BERNARD FANNING

Bernard Fanning has accumulated one of the most celebrated and distinct songbooks on the Australian rock spectrum. A multi–award winning and platinum selling artist with a solo career spanning 10-plus years, Fanning has firmly cemented his position as one of Australia’s finest songwriters and lyricists.

From the country folk-tinged charm of his multi-platinum debut solo album Tea and Sympathy to the rock grooves and horn breaks of its follow up Departures and the exquisitely crafted Civil Dusk / Brutal Dawn, a 2-part album series released across 2016 and 2017.

Civil Dusk/Brutal Dawn was recorded at the stunning La Cueva Studios, the new custom built studio Fanning created in NSW’s Byron Bay with long-time producer and friend Nick DiDia (Powderfinger, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine).

Recording with DiDia finished up over Easter 2016 and March 2017, and the result is some of Fanning’s finest work: themes of decisions and consequence are characterised by a sense of warmth, space and the earthy feel of acoustic guitar, piano, strings and violin

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KATE MILLER-HEIDKE

"Indie-pop for adults…smart, challenging and mature pop music" - Rolling Stone

Kate Miller-Heidke is an award-winning singer-songwriter who traverses the worlds of indie-pop, folk and opera. She is the only artist in history to perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Eurovision Song Contest, and Coachella.

She has released four studio albums including O Vertigo! which debuted at number 4 on the Australian album charts, Nightflight, which reached number 2, and Curiouser, which reached double platinum sales and spawned the multi-platinum hits ‘Last Day On Earth’, which also reached number 2 on the charts, and ‘Caught In The Crowd’, which won the Grand Prize in the International Songwriting Competition.

With her collaborator Keir Nuttall, she has written the music and lyrics to Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical, which premiered at the Sydney Theatre Company and is playing a return season in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane throughout 2019. It won five Helpmann Awards, including Best Original Score.

After competing at ‘Eurovision - Australia Decides’ in February 2019, she was unanimously chosen by both the jury and public votes to become Australia’s representative at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Her heartfelt performance and the out-of-this world staging of song ‘Zero Gravity’ won her first place in the semi-final and a top ten placing at the Eurovision Grand Final in May 2019.

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TROY CASSAR-DALEY

Troy Cassar-Daley has released 10 studio albums over the course of his thirty years of making music. He comes from a long line of storytellers and shares his musicianship with so many artists across different styles of music.

His passion to pen stories about this land and what lies at the heart of it has been a driving force in his career.

Troy’s natural authenticity is the bloodline of his music that endears him to his ever-growing number of fans from every walk of life.

Troy has been awarded numerous accolades including 37 Golden Guitars, 4 ARIAs, 2 APRA Country Song of the Year awards, 9 Deadlys (Australian Indigenous Artist Awards), 4 CMAA Entertainer of the Year awards plus 2 NIMAs (National Indigenous Music Awards). In 2017 Troy was honoured as the 50th inductee into the prestigious Australasian Roll Of Renown. He has had numerous gold and platinum albums and achieved a staggering 32 Number 1 chart singles.

His songs have been the soundtrack to the everyday triumphs, struggles and good times for Australians from our small towns to the big cities.

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SOMETHING FOR KATE

Occupying a unique place in the musical landscape, Something For Kate have been a household name for nearly 20 years. Their music has proven difficult to classify; cerebral, subtle and original, bending the will of audiences to their particular brand of guitar based sci-fi folk-rock to amass a vast cult-like following.

They’ve won Australian Music Industry Critics Awards for their intense live performances, multiple Rolling Stone gongs for Best Band, Best Album and Best Male Vocalist, had 15 songs in the Triple J Hottest 100 and have toured with everyone from David Bowie to Death Cab For Cutie. Something For Kate continue to make fiercely original and challenging records having just finished recording their 7th studio album, maintaining their importance in Australia’s music scene.

