festival. With a shared love of fingerstyle guitar, two of Austrlaia's finest pickers bring a show of refined songwriting woven with neatly twined guitar and vocal
16 Dec : Graham Pirt : Supported by Five Star Trio
Visiting English singer Graham Pirt has again offered to do a concert for Little Folk. Last time he was here, about 10 years ago, he entertained us at a sold out concert in Vic Park. Graham has been on the folk scene in England since the sixties, performing at clubs up and down the country and all the major folk festivals; running and organizing the Whitby Folk Week and of course performing as a member of “Cockersdale”. You may never have the opportunity to hear a singer with even half his experience of the English folksong tradition, so book your seats early to make sure. Check out his website for more info -
28 Oct : Dingo's Breakfast - with Davey Brown and Dave Clark
Roger Montgomery and John Angliss are Dingo’s Breakfast, whose list of concert and festival appearances must look like a road-map of Australia. Welcomed everywhere for their lively music, bush poetry and great humour, they present a cutting-edge commentary on Australian (and global) life and are equally at home with the traditional or with the latest corporate malpractice. Davey Brown and Dave Clark will join them on Friday 28th. October and add to the musical excellence. Check out their website ‘Dingo’s Breakfast Oz Music and Poetry Band’ -- their footprints are everywhere!
26 Aug : Rose Parker - with Dave Hyams & Roy Martinez - Post poned The Rose Parker Trio combines the talents of three of Perths well known musicians from the original folk and blues n roots scene. Rose Parker is a much-loved singer songwriter guitarist who has woven her magic thru the Australian music landscape for almost 2 decades drawing from folk, alt country, blues and gospel. She is a prolific and magical songwriter weaving words and images right down into your soul, with a voice that moves from folk whisperer to gospel belter Formerly one half of the Velvet Janes, she toured from Sydney to San Francisco producing 1 EP .., 2 studio albums and a live album ,performing in folk and blues festivals, including Port Fairy Folk Festival, Michigan Womyns Festival and the famous folk club, The Bitter End in Greenwich Village NYC David Hyams is well known to West Australian and national audiences as an award winning multi instrumentalist, composer and producer with many credits to his name while leading his own highly acclaimed Miles to Go Band. .He is a facilitator of many a songwriters journey and a champion of the West Australian music scene with his heart firmly in Freo ( except when it comes to football!) Roy Martinez…..what can you say…this man can do things on the bass you didn’t know were possible…and guitars…and piano….we make him stick to bass so he doesn’t show us up too much! From blues to funk to roots to jazz to reggae to folk he will dazzle you During 2017 this team has lovingly crafted a new album of 12 songs co-produced with David Hyams on guitars and long time collaborator Roy Martinez on bass and special guests from Lucky Oceans to Mel Robinson and Phoebe Cork. During these crazy covid years they have been busy creating new music and are currently working on a new release for 2022…The Beauty and The Ashes….The bands recent electric performances at Fairbridge Festival were a taste of what is arriving
23 Sept : Rob Zelinski & Phil Waldron Postponed.
Bernard Carney OAM
Bernard is an accomplished craftsman in song, a master guitarist and a fine versatile entertainer, celebrating 45 years working full time in the Australian entertainment industry . Bernard’s songs tell of Australia, its people, and its history, interwoven with story , humour and his deep connection to family. He is a past Artist of the Year at Port Fairy, is thoroughly involved in community cohesion through music , and received the Order of Australia Medal in 2019 for services to music.
Friday 15 October 2021 at 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM LOCATION Rivervale, WA 6104 $25 PP BYO - Tea, coffee and light supper included
Peter Woodward & Scott Wise Scott Wise and Peter Woodward have been playing country blues together for over 40 years. They form the nucleus of the Ten Cent Shooters trio and feature classic blues and related songs with fingerstyle guitar, vocals, harmonica, mandolin and bottleneck slide guitar. Dont miss this rare chance to see them together in Perth. Friday 20 August 2021 at 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM LOCATION Rivervale, WA 6104 $25 PP BYO - Tea, coffee and light supper included
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ros and Steve Barnes The third and final concert in our Musical Directors series - Ros and Steve are very well known in the WA music scene. Steve was Musical Director of Fairbridge for 17 years, and Ros is a current member of the festival operations group.
Together they have been performing a mix of their own songs and favourite Celtic-Country-Folk material for over thirty years, taking in most of the major Australian folk festivals and recording three acclaimed CDs. Their third album "Nautilus" was recorded in England with Chris While and Julie Matthews producing and playing. Their song "Green Among the Gold" has been recorded by a number of international artists including Sean Keane (Ireland) and most recently by German-Irish trio Iontach. For this performance, Ros and Steve are joined by their son Kieran Barnes, one of Perth's rising young jazz stars on double bass, and well known choir leader and festival director Jenny Simpson. Hearing Ros and Jenny sing together is a rare treat and one not to be missed
Friday 14th May Big Picture Factory 119 Campbell St Rivervale Doors open 7:00pm for a prompt 7:30 start Tickets $25 including a light supper with tea and coffee.. BYO alcohol - wine glasses available (Please note this gig is held in a commercial printing factory and while every effort is made to present a safe and enjoyable venue, we ask you to respect the business owner and avoid injury by showing care and respect around the premises) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After Little Folk's highly successful first concert for 2021 with Jane and the Rain, we are proud to present the next two in our three part Musical Directors series of concerts.
Nine Mile Hill from Albany had their debut in 2020 and proved a highlight of Folk in the Forest. Rod Vervest is the current Musical Director of Fairbridge Festival as well as various events in the Great Southern and Perth regions Now with two concerts already sold out in their March 2021 tour of Perth - they are performing for Little Folk at the Big Picture Factory in Belmont.
Newly-formed acoustic ensemble, Nine Mile Hill, could be described as a musical nexus that creates a cross road between neo-classical folk, Americana, ballads and blues. Swing violin entwines with classical cello and mandolin in a melting pot of fingerstyle guitar, all overlain with a sassy vocal and harmony backing. Alongside tight ensemble playing and some formidable instrument skill, their presentation is light-hearted, chatty and aimed to entertain. The band recently debuted in the Albany Entertainment Centre and have since moved on to play the Folk in the Forest Festival and for the Denmark Arts Council. Guitarist Rod Vervest leads the ensemble with cellist Peter Grayling, a long-time musical partner in their third decade of playing together. Highly accomplished violinist Jude Iddison joins Jenny Greenwald on vocals to round out an acoustic lushness that despite only a handful of shows, is attracting glowing reviews.
Friday 12th March Big Picture Factory 119 Campbell St Rivervale Doors open 7:00pm for a prompt 7:30 start Tickets $25 including a light supper with tea and coffee.. BYO alcohol - wine glasses available (Please note this gig is held in a commercial printing factory and while every effort is made to present a safe and enjoyable venue, we ask you to respect the business owner and avoid injury by showing care and respect around the premises)