Canada’s Harry Manx To Headline Illawarra Folk Festival

Bragging the largest international lineup in the event's history, the Illawarra Folk Festival has announced their main headliner for this year's dates, locking in Canada's guide extraordinaire Harry Manx and his band.

Manx blends the folk, blues and Hindustani classical genres together on his 11-release strong repertoire – both as solo and duo records with cohort Kevin Breit – regularly making appearances at the ever-popular and ever-growing Byron Bay Bluesfest.

Armed with his signature 20-stringed Indian Mohan Veena (featured in the how-to vid above), Manx will be joined by 12 additional international outfits and a total of 130 plus acts in total rounding out the full lineup – with initial announce unveiled today.

The first international bill announce looks like this:

Afenginn Denmark. Andy Irvine (IRE), The Beez (GER), Dom Flemons (USA), Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys (CAN), Harry Manx Band (CAN), The Hollands! (USA), Jaaleekaay (AFR), John John Festival (JAP), Klezmorim (BRA), London Klezmer Quartet (UK), Underskore Orchestra (USA) and Whitetop Mountaineers (USA).

And the Aussie contingent:

Belle Jar, Bernard Carney, Bruce Mathis ke, Dave de Hugard, Enda Kenny Band, Frank Povah, Glenn Skuthorpe, Greg Champion, I Viaggiatori, Kavisha Mazzella, The Miss Chiefs, Rapskallion, Rough Red, Shellie Morris, Spyglass Gypsies, Tai ko no Wa, The Timbers, The Wollemi Band and more to be announced.

Check out the festival page for all the details – including early bird ticket offers and insights into the great initiatives up and running at the event.