PRE-FESTIVAL CHARITY CONCERT SHOWCASES FOUR ACTS
Folk music fans can get a taste of the 2025 Illawarra Folk Festival line-up at a pre-festival charity show at Bulli’s Heritage Hotel on Thursday, January 16.
Festival acts Smith and The Devil, Broken Creek, The Water Runners and Zumpa will perform at the charity concert held the night before the three-day festival gets underway at nearby Bulli Showground.
Festival Production Manager Ben Davies said the charity concert would give a small taste of the great line-up of acts at the 38th Illawarra Folk Festival, while raising money for Support Act – the music industry’s charity, delivering crisis relief services to musicians, managers, crew and music workers across all genres who are unable to work due to ill health, injury, a mental health problem or some other crisis.
Doors open at 6.30pm, with the first act, Bulli locals Smith and The Devil, performing at 7pm. They will be followed by Victorian duo Broken Creek performing their songs about small-town Australia at 8pm, Kiama’s vibrant bluegrass band The Water Runners at 9pm and Italian-inspired world music ensemble Zumpa from Queensland at 10pm.
Entry is $10, and meals are available at The Heritage. The Heritage performance room capacity is 220 people, so Davies encouraged people to pre-book their tickets through Humanitix.
The Charity Show line-up:
7PM SMITH AND THE DEVIL
are a local band from Bulli. The story of Smith and the Devil is steeped in legend, mystery, and possibly gravy.
8PM BROKEN CREEK
weave compelling musical reimaginings of Australiana for banjo, guitar, fiddle and voice that tell stories from Australia’s past and present. They perform original songs about small-town Australia, tunes inspired by the land and subversive interpretations of traditional Australian songs.
With rich story-telling, strong musicianship, tight harmonies and an engaging stage show, The Water Runners’ special blend of bluegrass-infused Australian folk will take you on a musical journey, guaranteed to move your heart and your feet.
10PM ZUMPA
Let Zumpa whisk you away to enchanting Italian fishing villages, moonlit olive groves, and the vibrant essence of peasant life under the Mediterranean sun.
Immerse yourself in their spirited fusion of folk and Italian world music, creating an authentic experience that's as rich and satisfying as a delectable plate of spaghetti and meatballs.
Story by Illawarra Folk Festival Publicity Officer Nick Hartgerink.
