Click here to buy 2009 Illawara Folk Festival Season Passes for only $65! Click here to buy CDs / Books Click here for the new Illawarra Folk Festival website Click here for Illawarra Folk Club / Festival myspace     This site contains information about the Illawarra Folk Club Inc established in 1980, the Illawarra Folk Festival (15-18 January 2009), Folk in the Foothills One Day Folk Festival (19 October 2008) and local performers and events around the Illawarra area. The Illawarra Folk Club is a non-profit incorporated association with the aims of promoting, presenting and performing folk music, song, dance, poetry and storytelling. It presents 2 concerts per month and one of Australia's major folk music events - the Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli. The Illawarra region is situated approximately 100 kilometres south of Sydney on the New South Wales coast with Wollongong as the major centre. It also includes the Shellharbour and Kiama areas.   Click here to download in PDF format the November 2008 full colour newsleter (1.6MB). Includes 2009 Illawarra Folk Festival poster.   Illawarra Folk Festival - 15-18 January 2009 FIRST RELEASE PASSES only $65 - huge saving of $35! Click here to buy. or call 1300 887 034 Play the Youtube clip below to get a 60 second taste of the fun of the 2008 Illawarra Folk Festival.     On-line 2009 Illawarra Folk Festival performer applications closed 31 July 2008. Click here for more details on applying as a performer FOLK CLUB NEWSLETTER Click here to download in PDF format the November 2008 full colour newsleter (1.6MB). Includes 2009 Illawarra Folk Festival poster NEXT LOCAL CONCERTS 7.30pm Friday 7 November - Folk Club Concert with The Hottentots, Owen & Satch Campbell, CITY DIGGERS WOLLONGONG, $8 members / $12 Non-Members 7pm Saturday 22 November - Family Charity Bush Dance for Bulli Primary School with Bulli Festival Bush Dance Orchestra, BULLI WORKERS CLUB, Princes Highway. Tickets at door from 6.30pm 8pm Wednesday 26 November - St Andrews Scottish Ceili, all dances called and walked through, live music WONGAWILLI COMMUNITY HALL, $2.50 per adult 5pm Saturday 29 November - Folk Club Concert with Jan Preston and Karen Lynne, Dinner break at 6pm, cost $10. WONGAWILLI COMMUNITY HALL, Concert only$8 members / $12 Non-Members 7.30pm Friday 5 December - 24th Illawarra Folk Festival Preview Concert - 10 acts, CITY DIGGERS WOLLONGONG free for Festival Pass Holders, Volunteers and Performers, $8 members / $12 Non-Members January 9-13 - Italian Silent Film and Live Folk Music - Dall' Italia All' Australia - Kavisha Mazzella & The Viaggiatori Click here for more information Friday 9 January 2009, 7.30pm - Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow Click here to buy tickets Saturday 10 January, 7.30pm - Milton Theatre Tickets not on sale yet Sunday 11 January - Australian Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, mid-afternoon Tickets not on sale yet Monday 12 January, 7.30pm - Gerringong Town Hall Click here to buy tickets Tuesday 13 January, 7.30pm - Chauvel Cinema, Paddington Town Hall Tickets not on sale yet 14-15 Jan - Folk Summer School, 2 days of classes with master musicians, many appearing at the Folk Festival. 20 Scholarships to be awarded, apply now! Click here for more information 15-18 Jan - 24th Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli 7.30pm Friday 21 March - Folk Club Concert - Nano Stern from Chile, CITY DIGGERS WOLLONGONG $15 members / $20 non members 5pm Sunday 29 March - Folk Club Concert - OktoberFest in March with The Beez from Berlin, WONGAWILLI COMMUNITY HALL, $12 members / $15 non members. German sausage sizzle $12. 7.30pm Friday 3 April - Folk Club Concert - Alan Kelly Quartet on tour from Ireland, CITY DIGGERS, $12 members / $15 non members 5pm Sunday 5 April - Folk Club Concert - Colum Sands from Ireland, WONGAWILLI COMMUNITY HALL, $15 members / $20 non members Every Wednesday Night, 8pm to 10pm - Bush Dance, Wongawilli Community Hall, all welcome, dances called and walked through, acoustic musicians welcome to join the band hosted by members of the world travelling Wongawilli Band. Enq 0409 57 1788, desanti@bigpond.com   click here for more details OTHER MAJOR FOLK MUSIC EVENTS Music at the Creek Festival 14-16 November 2008, Majors Creek, near Braidwood Peats Ridge Festival, 29 Dec-1 Jan Woodford Folk Festival, Qld 28 Dec-1 Jan Gulgong Folk Festival, 29 Dec-1 Jan 2009 Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli 15-18 January 2009, Slacky Flat Bulli, Wollongong 2009 Cobargo Folk Festival 20-22 February 2009 National Folk Festival 9 - 13 April 2009 Exhibition Park in Canberra NEWS     The Italian silent film and live music by Kavisha Mazzella and the Viaggiatori returns in January 2009 as part of the 2009 Illawarra Folk Festival. Performances from 9 -13 January in Milton, Maritime Musuem Darling Harbour, Chauvel Cinema Paddington, Gerringong and Fraternity Club. Click here for more details.             