Josefina Paulson, a "riksspelman" and world champion of the modern nyckelharpa, has worked as a  freelance musician and producer touring all over the world with her nyckelharpa. She has enchanted audiences  in Australia, USA, Japan, and throughout Europe and Sweden. Her love for travelling through music and culture  has been the start of many collaborations with other musicians and dancers who are curious to explore the  fusion of traditions. 

With a discography including more than 20 album releases, Josefina has been awarded with some of the finest  titles in folk music, and in 2025 was nominated for both the artist of the year award and the traditional musician  of the year awards at the national Folk and World Music Gala in Sweden. She holds a bachelor’s degree in  Traditional Music from the Royal Academy in Stockholm.  

Josefina Paulson with Friends and Family 

For this Australian tour in 2026, Josefina is joined by: 

• Fredrik Bengtsson: Her husband and acclaimed double bassist, versatile across folk, traditional,  classical, and jazz genres 

• Big Fiddle Little Fiddle: The dynamic Australian duo featuring cellist Louise Godwin and multi instrumentalist Jessica Foot (violin, hardingfele, oboe, cor anglais) 

This special collaboration will showcase a repertoire spanning Nordic music and original compositions created  specifically for the Australian tour. The sounds of Scandinavia will intertwine with contemporary Australian  influences to create a tapestry of sound that transcends borders. 

Duo Paulson/Bengtsson (Sweden) 

Frederik Bengtsson, a southern Swede with a double-bass, and Josefina Paulson, a nyckelharpist born and raised  in Västmanland county in Sweden, meet in this duo to discover how they can challenge their given roles that  comes with their instruments. Together, they take new roads with the melodies and tell the stories in a personal  way. Duo Paulson/Bengtsson perform new composed music in traditional style, blending flavours of jazz,  baroque, and drone music, and painting a picture of a dream and illusion. Mirroring the darkness and light of the  seasons, each instrument leaves its traditional roles, taking turns to carry the melody and lead the dance. [http://www.josefinapaulson.se/bengtsson.html#bengtsson] 

Big Fiddle Little Fiddle (Australia) 

Big Fiddle Little Fiddle (Jessica Foot, violin, hardingfele and Louise Godwin, cello) have been drinking tea and  playing tunes for 10 years and have been heard at festivals and in venues and lounge-rooms playing a mix of  original tunes, lots of music about their friends, plus Celtic, Scandi, and other vibes. Jess loves English tunes  

more than Lou. Lou loves dark tunes and mournful laments. "Cello tunes", she calls them. BFLF laugh and  chatter and play raucous string arrangements. It’s a sort of gentle chaos, and their joy is infectious. They bring  everyone along for the journey: people always leave gigs saying they’re going to unpack their instrument they  haven’t played in ages. [https://bigfiddlelittlefiddle.com/]

Joel Rapaport (Rapaport)

 

Joel Rapaport articulates personal thought bubbles, survival mantras and opaque moments through a sound influenced by grime, art rap, jazz and soul. Dense lyrics, dry humour, electric guitars dripped in reverb and a slapping drum break are most of his favourite things.

 

For over 15 years Rapper, guitarist, producer, Joel Rapaport has been leaving his mark on Australian grime & hip hop. He has released three solo albums, was nominated for Best Song at FBi Radio SMAC Awards in 2017 for ‘What I Got’ and was a Winner of the Triple J Unearthed NIDA competition for Loose Change’s ‘Grown Up’ Ft. Jeswon (Thundamentals) in 2013.

 

Rapaport has collaborated on recordings with artists such as Moju, Nooky, Joelistics, Laneous, Ozi Batla (The Herd), Tuka & Jeswon (Thundamentals), Jack Prest, True Vibenation, Omar Musa, Mathas, Chillinit, Nerve, Mantra and Meklit Kebrit.

