- Geoff Achison The only Australian guitarist endorsed by Gibson US... Blues/soul player with a multitude of recordings and respect from the blues world... Has won awards both here and OS for his playing skills... Our newest Patron.
- alicia-c Singer/songwriter/guitarist alicia-c’s music is guitar driven with shades of folk/funk/pop. A style alicia-c describes as skankin’ pop; guitar based groove with free flowing skankin’ vocals.
- Andrew Wrigglesworth & Lauren Kaye Winner of the 2001 Young Guitarist of the Year Award, Andrew has continued to impress with his own unique finger-picking style playing. Lauren, a talented singer will be accompanying Andrew.
- Geoff Andrew Influenced by guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Clapton, Geoff’s guitar playing saw him being nominated for best instrumental at the 1996 Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards (along with Phil and Tommy Emmanuel). Geoff’s new CD ‘The Dark Outside’ was released this year.
- Michael Baretto Hawaii-based Michael is known for his fine performance style and story telling in song. He plays a fine blues mix of primarily originaltunes, always with a smooth Hawaiian swing. The genre is 'Island Blues'; a hybrid of Island music and the blues.
- Bob Brozman US based, though constantly touring the globe... Magazine refs and credits highlight him as one of the finest exponents of Blues slide guitarist playing anywhere in the world.
- Budgie Smugglers Repertoire consists of obscure instrumental music that is a mixture of surf instrumental, hard rock, rockabilly, jazz, blues and instrumental. The Budgie Smugglers aim is to prove that instrumental music can be entertaining!
- John Carroll A solo performer who plays a combination of alternate country, folk, blues as well as some well known favourites.
- Carus Having previously toured with The Joh Butler Trio and Jack Johnson, Carus is fast building a reputation as an enigmatic and passionate performer and writer.
- Phil Cebrano Phil’s first break, first big break came when sister Kate, hired him to be her guitarist and vocalist in her first project as a solo artist. As well as co-writing hit singles for Kate, playing to sell-out tours and composing film soundtracks and setting up a record label, Phil has kept busy by playing in some of Australia’s best-loved party bands and is now playing guitar and vocals with hot new band Trentwood.
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- Nick Charles The Melbourne Age has descibed him as "the virtuoso of acoustic roots guitar in Australia". Nick will be presenting the fingerstyle guitar music from his two critically acclaimed solo releases "My Place " and "Grace Notes" music, that has in recent times, has taken him around this country and to the USA. Nick has been steadily building audiences everywhere with a style and skill that has been honed through over 25 years on the Australian roots music scene.
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- Sally Dastey Ex Tiddas, Sally is now venturing out on her own with a newzest for music and performing. Sally's new work has her signature voice, humour and compassion, however she is exploring other genres.
- Matthew Fagan Matthew is a gifted, fiery young guitarist with a wealth of experience in performance, recording and composition. He performs with unique Australian hand-made instruments.
- Mike Garner Mike Garner has a long musical history as an expatriate Brit, having worked in both acoustic blues and electric blues acts in the UK. He has supported British acts such as Jo Ann Kelly, Tony McPhee and the Groundhogs and Chicken Shack, as well as visiting Americans, such as Carey Bell. Mike is adept at pre-war style acoustic blues guitar, harmonica and vocals.
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- Dean Haitani Dean has been influencing not only by blues musicians such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton and B.B.King but also American Country musicians Vince Gill and Hanks Williams, Guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel and Michael Hedges as well a range of music from The Gypsy Kings, Strauss, 40's to modern jazz. To date, Dean has supported Ian Moss(Cold Chisel),Custard, Bo Jenkins & jammed with Joe Lewis Walker(USA),Dutch Tilders, Geoff Achison, Lloyd Speigel,I an Collard, Fiona Boyes (Mojos), Masa Sumide & Chris Wilson.
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- Dan Hall Dan Hall is a 24 year old singer / songwriter and guitarist. Since leaving Australian rock group Taxiride, Dan has been concentrating on developing his own material. Influenced and inspired by guitar greats and singer/ songwriters of his era and before, Dan channels his creativity in the purest sense and the result is mind-blowing. Driving melodic rock is the genre and Dan and his band explore it with little inhibition and a great sense of adventure. Dan Hall is in possession of the elusive secret formula.
