Image Credit: Lucinda Goodwin

The future of folk is bright with these Port Fairy Folk Festival emerging artists

Port Fairy Folk Festival announces the recipients of their professional development performance program, Future Folk.

Congratulations are in order for ten emerging folk musicians as Port Fairy Folk Festival reveal the successful recipients of their 2026 Future Folk Young Musician Development Program.

Now in its fifth year, the program nurtures young Victorian musicians aged between 12 and 25 years, providing mentoring, development and performance opportunities, all culminating in a set at the upcoming Port Fairy Folk Festival in March 2026.

This round’s recipients are Bonnie Jackson, Grace Watt, Harriet Wraith, Isla Dixon, Jasmin Adria, Lucy Joy, Maeve Grieve, Mathilde Anne, Rupert Bullard, and the Sam Curtis Collective.

Port Fairy Folk Festival

When: Friday 6 – Monday 9 March 2026

Where: Port Fairy Township

Future Folk Recipients

Bonnie Jackson

Grace Watt

Harriet Wraith

Isla Dixon

Jasmin Adria

Lucy Joy

Maeve Grieve

Mathilde Anne

Rupert Bullard

Sam Curtis Collective

Keep connected to your live music scene here.

 

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An initiative developed by the Port Fairy Folk Festival with support from Moyne Shire Council, the Future Folk program has been a platform for emerging artists in the folk sphere to leap from, building collaborations, providing them with expert advice and training, and giving them the priceless opportunity to hone their performance skills in the real-world setting, and in front of a large and dedicated audience.

Under the program for the 2026 Port Fairy Festival, participants will receive one-on-one and group mentoring from established musicians, participate in professional development workshops, and perform in front of festival audiences. Each artist or group will present a 20-minute set on Fiddlers Green in a dedicated emerging artist showcase and feature in a songwriters circle on the Festival’s main stage.

The Future Folk program not only builds performance skills and industry knowledge but also fosters artistic community and confidence. Whether writing heartfelt lyrics, crafting harmonies, or connecting with audiences, these young artists represent the bright future of Victoria’s folk scene.

 

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The 2026 cohort is full of emerging tastemakers in the Victorian scene. Jasmin Adria has been a name circulating through the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast across the past 12 month, securing a slot at Queenscliff Music Festival, playing BDKFest, dropping single February Boy and jumping up on local stages here, there, and everywhere. Maeve Grieve has also shared similar success securing a support slot with Liz Stringer for her show at the iconic Corner Hotel and being nominated for the Emerging Artist Award at the AWMA’s. All are expected to have a significant trajectory following the Future Folk activities.

Port Fairy Folk Festival Program Director Justin Rudge says of the program, “The Future Folk program is one of my significant joys of my programming role at the Folkie- and it keeps going from strength to strength!  Watching these young artists find their voices and share their stories with the audience is what folk music is all about – connection, creativity and community.  It’s a credit to the young artists, and a hallmark of the growing strength of the Future Folk program that has generated some great artists since its inception.”

Moyne Shire Cr Jordan Lockett adds, “We love that local emerging musicians get this chance to play on big stages in front of their community. Future Folk is a huge opportunity to rub shoulders with artists from all over the world, to learn, and to showcase their own amazing talents.”

Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place over the Labour Day long weekend, 6-9 March 2026, bringing together music lovers from across Australia to celebrate folk in all its forms — from legendary performers to the next generation of songwriters and storytellers.

Future Folk is delivered in partnership with Port Fairy Folk Festival and Moyne Shire Council’s AMPLIFY program, with funding by the Victorian Government. Find out more here.