In 2025 we are proud to present two wonderful Artists of the Year!

ARTIST OF THE YEAR : Missy higgins

2024 was huge for Missy Higgins’. Her new album, The Second Act debuted at #1 and she was inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame with an unforgettable tribute featuring some of the many artists she has influenced over the years including G Flip, Amy Shark, Gretta Ray and Angie McMahon.

The Second Act was self produced, largely at home, and featured deeply personal songs that brought the beloved singer/songwriter full circle; back to the intimate, confessional intensity that propelled her trailblazing 2004 debut, The Sound Of White.

“When I was a teenager I wrote and recorded songs in a little shed out the back of my parent’s house. It was like writing in a diary that I never expected anyone else to read”, Missy explains. “That was how I worked through the things lots of people struggle with at that age – “who am I? who do I want to be?”. With this new album I was back to tackling exactly those same questions, but 20 years down the track, as I tried to make sense of a marriage breakdown.”

Last year also saw Missy play over 50 shows on The Second Act Tour which went on to be voted “Australia’s Best Live Act” by the general public at the ARIA Awards. It was another ‘full circle’ moment for an artist who got her start on the road opening for artists like The Waifs, John Butler and Pete Murray back before songs like “Scar” and “The Special Two” propelled her to headliner status.

 “My new music doesn’t get played on the radio much anymore but I’m lucky that people still want to hear me play live so that’s how I share songs these days – to a few thousand people at a time – and I absolutely love it. Festivals like Port Fairy have always been great supporters of artists like me so I’m looking forward to sharing some music – old and new – again this year.”

emerging artist of the year : flynn gurry

Hailing from the small coastal city of Warrnambool, along the shores of Australia’s Great Ocean Road, Flynn Gurry is starting to make some big waves. With his independently released 2022 debut EP Weather & Dogs? racking up over 150k streams in just over 12 months, this 23 year old is geared up for a big year. Having spent the summer of 2023 in Europe playing across Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden, Flynn is back performing across Australia, opening for the iconic Ian Moss of Cold Chisel and touring with high energy folk duo Pierce Brothers.

A master of high energy performances, Flynn’s live set is bound to coax even the most reserved among us out of their shells. His acoustic guitar led, harmonica wielding mix of indie/folk-pop is set to take him far, with a new single in the works, once again produced by Aria award-winning Jan Skubiszewski (John Butler Trio, Paul Kelly). Despite his recent arrival to the music scene, Flynn has already shared the stage with some of his most influential artists, the likes of Ash Grunwald, Kim Churchill, Shane Howard (Goanna) and Daniel Champagne, as well as joining major festival lineups such as Port Fairy Folk Festival and Loch Hart Music Festival.

“It is an absolute dream to be Port Fairy Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist this year. I’ve been attending this festival since I was a very small child, so to be receiving this incredible honour – I really can’t believe it. Some of my favourite artists like Pierce Brothers, Amistat, Folk Bitch Trio, and Yirrmal have won this award before me, I’m really blown away. Can’t wait for my sets!”

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