FOLK CLUB FESTIVAL HOTLINE 1300 887 034   Join our email list below to keep up to date with Illawarra Folk Club and Illawarra Folk Festival news and events. Name: Email: 20 September CONCERT CLICK HERE TO GO MEDIA PHOTOGRAPH PAGE Folk in the Foothills Sunday 19 October Jamberoo Valley Lodge Click here for more details Illawarra Folk Festival - 15 to 18 January 2009   Click here for the NEW Illawarra Folk Festival Website The historic Slacky Flat at Bulli will burst into party mode from 15-18th January 2009, when over 500 performers will converge for the 24th award-winning Illawarra Folk Festival. The festival is nestled at the base of the Illawarra escarpment only 1 hour south of Sydney, so it is the perfect opportunity for Sydney-based travellers to visit via train and experience the true spirit of Down Under; including Aussie Bush and World Music dancing at the Global Green, spontaneous late-night pub gigs, camping out alongside locals and visiting the stunning world-renowned beaches of the region. Festival information: info@illawarrafolkclub.org.au or tel: 1300 887 034 Click here to buy First Release Season Passes for only $65 a huge saving of $35 on full price. Only 1000 available, offer closes 1 December Performer applications closed on 31 July and over 200 were received! The selection process has begun with some early bookings including: The Beez (Germany), Bettina Schelker (Switz.), Graham Moore (UK), Ann Vriend (Canada), Whitetop Mountaineers (US), Kavisha Mazzella & Irine Vela, Mick Thomas, Mic Conway, Mike Jackson,  S.T.RU.M, Keith McKenry, Kazband, Senor Calabres, Geoffrey W Graham, Jan Preston, Mark Wilkinson, Murrumbidgee Jones, Nerds and Music, Penny, Hartegerink, Queen Juanita and the Zydeco Cowboys, Scarlett Affection, Vento Del Sud, Zumpa, Big Snore Hammers, Wongawilli, Big Erle, Blue Mountain Bluegrass, David Beniuk, Nick Rheinberger and many many more to come... The 24th Illawarra Folk Festival will be held from 15 to 18 January 2009. Check below for other coming events. 4 days of folk, world, acoustic, Celtic, traditional folk concerts, dances, workshops, parades, sessions  over 100 international, national and local acts with 500 performers food, drink available camping on-site, public transport nearby Folk music school, 14 and 15 January Well we're pleased to announce that years festival was an artistic success despite the mud and the rain! Over 125 acts and 500 performers kept the crowds entertained! Although smaller in size than previous festivals it was much more manageable for the volunteer team and had a lovely atmosphere. Planning has begun for the 2009 festival to be held from 15 to 18 January. 2009 Festival Prices: FIRST RELEASE SEASON PASS, 4 days, purchased by 1 December 2008: $65 SAVE $35 SECOND RELEASE SEASON PASS, 4 days purchased by 13 January 2009: $85 SAVE $15 FINAL RELEASE 4-Day Pass, at the event: $100 CAMPING per person, pending availability and only available with Season Ticket: $15 DAY TICKET PRICES: Friday $40, Saturday $50, Sunday $45 EVENING TICKET (from 6pm): PRICES: Friday $30. Saturday $35 YOUTH SEASON PASS purchased with paying parent: Season $20, Friday Day $10, Saturday Day $10, Sunday Day $10, Friday Evening $5, Saturday Evening $5 CHILDREN Under 12 are free with paying parent Click here to buy tickets and the First Release Season Passes for only $65 Reg Mombassa has kindly allowed the festival to again use his graphic design for the festival image. NEW!! Movie clips of the 2008 Illawarra Folk Festival on YOUTUBE. Click here to see Festival Snaphot and Promo Click here to see Dog Trumpet Click here to see Bernard Carney & David Hyams On-line performer applications closed 31 July 2008. Click here for more details on applying as a performer Click here for the 2008 festival programme    NEWS: Online Store Launched! The Illawarra Folk Club now has a fully operational online purchasing store for festival and event tickets, local performer CDs and books. You can also join the Illawarra Folk Club as single member for $15 or family $20. You will receive a monthly newsletter and discounts to Folk Club concerts. Click here to go to Illawarra Folk Store to buy tickets and merchandise.  Buy the 2008 Festival MAMBO DESIGNED SHIRT AS WELL! LIMITED STOCKS and COLOURS. Many thanks to Reg Mombassa!   Coming Folk Club Concerts & Events Concerts are held generally on 1st Fridays and 3rd Saturdays at the City Diggers Wollongong, corner Church and Burelli Streets. More details on coming Folk Club Concerts & Events  Click here for Illawarra Folk Club / Festival Myspace