 

He is the co-founder & managing director of record label ‘Big Village Records’, creator & director of hip hop / live art game show Sketch The Rhyme, Managing director of hip hop education organisation School of Rap.

https://youtu.be/olZ0cDVS4C0?si=nLrwDtJJORX_ldIi

Blake Rhodes (Mr Rhodes)

 

Sydney based Bundjalung lyricist and producer Blake Rhodes (Mr Rhodes) has cemented himself as a respected leader of future facing hip hop in Australia. Mr Rhodes started his career in hometown of Lismore as a solo artist and founding member of hip hop trio Teddy Lewis King with whom he performed at Sydney Opera House in 2018, and Falls fest. In Lismore Rhodes also worked teaching hip hop workshops full time to young people through a variety of programs including Rekindling the Spirit. in 2020 Rhodes was recipient of Create NSW X Powerhouse Museum Generations Fellowship and developed and presented the theatre show FLOW with Mitch King.

 

Rhodes moved to Sydney in 2022 when he was a recipient of the NATSIMO x Abbey rd Institute Scholarship. Since moving to Sydney achievements include Big Sound Performing artist 2022, 2023, NATSIMO X Apra Amcos writing Camps in 2021, 2022, 2023, being named a Ticketmaster Breakthrough Artist 2024, Space to Create First Nations Music Residency 2025 and touring with Horrorshow, Illy and Winston Surfshirt.

https://youtu.be/59KrHtKt2aM?si=VJKphonPnEkOvwZz

Which Witch。。。Woman's Rock Group And the Joyful Strains Choir

Claudio Rabe is a genre-defying sonic force, originally from Madagascar and now based between France and Réunion Island. His electrifying sound fuses traditional Malagasy rhythms with rock, funk, and electronic elements—delivering high-energy live performances that are both immersive and deeply rooted in culture.

https://youtu.be/Jeqncs1QrKA?si=tdiZcuPaGaOcjWQ1

Claudio’s explosive Australian debut at Woodford Folk Festival 24/25 marked a major turning point, quickly followed by a sold-out headline show at It’s Still a Secret in Brisbane. His latest EP, Mosary, is a powerful showcase of his ability to transform ancestral influences into modern, dancefloor-ready anthems.

https://youtu.be/c3KJtW5nSMM?si=AqPyEu-_SSUe1Lqg

Now signed to Yama-Nui Records, Claudio returns to Australia in 2025 for a national tour with stops at BIGSOUND, Festival of the Winds, and a run of high-impact shows along the east coast. His live sets are hypnotic and rhythm-forward—where traditional percussion collides with modern grooves in a celebration of movement, identity, and connection.

https://youtu.be/LNQad3G7FGo?si=qkrktshPV518DOzy

Exciting new talent, cellist and composer Darcy Gilkerson, is playing Nowra at El Horses for a special Thursday night show September 25th! Darcy is launching his recently released debut album ‘Acteon’ touring with his band up the East Coast from Melbourne.

The album is the culmination of a long period of experimentation and exploration in coupling together classical compositional techniques and jazz improvisation. Darcy's music explores themes of self-discovery, empowerment, queer love and the ever-present ebb and flow between pain and joy.

Darcy and his band have played at many venues across Melbourne including Jazzlab, Wesley Anne Tempo Rubato, Paris Cat, Longplay and the Brunswick Green, playing his original works. Using his skills as a performer, teacher and composer, Darcy’s goal is to invite his audience into a musical conversation and to engage in an exchange of emotion between performer and listener.

Darcy Gilkerson: Cello

Micheal Brady: Guitar

TBC: Piano

Monty Shnier: Bass

Jack Rosenzweig: Drums

Stella Anning

Naarm/Melbourne based, Stella is a versatile guitarist, singer/songwriter, composer and performer, continually seeking for innovative sounds across genres. With an established background in jazz and composition, Stella’s practice has recently expanded to incorporate the singer/songwriter genre and

aesthetic in her work. Recognised as a musician, a part of a new generation of jazz in Melbourne, her work has expanded and evolved in parallel with her life which has been transformed by becoming a mother. Stella’s new found pathways of experimentation in songwriting and the discovery of her

voice as an expressive instrument is a lateral extension of the foundation of musicianship developed over decades as a practicing artist.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 2007, Stella has become a highly sought-after session musician, performing with various artists such as Guy Sebastian, thndo, C.W Stoneking, Kylie Auldist, Nina Ferro and Clare Bowditch. She has toured domestically and internationally and her playing features on dozens of recordings across myriad genres. Stella also spent sometime performing in the Australian Army Band, which took her to performing in Japan and all across Australia, including many remote Indigenous communities.

