Entertainment

 Performers/Artists

BordererS

The BordererS entertain like Freddie Mercury, have the energy of Angus Young and sound a bit like The Proclaimers if Eva Cassidy happened to sing with them. One of the most energetic bands in the world who appeal to all age groups and love to entertain in front of family audiences.

Multi-Award winning Scottish / Irish / Australian band The BordererS formed in 1994 and have released 8 albums, 4 EP's, 2 kids albums and been included on 31 compilation albums from all around the world.

The Borderers became a band by accident when Jim was backpacking in Australia in 1993 as part of a Round the World trip.  He says: “I was just passing through Adelaide to meet a friend when I got invited to a recording studio to hear this band called the Borderers.  I loved their sound so much that I eventually co-produced the album, married the lead singer and bought a house in Adelaide”.

Martin Doherty and Leigh Birkett

Martin is an Irish singer/balladeer/composer/musician from Dublin, Ireland who now calls Wallerawang home. He got the music bug aged 13, Working the boats from Dublin to Liverpool, learning the guitar and listening to the sessions at Slattery’s every Saturday night, dreaming of being on stage. Since then he has played for countless thousands of people and has become a legend both in Australia and back in his native Ireland.

Shortly after emigrating to Sydney in the 1970 he became involved in the growing international folk scene in which he rapidly became a leading player achieving considerable success. As a consequence, he has toured with Christy Moore, The Fureys, The Dubliners, The Chieftains, The Pogues among others as well as many Film and TV appearances.

Many people will remember Martin from his band, Raglan Rd. Perhaps the number one celtic band every to come from Australia, Raglan Rd played before audiences in the thousands in their heyday. Many more will remember the band Roisin in various formats, that graced the Sydney music scene and included a 17 year stint at the Mercantile Hotel in Sydney

Leigh has developed great technical skills on guitar, mandola and bouzouki travelling his own pathway. He is a music nut with a fine ear for improvisation and arrangement and since they met at a session in Blackheath, Martin and Leigh been developing a style that is both unique and flexible.

Leigh is a very fine and moving accompanist of the ballads for which Martin is renowned. He can also rock with the energy necessary to really entertain. Leigh’s passion for diverse musical forms helps the duo explore the Celtic traditional forms with a new and innovative ear. The use of the altered tunings of the modern folk style and choice of instruments aid in the richness of sound created, but also add unique textures to a wider set of styles drawn from Western Swing, bluegrass and Rock and Roll to more experimental areas.

Maria Forde

An Irish- Australian, Maria Forde has always straddled both sides of her heritage in her songwriting. Incorporating the sweet melodies, that are the trademark of the Irish musical heritage, with observations of Australia, along with her personal experiences, Maria has blossomed into one of Australia’s premier songwriters. Listen to MY BEAUTIFUL ROISIN ON VIDEO

Her most recent album, “Little Black Rose” bears testament to Maria’s endless quest to im-prove her musicianship, her songwriting craft and the desire to communicate to the listener.

Blessed with an angelic voice, Maria has grown into a masterful interpreter of her own material, able to totally connect the feeling of the music and words to the emotion of the song. This alone sets her apart from so many singer/songwriters. Since relocating to Trentham, in rural Victoria, Maria has begun to incorporate more of the wonder and fragility of the Australian bush into her work. Through out her career, Maria has toured constantly, performed at numerous festivals and built a solid and dedicated fan base, both in Australia, and internationally.

Steve Passfield

Golden Guitar winner Steve Passfield has certainly “paid His dues”. The leader and driving force behind the Award winning Handpicked Band formed back in 1988, which went on to tour much of Australia, Asia and New Zealand. Steve released 3 independent Handpicked albums and a 21 year Anniversary DVD that intertwines the Anniversary Gig with Steve’s personal story of the Macleay Valley, His hometown Kempsey and family and friends that have formed the background for many of His songs.

The year 2007 saw Steve release his first completely solo album Goin’ It Alone with all original songs and one tune. It was the instrumental “Stump Jumpin” that was to put Steve on the Country Music Radar and the album went on to achieve great success and took out many Awards including:
36th CMAA Golden Guitar for Instrumental of The Year, TIARA Barry Thornton Memorial Instrumental of the Year, TIARA Nomination for Male Vocal, MusicOz Instrumental finalist, Australian Songwriting Competition Top Ten Finalist, 5 People’s Choice Awards Nominations, and People’s Choice “Most Promising Star” Award.

Steve and Handpicked will be performing at the Tullamore Bowling Club on the Friday & Saturday evenings of the Festival.

Dwyer Whelan Dancers

In a teaching career spanning almost 50 years Maureen Whelan has produced thousands of Irish dancers – hundreds of whom have become champions.

Her students, both girls and boys, have gone on to win State and national titles and some have enjoyed success in New Zealand, the US and Ireland itself.

Joan began teaching in the Eastern Suburbs after she and Maureen learnt dancing – at the behest of their father Bill Dwyer – from Irish dancing teacher, Erin O’Daly (from Co Kildare) at St Declan’s Church, Penshurst.

The Dwyer-Whelan School of Irish Dance began in 1955, and have a long association with the Irish Natonal Association in Surry Hills, where classes are held on Saturday mornings. Not only do they compete every year at the Australian championships, but the academy's Irish National Dancers travel to international championships such as the All Ireland, World and North American Championships.

Rhymer from Rhyde

Graeme Johnson is a Poet who writes and performs both traditional and original verse following in the footsteps of Australia's rich heritage of rhyme and meter.

Known as "The Rhymer from Ryde", Graeme hails from country NSW and has lived in inner city Sydney since 1991.

After meeting some colourful characters called "Bush Poets" in 1994, Graeme was inspired to combine his love of language with 25 years of theatrical experience to take his poetry "back to the people".

Often described as "painting pictures with words", Graeme uses his skills to draw his audience into his stories about our Great Southern Land and its people.

Whether it is his recollections of travels in the countryside, his love of our colonial history, or reliving the experiences of the bohemian residents of Sydney's past, Graeme is drawn with fierce patriotism to embrace the virtues that makes us the "Aussies" that we are today.

Gerry Faulkner

Gerry Faulkner was born in Salthill, Galway and reared in Clifden, the capital of Connemara. He arrived in Sydney 18 years ago and since then has been a busy and active member of the Sydney Irish community. He served as Treasurer, Vice-President and President of the City of Sydney St.Patrick’s Day committee and each year is MC for the parade as it passes the review stand at Town Hall.

Gerry has undertaken MC work for many of the Irish events in Sydney such as The Mean Fiddler Celtic Festival, the Sunday afternoon Irish music session at Asquith Rugby Leagues Club, The Sydney St. Patrick’s Bachelor of the Year as well as presentation events within the Irish community. Irish weddings are not the same without him! He has been MC for the Tullamore Irish Festival for 5 years.

Gerry and wife Cynthia have recently taken over a Hotel “Gerry’s @ the Commercial” in Millthorpe. So now he’s spending much of his time busy entertaining patrons. This year Gerry will be MC for our Street entertainment, the Street Parade, as well as MC at the concert venue at the Festival Village