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- Harper Harper is known for his superb soulful vocals, virtuoso harmonica performances and his unique original compositions. He describes his style as 'roots rock' because it mixes Motown grooves with English blues-rock.
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- Jimi Hocking Jimi ‘the human’ Hocking has been a familiar sight to Australian audiences for many years. A versatile guitarist, he is demand to play with many top acts. But when ‘doing his own thing’, there is no doubt of Jimi’s passion for electric blues. A T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry and BB King devotee, Jimi’s blend of showmanship, and guitar virtuosity have been amazing audiences in Australia and the USA.
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- Kevin Hocking In the world of Australian cabaret, Kevin Hocking has done it all. For close to 50 years, Kevin has worked at developing the many facets of his craft, in all aspects of music. Starting out as a pianist, he soon found himself arranging, conducting and composing. Recent activities include stints as Musical Director of “The Pirates of Penzance”, “The Mikado”, “HMS Pinafore” and “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum”. Don’t miss this opportunity to see Kevin accompanied by his many talented friends including Jimi Hocking, Keiran Murphy, Nick Charles, Slava Grigoryan, Bruce Mathiske, Geoff Andrews, Brett Woods and Doug de Vries.
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- Hula Blues Quartet Consisting of electric and acoustic steels guitars, banjo, ukulele, bass and vocals.
- Impro-Kelts Irish Australian music.
- Junior Junior are Justin Slater, Stephen Pederson and Pete Arthur - three mates who began as a busking trio playing Australian city streets and watching the passing parade. Their acoustic-driven rock songs convey stories of the everyday, reflecting the hope and tragedy of the human condition and told through rich harmonies and a captivating stage presence.
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- Paul Kelly Multiple Aria winner and arguably one of Australia’s finest song writers ever produced, Paul Kelly is an Australian institution. From the early days to the award winning “Nothing But a Dream” album, Kelly has enthralled his audience with his unique songwriting and performing talent.
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- Ron Leigh Ron Leigh has been involved in the music industry for 30 + years…. as a former Musical director for Colleen Hewett, and John Farnham; a graduate and teacher at the Guitar Institute of Technology (Los Angeles U.S.A.), songwriter, former manager (with partner Paul O’Gorman) of Tommy Emmanuel, Russell Morris and others. Ron was awarded 1997 “Citizen of the Year” (City of Kingston) for his work with young people in promoting alcohol free/drug free events via his music store (Ron Leigh’s Music Factory), which he has owned and operated while pursuing all the “other careers”.
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- Marvin Lorne Canadian born Marvin Lorne has been living and performing in Australia for more than twenty years and is widely acclaimed for his finger
picking and slide playing on six and twelve stringed guitars.
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- Harry Manx The Maharaja of the slide guitars! Canadian musician Harry Manx has spent over two decades cultivating his unique "New Blues" style. Intimate and affable, Harry plays lap-slide guitar and blues harmonica (simultaneously), plus banjo and the Mohan veena - the Indian slide guitar.
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- Mario Lattuada and Robert Bratetich Mario Lattuada and Robert Bratetich are an exciting acoustic guitar duo who play jazz-flamenco fusion arrangements and compositions. They perform mostly their own compositions, and are always in demand as session musicians.
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- Bruce Mathiske Playing bass, rhythm and melody simultaneously, Bruce has developed his own universal sound and enhanced it with flavours of Australia, the Mediterranean, Ireland and sounds of Latin America and Africa. Bruce tours the world playing the music he has always aspired to play and has performed with guitar icons Chet Atkins and Charlie Byrd.
- Mayfly Mayfly are a Melbourne based four piece with a unique sound described as 'beautifully crafted story telling wrapped in melody driven folkpop'.
- Steve McKenna Steve McKenna is one of Australia’s leading jazz guitarists. He has performed at jazz festivals across Australia and has performed with artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Courtney Pine, Don Raider, James Morrison, Dale Barlow and Don Burrows.
- Adam Miller Winner of the inaugural Wright Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at the 2002 Frankston International Guitar Festival.
- Kieran Murphy Kieran Murphy is a young guitarist emerging onto the Melbourne music scene, establishing himself as an instrumentalist with his own style of blues and contemporary music. Kieran’s fast fingerstyle originals and sensitive interpretations of other music styles continue to impress all those who hear him, including supporters Geoff Achison, Michael Fix and Tim Farriss. He has won several competitions and awards, however the pinnacle of his career was winning the prestigious Young Guitarist of the Year Award at the 2002 Frankston International Guitar Festival (at just 13 years of age!).