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ARCHIE ROACH

"Through his music, and as a role model, Archie triumphed against the odds, going on to achieve national and international status as a talented story-teller and musician. He tells the stories that motivate a nation, and did so at a time when no-one was listening" - Deadly Awards

Archie Roach is one of Australia’s most beloved and respected artists with a voice and sensibility that represents this country’s most important songline. No one has lived as many lives as Archie Roach – from stolen child, teenage alcoholic, seeker, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, to social advocate and First Nations leader.

Roach voices the joy, pain and hope he found on his path through song to become the legendary singer-songwriter and storyteller that he is today – beloved and respected by fans worldwide.

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DYSON STRINGER CLOHER

In 2013, Jen Cloher, Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer came together in the spirit of collaboration and experimentation to release an all-too-brief 3-track EP. They took their music deep into the heart of the country, playing more than 40 shows across every state and territory, as well as festival performances at Byron Bay Bluesfest and Queenscliff Music Festival.

That project, named Dyson Stringer Cloher, was a moment in time that showed extraordinary promise. In the intervening six years each of these artists pursued solo careers – releasing a combined 6 studio albums, winning multiple awards and touring globally – but the flipside was that their band became a fond memory and a series of tantalising unanswered questions. What would happen if they wrote a full album together? What could these incredible musicians achieve if they dedicated more time to this project?

In 2019 the band is back together and we have our answer. Dyson Stringer Cloher’s self titled debut album was released through Milk! Records in October. With Dyson based in L.A and Stringer in Toronto, the band chose to meet halfway to make a record at Jeff Tweedy’s ‘The Loft’ in Chicago. Taking on production duties themselves, they asked Wilco’s Glenn Kotche to join them on drums and Grammy Award winner Tom Schick to engineer. The results are what you might expect - inspired guitar playing and exceptional songwriting - warm, heartfelt and real.

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ROBERT FORSTER

In 1978, Robert Forster co-founded with friend and fellow singer-songwriter Grant McLennan the internationally acclaimed rock band The Go-Betweens. They released nine albums during their career; their sixth, 16 Lovers Lane, was placed at 12 on The Hundred Best Australian Albums list, and their last, Oceans Apart, won the 2005 ARIA award for Best Adult Contemporary Album.

In 2019 Forster released his seventh solo album Inferno, and we’re thrilled to have him join us on the Riverboats stage.

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BOB EVANS

Under the alias of Bob Evans, Kevin Mitchell has released five albums, all of which showcase the versatility and skill of this talented songsmith.

Gentle, acoustic melodies prevail, enveloping the classic folk storytelling and strong emotional pull that characterises Mitchell’s substantial body of work. Awarded Best Male Artist in Rolling Stone Australia’s annual reader poll, he was also a finalist for the Australian Music Prize, and a strong contender for the much lauded J Award in 2006. His second studio release, Suburban Songbook, saw Mitchell pick up a 2006 ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album and subsequent releases Goodnight, Bull Creek! and Familiar Stranger have both earned ARIA Award nominations Best Adult Contemporary Album.

As a lover of the road and a true troubadour, Kev chalked up an enormous number of kilometres around Australia following the release of his most recent album Car Boot Sale, playing more than 55 shows - 3 full national tours including the special 10th Anniversary shows with good friend Josh Pyke. He also played his first ever shows in Japan to sold out audiences and graced the Double J airwaves in August this year for four special shows filling in for Myf Warhurst.

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MAMA KIN SPENDER

Mama Kin Spender is a lightning bolt moment between two long-time friends, co-writers and mischief-makers: ARIA-nominated Mama Kin and producer Tommy Spender.

It’s a stripped back duo of brooding guitars, primal drums and howling harmonies, illuminated by a chorus of singers arranged by Virginia Bott (Brighter Later, First Chorus Band of Singers). Mama Kin Spender’s songs rattle, roll and tremble, from block party to heart rending ballad. With a sound that is as raw as it is joyful, Mama Kin Spender will challenge you to raise your voice in defiance of the status quo.

