We’ve got so many great artists making their Port Fairy Folk Festival debut in March, and with just a couple of weeks to go we thought we’d share some intel on some of the 100+ artists who are gearing up ready to play on the Folkie stages.
We’ve gone straight to the source and asked Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Justin Rudge who he was most excited about and why – read on!
Elephant Sessions
I have been a huge fan of this band for many years. It was one of my great joys in 2022 after the pandemic to see them absolutely blow away audiences at Port Fairy. They’ve continued to grow and develop, and the show I saw late 2025 was AMAZING. Acts like Elephant Sessions really show the width and breadth of how traditional music can adapt. Two shows across the weekend, don’t miss them!
Svavar Knútur
I have known Svavar since he did a small tour of Australia with a former bandmate of mine maybe 20 years ago. We reconnected in the Global Music Match project during the pandemic (check it out if you can – some AMAZING artists were involved in this) and it was great to have him at Port Fairy for the first time in 2023, where he sold more CDs than some of the headline artists, his shows went so well. Equally funny and heartbreaking, you’ll never forget the first time you see him.
Annahstasia
A colleague in the UK gave me the hot tip on this one maybe 18 months ago, and I’m so happy we are apart of their first tour to Australia. It’s ‘blown up’ as the kids say, and this will be one of those that you can say you saw before everyone else. Be there or be sad.
Chloe Foy
I first discovered Chloe at English Folk Expo in October 2021 – the first event on global terms, which in reality, was still during the pandemic. I loved her show and the album ‘Where Shall We Begin’ she had out at the time, and after a few years of trying, she’s on her first Australian tour. A personal favourite.
Kasey Chambers
So, just about everyone knows Kasey – there’s not much she hasn’t done over her career. But reading her recent biography ‘Just Don’t Be a D**khead’ made me dig back and rediscover her amazing back catalogue. She has an amazing band on the road right now, including Syd Green who was previously the drummer in Port Fairy favourites 19-Twenty. From the recent shows I’ve seen, and with recent Golden Guitar wins, in career best form. Can’t wait!
Catch all these amazing artists and many more across the Festival weekend!
Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place in Port Fairy, Victoria over the Labour Day long weekend, 6-9 March 2026.
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For tens of thousands of years the Pyipgil Gundidj clan has gathered in ceremony on this country. Since 1977 the Port Fairy Folk Festival has been celebrated each year on the land of the Pyipgil Gundidj clans – on Peek Whurrong country. The Port Fairy Folk Festival pays their respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledges that the land we gather on each year for the Festival is the traditional lands of the Peek Whurrong people.
