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PORT FAIRY FOLK
FESTIVAL
announces
Future Folk artists
for 2026 event
Port Fairy Folk Festival is thrilled to announce the ten outstanding young artists selected for its 2026 Future Folk Young Musician Development Program: Bonnie Jackson, Grace Watt, Harriet Wraith, Isla Dixon, Jasmin Adria, Lucy Joy, Maeve Grieve, Mathilde Anne, Rupert Bullard, and the Sam Curtis Collective.
Now in its fifth year, the Future Folk program continues to nurture emerging musical voices from across regional Victoria, giving artists aged between 12 to 25 the opportunity to perform, collaborate and learn within one of Australia’s most beloved festivals. Supported by Moyne Shire Council through the Victorian Government’s Amplify program, Future Folk provides a platform for young creatives to gain real-world experience as performing artists.
As part of the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival, participants will receive one-on-one and group mentoring from established musicians, participate in professional development workshops, and perform in front of festival audiences. Each artist or group will present a 20-minute set on Fiddlers Green in a dedicated emerging artist showcase and feature in a songwriters circle on the Festival’s main stage.
The Future Folk program not only builds performance skills and industry knowledge but also fosters artistic community and confidence. Whether writing heartfelt lyrics, crafting harmonies, or connecting with audiences, these young artists represent the bright future of Victoria’s folk scene.
Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Justin Rudge said: “The Future Folk program is one of my significant joys of my programming role at the Folkie- and it keeps going from strength to strength! Watching these young artists find their voices and share their stories with the audience is what folk music is all about – connection, creativity and community. It’s a credit to the young artists, and a hallmark of the growing strength of the Future Folk program that has generated some great artists since its inception.”
Moyne Shire Cr Jordan Lockett said: “We love that local emerging musicians get this chance to play on big stages in front of their community. Future Folk is a huge opportunity to rub shoulders with artists from all over the world, to learn, and to showcase their own amazing talents.”
Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place over the Labour Day long weekend, 6-9 March 2026, bringing together music lovers from across Australia to celebrate folk in all its forms — from legendary performers to the next generation of songwriters and storytellers.
Future Folk is delivered in partnership with Port Fairy Folk Festival and Moyne Shire Council’s AMPLIFY program, with funding by the Victorian Government.
Tickets for the 2026 Port Fairy Folk Festival are available now HERE.
Youth Tickets for 13–17-year-olds are available and children aged 12 and under are free with a parent/guardian.
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AMNPLIFY – DB
My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.
