Golden Guitar winner Darren Coggan will headline this year’s Folk By The Sea. Photo: Supplied.
Illawarra’s own multiple Golden Guitar winner and TV presenter Darren Coggan will headline this year’s Folk By The Sea Festival in Kiama, joining more than 40 diverse acts from 12-14 September.
Festival director Neil McCann, whose own band The Water Runners will also be gracing the stage, said it was a major coup having Coggan perform at Folk By The Sea in what was expected to be a blockbuster Saturday show at Kiama Showground Pavilion.
“He really is a consummate entertainer and he has such a vast volume of work to showcase,” Neil said.
A regular at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with his original country music songs and collaborations, he’s also been renowned for sharing the songs of other greats.
In 1999 he landed the role of Richie Cunningham in the touring show Happy Days – The Arena Mega Musical and has performed his critically acclaimed Peace Train, a portrait of Cat Stevens, on some of the world’s grandest stages, from the Sydney Opera House to Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall in Scotland and Liverpool Philharmonic in England.
He has also toured shows highlighting the life and works of other 20th century popular singer-songwriters, including John Lennon and Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Glen Campbell and his latest being John Denver.
Coggan is also a presenter on Network Seven’s lifestyle TV program Sydney Weekender.
Joining Coggan at this year’s festival will be a line-up of 40 acts, including Americana/bluegrass duo The Weeping Willows, indi-folk band Hand Over Hammer, Triple J Unearthed-winning folk rock/alt country duo Ally Row from Victoria, NSW folk-country act the Sam Fletcher Trio and Queensland Indigenous singer and storyteller Jessie Lloyd who will perform her Sing On Country show.
The Weeping Willows. Photo: Supplied.
“We feel as though we have a really broad mix of good quality performers and a great mix of styles and genres,” Neil said.
“There are some familiar names and acts, but also some outstanding interstate acts like The Weeping Willows, who are just great live.
“And I saw Sam Fletcher play at the Cobargo Folk Festival earlier this year, and he was fabulous.”
Along with Neil’s band The Water Runners, Kiama will be well-represented with Kiama Blowhole Buskers, Kiama Pipe Band and the Kiama Sea Shanty crew.
Neil said the Illawarra Folk Club, which runs the festival, relied on volunteers and were seeking people willing to give their time and skills for a variety of roles at the festival, as well as offering to home-host visiting performers.
Folk By The Sea early bird tickets are on sale for the festival in Kiama from 12-14 September. Volunteering information is available on the festival website.
The full festival list is: Alex Randles (ACT), Ally Row (VIC), Balkan Boogie, Charles Maimarosia (VIC), Chloe and Jason Roweth, Darren Coggan, Fly Little Sparrow (QLD/NSW), Grace Barr, Graeme The Scotman McColgan, Hand Over Hammer (VIC), Good Tunes, Humbuckin’ Pickups, Jessie Lloyd’s Sing on Country, Kane Calcite, Karen Law (QLD), Kiama Blowhole Buskers, Kiama Pipe Band, Kiama Sea Shanty, Louzco Fouzco, Marco and Rusty, Noel Gardner and Alex Bridge (QLD), Oceanique (VIC), Oliver Roweth, Robyn Sykes, Rhys Crimmin (VIC), Russell Hannah, Sam Fletcher Trio, Scupriri, Slippery John Sausage and his Bayou Boys, Southern Cross Band, Square Pegs, Stonybroke, The Butter Trackers, The Con Artists, The Lofty Mountain Band (SA), The Water Runners, The Weeping Willows (VIC), Whistle, Wood n’ Hide.