As an ensemble leader and guitarist, Stella has released two instrumental albums; STAT and Paper Planes, that feature some of Australia’s most celebrated improvisers and has toured nationally performing these original works at venues and festivals including Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Northcote Rising Festival, Northcote Social Club (Melb), The Ellington (Perth) and Lazybones (Sydney). Her first album featured Tony Floyd on drums and Sam Keevers on piano, with emerging bassist Alex Yeap on double bass. The album also featured the Cello on one composition.

This was an album Stella wrote entirely herself and released the year after she had completed her bachelor studies. The album featured 10 original compositions and highlighted Stella’s musicality and determination on establishing herself in the jazz scene. Stella second album ‘STAT’ received rave reviews and saw Stella’s musical aestetic diversify across genres and music scenes across Naarm. The trio were invited to perform supporting blues/rock

guitarist Ashley Naylor, Melbourne jazzer Alexander Nettlebeck and other various artists from eclectic backgrounds, expanding Stella’s fanbase and also introducing Stella to a larger network of Naarm musicians.

Stella’s evolution into songwriting will be represented in an upcoming release in June 2025, inspired and influenced by a community of artists that surround her in Naarm, allowing this new work to be a reflection of the diversity of artists and artistic practice in Australia’s cultural capital city.

Recent career highlights include Banff Jazz and Sonic Arts residency (2024) where she was mentored by Shabaka Hutchings and Ganavya, Mentorship with Aaron Choulai through the Australian Art Orchestra (2023), performing at Bluesfest (Women of Soul, 2024), Clarence Jazz Festival (2024),

guest artist at Sydney’s Sound Sorcery jam (2024), National Folk Festival (2023) and STAT performing for Melbourne International Jazz Festival (2023).

Current projects and activities include guitarist and backing vocalist for artists such as John Flanagan, ISEULA, Sal Kimber, LHËON, Women of Soul Collective and the JazzLab Orchestra.

Beyond her performance career, Stella is dedicated to mentorship and education, having lent her expertise to not-for-profit organisation YoWo Music, a band program that aims to promote gender equity in the music scene, while empowering and nurturing the next generation of young women and

gender-diverse musicians.

THE ALBUM: YELLOW BRICK VENEER - Stella Anning (RELEASE TOUR 19 SEPT - 5 OCT)

Written from lockdown up to now, the album chronicles a transformative time in my life – becoming a mother, navigating personal challenges, and finding clarity through music. Each track explores themes of connection, vulnerability and the courage to face life's complexities. 

I’m excited to share these deeply personal songs, offering a glimpse into the human experience as we navigate the ups and downs of life. This band brings together some of Naarm's finest musicians, blending jazz, soul, and indie influences to create an exciting, dynamic sound - with Kyrie Anderson on drums, Selene Messinis on keys and Richard Rose on bass.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stellaanningguitar

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StellaAnningMusic

Bandcamp  https://stellaanning.bandcamp.com

Website https://www.stellaanning.com

Soundcloud https://on.soundcloud.com/f7kK6NIeg5IZHAHlZd

The Max Alduca Quintet 

Monastery 

Sydney based double bassist and composer Max Alduca presents his debut album Monastery drawing inspiration from a personal journey through music and spirituality, reflecting themes of interconnectedness, trust, and hope, while also paying homage to his teachers and collaborators. Bringing together some of Sydney’s leading jazz musicians—Hilary Geddes (guitar), Michael Avgenicos (tenor sax), Luke Sweeting (piano), and James Waples (drums), the album draws on contemporary jazz,  free improvisation and cinematic soundscapes. 

