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Folk By The Sea Festival
@ Kiama Showgrounds,
Kiama, NSW,
21st September 2024
(Live Review)

Review and photos by

Fairytale of Shane Macgowan (tribute to The Pogues’ former singer-songwriter). 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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The 2024 Folk by the Sea festival, also known as the Kiama Folk Festival, took place over the weekend of 20-22 September in the NSW south coast seaside town of Kiama.

Celebrating its 11th year, the friendly gathering, which featured some of Australia’s top folk artists, is spread over 10 venues in and around the Kiama Showground.

Run by the Illawarra Folk Club (which also hosts the annual Illawarra Folk Festival in Bulli, 50km to the north, in January), the event features a variety of musical styles, including Celtic, bluegrass, Australiana, sea shanties, traditional English folk, ‘world’ and Indigenous Australian.

Standout performers among this year’s 100+ concerts (performed by over 40 acts), included Fred Smith, Shellie Morris, Mikelangelo, Eric Marrawuy, Cigány Weaver, Pirritu, Mariah McCarthy and a duo from The Gleaners.

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Mariah McCarthy, 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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Outside of the main arena, assorted solo artists or collections of musicians performed in small rooms, jammed together on the veranda, or read poetry.

Two bagpipe bands, Kiama Pipe Band and  Shoalhaven City Pipe Band, comprising of at least five bagpipers and five drummers, teamed up to play Scottish anthems dressed in their green checked kilts.

After darkness fell, Speranza Starburner twirled illuminated objects on the forecourt.

Saturday night’s all-star band, Fairytale of Shane MacGowan, was the major highlight of the festival’s diverse entertainment. Fronted by Michael Simic, aka Mikelangelo, with contributions by several guest vocalists, the concert was a rousing tribute to the late singer-songwriter of Irish folk-punk band The Pogues.

Hopefully they take the act on tour.

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Shellie Morris and Eric Marrawuy, 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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The band played selections from The Pogues’ renowned early-era songs, plus a couple of lesser-known numbers from MacGowan’s post-Pogues’ career. As the tribute reached a climax, the dance floor filled. Mikelangelo descended from the stage to join them during an extended version of the Xmas favourite, Fairytale of New York. Arms linked in a careening circle, the joyous dancers eventually snaked out of the hall and into the reception area.

For this reviewer, Fred Smith was the most entertaining performer of the weekend. Fred is a natural comedian, from his clever, incisive lyrics to his droll between-song quips. Although his singing voice has a limited vocal range, his observations, recollections and narrative songs are highly informative and frequently hilarious.

Accompanied by a four-piece band he performed a mixture from his creative output of 12 albums (which include collaborations with Liz Frencham and the Spooky Men’s Chorale) and his latest release, Look.

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The Bottlers, 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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His Saturday afternoon concert, the second of his two appearances, was American-themed, relating to a period Fred lived on that side of the planet with his wife. A selection of images of world events and notorious characters and caricatures (such as the felonious Donald Trump) appeared on a stage-side screen, illustrating Fred’s topical and typically satirical musings and music.

Sydney folk-punkers The Bottlers are a dynamic live act who’ve previously performed impressive sets at this festival that set a high bar. The 8-piece are pretty much guaranteed to get anyone on their feet and dancing, regardless of whether they’re elderly, infirm or even in their coffin being carried to their grave.

However, singer Matthew Black, recently discharged from hospital and stricken with ill health, struggled to stay upright. Visibly perspiring, Matthew joked he was “sweating like Gary Glitter at a Wiggles’ concert!”

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Jessica Allen, 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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Eventually, the band apologised and cut their set short, regrettably cancelling their second appearance the following day.

By contrast, Shellie Morris was vivacious, frequently wise-cracking and giggling between her personal and often poignant songs. Accomplished violinist Eric Avery Marrawuy accompanied her for several numbers, including a cover of the Warumpi Band classic, My Island Home, sung in Guguyimidjir.

Shellie, who grew up as an Indigenous girl in a non-Indigenous family, sings in 17 Australian Aboriginal languages. She covers topics ranging from personal anecdotes to Indigenous life in the Barkly Tablelands, where she has ancestral connections to the Yanyuwa and Wardaman clans.

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Fairytale of Shane Macgowan (tribute to The Pogues’ former singer-songwriter). 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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Check out Alec Smart’s (@alecsmart_fotos) full gallery of this event HERE

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Kiama Sea Shanty Club, 2024 Folk By The Sea Festival, Kiama, NSW. Photo: Alec Smart

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AMNPLIFY – DB