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AINSLIE WILLS

Ainslie Wills has earned an enviable reputation for writing songs that are musically powerful and earnestly delivered. Combining her unfaltering vocals with profound lyricism and thought provoking melodies, Ainslie Wills sets out to create music that is genre bending, unique and personal.

With a captivating and commanding stage presence, Ainslie’s music has seen her tour both nationally and internationally supporting the likes of Leon Bridges, Grouplove, Michael Kiwanuka, Hiatus Kaiyote, Tom Chaplin and Vance Joy; in addition to her own sold out headline shows in Australia and UK.

Her music has been picked up by Lauren Laverne and Guy Garvey (BBC6), while also receiving high rotation on triple j for single Drive.

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HORNS OF LEROY FEAT. THANDO

Horns of Leroy are a punked-out seven piece raucous street band take brass band music to a whole new level. From humble beginnings, the band has evolved from playing the streets of Melbourne to some of the biggest festivals and stages across the country.

Whether you love them for their New Orleans inspired street parties or their raucous stage shows, Horns of Leroy always deliver and have earned themselves a reputation to match.

Joining Horns of Leroy is Zimbabwean born and Melbourne based singer-songwriter, Thando.

Heralded as a commanding performer, Thando’s ability to tell a story takes her audience on a journey of loving oneself and reflection. The songstress grew up feasting on the musical offerings of Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, QUEEN and TLC. Along the way, she found Jill Scott and crafted her genre bending sound with an electric live set.

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MATT JOE GOW

Very few artists wield as much charisma as Matt Joe Gow. From heartfelt Americana through to spacious ballads, Gow is a songwriter whose swagger draws on the dusty influences of Johnny Cash and Ryan Adams.

After releasing his debut album The Messenger in 2009 through Liberation music to critical acclaim, Gow has released a further two albums, with Seven Years being nominated for a Victorian Age Music Award for Best Country album in 2016.

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JESS LOCKE

‘…a songwriter capable of balancing introspective reflection with pop-skewed accessibility’

- Rolling Stone Magazine

Jess Locke has long fostered a DIY sensibility and from an early age while growing on the Central Coast was fascinated with the process of recording on old microphones, tape recorders and whatever was lying around. Early performances in unconventional spaces like water parks, cemeteries and roundabouts were due to practicality as much as aesthetic preference.

After relocating to Melbourne, in 2015 she independently released her first full length album, Words That Seem To Slip Away, which gained her national airplay and a growing stream of gig offers.

Locke has since completed both solo and full band national support tours with Paul Dempsey and The Smith Street Band, plus supports for Julia Jacklin, Tiger’s Jaw (USA) and Into It. Over It. (USA) along with multiple headline tours including to South East Asia and New Zealand.

Her sophomore album Universe was released on Pool House / Remote Control in 2017 and received a four star review in Rolling Stone, was long-listed for the Australian Music Prize and was a Triple J feature album.

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FESTIVAL MC BRIAN NANKERVIS

MASTER OF CEREMONIES - BRIAN NANKERVIS

Brian's BACK! We're thrilled to announce that the wonderful Brian Nankervis will be joining us once again in 2020 as Festival MC.

Brian has been writing, producing and co hosting the SBS music trivia series, ‘RocKwiz’ since 2005. In 2017 the team toured as ‘RocKwiz Live’, performing thirty one shows in theatres around Australia.Brian currently co-hosts, with Richelle Hunt, 'The Friday Revue’, each Friday afternoon on ABC Radio Melbourne. In 2013, Brian performed in ‘Vandemonian Lags’ a theatrical presentation written by Mick Thomas. In 2012, he hosted 'Pictures Of You’ on Channel Seven.Brian contributes regularly to The Age and 3RRR and is an experienced MC and performer for public events and corporate functions. He performs a poetry show in schools. Brian was a primary teacher who fled the classroom to become a waiter at The Last Laugh theatre restaurant. He was a writer/performer on the hospital soap opera ‘Let The Blood Run Free’ and made regular appearances on ‘Hey Hey It's Saturday’ as the street poet, Raymond J Bartholomeuz.