- Stone Orchard Rod Stone and Matt Orchard make up Stone Orchard, an acoustic/electric guitar and vocal duo, specialising in Blues/Rock, but who play a eclectic mix of musical styles from classical to rock and everything in between.
- Geoff Penny Classical guitarist who has been playing for over 20 years. Plays music from all periods, however his current interest is in 19th Century Spanish guitar composer and virtuoso, Fernando Sor.
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- Ruby's Grace Talented 4-piece young band playing an exciting and original blend of blues, roots and pop with driving rhythms and great vocal harmonies. Have recently supported The Waifs and the John Butler Trio.
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- Mose Scarlett Swing and blues with fingerstyle guitar and a truly mellow voice.
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- Karin Schaupp Classical guitarist Karin Shaupp is one of the most outstanding young musicians in Australia today. She began playing the guitar at five and first performed in public the following year. Since then she has won numerous prizes at international competitions and performed on the international stage, receiving the highest acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
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- Kenny Sheppard Ken Sheppard has been a significant member of the Australian music fraternity for a number of years and his forthcoming solo release reflects yet another chapter of his career.
Ken put in the hard yards from the age of fifteen, doing sessions, playing Melbourne venues, getting himself known. Together with an associate he formed "GEISHA", a hugely popular band that toured the country extensively, culminating in a score of Top 10 hits.
In more recent years Ken, has had the freedom to develop his passion for music of the "Blues" genre.
The Ken Sheppard Band has something of a floating format, however the present line - up definitely seems to gel. Aside from Ken on guitar / vocals, we have Chris Wilson (ex Broderick Smiths’ Big Combo) on Hammond / piano and a fine young rhythm section comprising Karl Willebrant on bass and Tim Burnham on drums, both of whom have played in the bands “Genuine Article” and “Bakehouse”.
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- Six String Casserole With two very different guitar and singing styles both Jeff (Red) Hateley and Joe Micallef complement each other. Humorous and everyday life stories are in their songs.
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- Lloyd Spiegel Lloyd is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose style mixes blues with soul, folk and soft rock. Whether performing classical blues from Robert Johnson, favourites by Bob Dylan, or his own material, his rhythmic, hard-edged guitar playing and strong vocals give a fresh sound to acoustic blues.
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- The Androids Riding on the success of their debut single, “Do it with Madonna”, The Androids, comprising of Tim Henwood (ex Superjesus), Marty Grech, Matt Tomlinson and Sam Grayson, are rocking the Frankston International Guitar Festival with their own style of “smart-ass rock”.
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- The Houseprouds Bringing together a mixture of worldly influences in the form of well crafted accessible songs, colourful melodies, watertight three part harmonies and sounds that are hearty and real, wrapped in optimism that is truly Australian.
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- Trentwood Trentwood, featuring Phil Ceberano on guitar and vocals and hot young blayers Adam Ventoura (bass and vocals) and Thom Mann (drums and vocals), have gained a loyal following in the short time since forming in November 2002 (particularly with the young ladies it would seem…). The band have performed with The Whitlams at the Australia Open and their debut album has received national airplay on Triple J.
- Urban Excentrics Urban Excentrics use classical bass lines, jazzy guitar chords, taditional instruments and electronic effects to highlight contemporary acoustic material which is both original and borrowed.
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- Thomas Vecera Thomas Vecera uniquely blends his Austin roots with a dose of Hollywood alternative. His sound comes from of his love of Dylan and Paul Simon combined with the dreamy and texturalised sounds of Radiohead, Wilco and Travis.
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- Emma Wall Singer/songwriter/guitarist. Contemporary urban folk infused with blues, funk and pop. Exciting stage presence and expressive live shows, Emma Wall has an energy that is captivating.
- Ren Walters Acoustic steel string guitarist.
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- Chris White Blues picker - performs Acoustic Blues, Slide, original Blues material and 'Roots' music.
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- Tim Williams A blues-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. Tim is a 30 year veteran of the 'Roots' music scene in North America, roots which stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60's.
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- Marisa Yeaman Marisa continues to astound audiences with her provocative songs that have become somewhat of a trademark. Stylistically she's developed a genre which is all of her own, skirting the fringes of folk/rock.
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