Amarillo are alt-folk/country duo Nick O’Mara (Raised By Eagles) and Jac Tonks (Fountain Lakes). Featuring finger style guitar, soaring lapsteel, soul-stirring vocals and melodic hooks, the pair blend British and Americana folk traditions, and sound like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young formed a band with Bert Jansch.
Festival: 2026
Candice McLeod & The Sweetwaters
Nestled in the north-east Victorian hills of Dhudhuroa/Waywurru Country, Candice McLeod is a compelling folk songwriter whose storytelling confronts both beauty and breaking in equal measure.
Following years of creative paralysis in the depths of solo motherhood, Candice powerfully wove herself back into community, supported by the soulful harmonies of The Sweetwaters – a powerhouse trio of women. Together they weave a warm, soulful fabric of sound, singing songs quietly gathered over many years of fracture, shedding skins, and forging a home away from the road.
Alongside the Sweetwaters, Candice’s forthcoming album is a fiercely intimate body of work, carried with unguarded grace and a warm devotion to community connection.
Her first single off the album, The Water, is set for release on 1 March, 2026.
Charley Castle
Charley Castle’s self-classified brand of “city folk” connects bluegrass and Americana with city sensibilities. An infectious performer and devastating songwriter, half an hour in her world spans the spectrum from heartbreaking to holler-inducing. Appearing in stripped-back form for the first time this weekend, she’s joined by George Teasdell on the mandolin.
Charlotte Le Lievre
With her lilting voice and timeless sensibilities, Charlotte Le Lievre makes music that hits the heart in the unique tradition of old-time country songwriters. Drawing upon an array of early country and folk styles, Charlotte and band pay homage to the origins of this music, whilst offering up insightful commentary on contemporary dilemmas.
Dallahan
Forged in Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America, Dallahan take their listeners on a journey. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their own unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity.
Doc Halibut
Doc Halibut’s Rock n’ Roll and Pop exhibits an authentic heart and irresistible energy that carries the audience along for the ride though pumping rock ‘n’ roll, musing ballads and all out rhythm and blues. The five piece’s driving beats, soaring guitar and Hammond solos, thoughtful lyrics and well crafted melodies make Doc Halibut one of Australia’s most exciting and sought after live acts.
Festival favourites and regularly performing around Melbourne and regional Victoria’s finest drinking establishments as well as up and down the East Coast, Doc Halibut’s live shows recreate and reinterpret their songbook with energy, passion and more than occasionally, humour.
Ella Hooper
Ella Hooper first made her mark as the vibrant frontwoman of Killing Heidi, blazing a trail through Australian pop rock with chart-topping hits, sold-out tours and a No.1 debut album. As the youngest-ever recipient of APRA’s Songwriter of the Year, her songwriting pedigree has only deepened across a rich solo career—now three albums strong—spanning synth folk, alt-rock, country and Americana. Her latest release Small Town Temple debuted at No.1 on the Australian Country chart and earned an Australian Music Prize nomination for its warmth, honesty and distinct local voice. Shaped by profound personal loss and the wide-open skies of her hometown Violet Town, the album marks Hooper’s full embrace of country and Americana. Now firmly in her country era, Ella is writing and recording new material between Melbourne and Nashville with Grammy-winning collaborators including Jim Lauderdale, Melody Walker, Clare Reynolds and cult figure Steve Poltz. Fresh from supporting greats like James Taylor and Chris Isaak, she fronts a dynamic four-piece band laced with fiddle, warm harmonies and just a little bit of grit. Grab your boots and scoot to Violet Town’s songbird—Ella Hooper is winning awards, packing out rooms across Australia, and bringing a sharp, heartfelt edge to her ever-evolving take on Americana.
Elly McK & The Unbelievers
Elly McK & The Unbelievers serve up soulful Americana and alt-country, led by magnetic frontwoman Elly McKinnon. Their dynamic live sets balance foot-stomping energy with heartfelt ballads, captivating audiences with rich storytelling and powerful musicianship. A rising force, they’re winning fans and acclaim across the country.
Gráinne Hunt
A queer, nu-folk, singer-songwriter with a voice like complex coffee, Gráinne Hunt is a standout among Ireland’s most enthralling vocalists and songwriters, blending raw emotion with a quiet, commanding power.
‘The Irish Joni’ ‘No crowd can resist’
Grand Baxter
From the forests of eastern Melbourne come Grand Baxter, an alt-folk trio combining earnest songwriting, dense textures of guitar and strings, and a humble folk charm. Inspired by Jason Isbell, John Moreland and Gillian Welch, Grand Baxter exists at the intersection of rock, folk and country.