Max Alduca is one of Australia’s most in-demand bassists, regularly touring nationally and internationally with Hamed Sadeghi’s Eishan Ensemble, Hilary Geddes Quartet, The Pocket Trio, Microfiche and many others. He has also worked with prominent artists including Mike Nock, Paul Grabowsky  and Dale Barlow. The quintet, formed in 2022, reflects Alduca’s long-standing musical relationships with Geddes, Avgenicos, Sweeting, and Waples. Their collective sound, shaped by years of collaboration, is at the core of Monastery.

Max Alduca - Double bass, compositions

James Waples - drums

Hilary Geddes - Guitar

Luke Sweeting - Piano

Micheal Avgenicos - Tenor Sax 

The Casey Greene Quintet will be playing from the Blue Note catalogue, with compositions from Wes Montgomery, Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson, Hubert Laws, Chick Corea as well and some fresh original compositions from Casey, Jeremy & Peter.

Casey Greene - Saxophones, Flute, Clarinet Jeremy Sawkins - Guitars Peter Locke - Piano Mike Walsh - Bass Mark Sutton - Drums

The Gadflys Recently teaming up with long-time band members Elmo Reid on bass, and Pete Kelly on trumpet and drums, the Moriarty brothers Phil and Mick, are back out doing what they do best. Playing ‘LIVE’. Don’t miss it!

Nowra Winter Festival

1st GODTET OZ TOUR

"We are doing a lovely tour around some places and venues and people we love. This is our first ever tour of Australia! yay :) would love to hang with you all. lots of love GODTET"

May 1 - SYDNEY - Annandale creative arts centre May 4 - THIRROUL - Railway Hall May 23 - MELBOURNE - Evelyn Hotel May 24 - MELBOURNE - Punters Club May 29 - BELLINGEN - 5 Church Street May 30 - BRISBANE - The Outpost May 31 - BYRON BAY - Red Light Low Live June 1 - ARMIDALE - Playhouse June 7 - CANBERRA - Gang Gang June 14 - NOWRA - El Horses

My name is Ben Lerner and I’m a jazz alto saxophone player and composer living in Sydney. I’ve lived in Sydney for nearly 5 years now and play frequently with the likes of Mike Nock, Matt McMahon, Laurence Pike, Andrew Gander, Jonathan Zwartz, Andrew Dickeson and others. I was recently a finalist for this years’ National Jazz Award.

This South Cost tour for May 2025 with my quartet features Steve Barry (Piano), Max Alduca (Bass) and Alex Young (Drums).

If you’re interested in the music, here’s an excerpt from a live recording we did in Sydney, late 2022: https://soundcloud.com/ben-677905662/vocare-repeat-ben-lerner?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

http://greens.org.au/nsw/MeetDavidAtElHorses

Join David Shoebridge, our NSW Greens Senator, at El Horses Nowra, for an evening of feisty talk, food and music NSW Senator David Shoebridge will spend the evening with Gilmore Greens and friends to discuss a range of topical and important issues of interest to us here and around the country - like Greens' plan to get out of AuKUS, Defence, Legalise It and social justice. This is your chance to air your questions and concerns in a Q and A Delicious food will be available from Blak Cede Catering, an Aboriginal women-led social and cultural enterprise which cultivates traditional foods from their Kareela Ngura community garden to produce high quality products for their cafe & online store.

Music by George Bishop and friends.

Ho Down Big Band

Andrew Travers (Vox Acoustic Guitar)

Catherine Wearne (Vox)

Marcus Phelan (Electric Guitar, Vox)

Clare O’Meara (Fiddle / Accordion, Vox)

John Kaldor (Pedal Steel/Dobro)

Artie Taylor (Upright Bass)

Nerida Wu (Drums)

Beautiful night of original music and local talent.