Legendary songwriter Eric Bogle to chronicle 50 years of songwriting at Illawarra Folk Festival

Legendary songwriter Eric Bogle will take audiences on a musical journey through his 50-year career at the 38th annual Illawarra Folk Festival in January.

In two special two-hour performances, Bogle will present a chronological retrospective of his most cherished songs, from And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda to hidden gems from his vast catalogue, sharing the stories and moments that shaped them.

Scottish-born Bogle has written some of Australia’s best-loved songs, from his ode to his adopted land Shelter, to the futility and loss of war in No Man’s Land (The Green Fields of France).

International artists from Joan Baez, Donovan and Billie Bragg to The Pogues, The Dubliners and The Fureys have recorded his songs, with And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda being covered by more than 100 artists.

When he turned 80 in September, Bogle decided it was the perfect time to reflect on his career and perform a chronological selection of his songs, which he first tested in a series of three 90-minute concerts in Adelaide.

“Who knows how much longer I have on planet Earth?” he said.

“I decided I would like to perform a cross-section of my songs and take people on a journey with me … showing the audience what I was, what I am now, and how I have changed over the years.

“I have about 230 songs, and so it was a bit of a voyage of discovery for me as I hauled them out of the vault.

‘I have had to choose the best songs – or at least the ones I like best – from the first song I wrote to the last.

“I need around 60 songs for the two shows and it has been an interesting exercise deciding which ones to perform. I have had to tread a fine line in my selections.”

The two special two-hour shows at Bulli Showground during the 17-19 January event will mark his fifth appearance at the festival, having first appeared in 1988, before returning in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

“I will be performing between 25 and 30 songs in each show – depending on how verbose I get with my introductions,” he joked.

“I want to explain the circumstances of how each song came about, and why I wrote it, but I will need to discipline myself and not get carried away …”

Bogle said he would be keeping to a strictly chronological order with the songs.

“That poses a bit of a problem, because some of the songs that people know me for, like Now I’m Easy and And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, are from early in my career so I’ll be doing them at my first show,” he said.

“So if people want to hear them, they’d better come to the first show.”

Bogle said he realised it was an “indulgence” taking up a festival stage for the two longer shows, and so to not “hog the main stage” he asked organisers for a more intimate venue.

However, anticipating strong demand for the shows, festival organisers have instead scheduled Bogle’s performances as morning shows at the two main stages – The Black Diamond Marquee at 10:30 am on Saturday and the Slacky Flat Bar at 9:30 am on Sunday.

Bogle will be joined on stage by guitarist Peter Tichener, fiddler Emma Luker and percussionist Jon Jones.

“When I last played at the Illawarra Folk Festival in 2018 it was my last gig with John Munro, my great friend who I had played, recorded and travelled with for 40 years,” he said.

“John took ill and died soon after that festival, so it will be sort of bittersweet being back at the festival where we last played together.

“But I have always enjoyed performing at Illawarra. These days I restrict my performing to festivals that I like and where I know the people – and Illawarra is one of those.”

The 2025 Illawarra Folk Festival includes a strong line-up of international, national and Illawarra talent.

Book tickets and learn about the full line-up for the Illawarra Folk Festival from 17-19 January at Bulli Showground.