LIVE PERFORMACE & MUSIC

In this world premiere, Mikelangelo & The Black Sea Gentlemen, joined by Up She Rises choir, take on The Odyssey in a spirited and irreverent musical retelling of the Ancient Greek epic. Developed in partnership with Four Winds Concerts, with support from the Australian Government through Festivals Australia.

Reeba Von Diamond loves to party. Her band of fabulous Jazz players make hot tunes with old favourites. Gymnastic lead breaks, shiny threads and high energy tunes put fun at the centre of their improv. Never the same show twice.

Violaloop: one guy, one 5-string viola, one loop pedal. Infinite grooves, made live and deleted on the spot, no repeats, no pre-recordings. Every set is a one-time-only vibe.

Catch WolfeFolk, led by contemporary violinist Emily Wolfe, as some of Tasmania’s finest musicians cut loose with an eclectic mix of folk, blues and country, fuelled by improvisation, infectious rhythms and a sound that’s anything but predictable.

Enjoy rich harmonies, acoustic guitar and a versatile mix of classic songs and modern hits from Tasmanian duo Stellar, featuring Tony Mak and Samantha James-Radford.

Enjoy rich harmonies, acoustic guitar and a versatile mix of classic songs and modern hits from Tasmanian duo Stellar, featuring Tony Mak and Samantha James-Radford.

Joe & Olivia Wilson are a brother-sister duo from just outside Hobart. Seasoned multi-instrumentalists who have played together since childhood, they bring an easy musical chemistry to performances that shift from heartfelt and atmospheric to lively and funky.

Batten down the hatches and follow the fiddle! Fiddle In The Rigging brings sea shanties, hornpipes and maritime mischief to Kings Pier in a roving one-man, one-fiddle performance.

Join Pirate Peg for piratey fun, playful adventures and colourful twisty craft creations for young festival-goers.

Experience the lively sound of the Tasmanian Heritage Fiddle Ensemble as traditional and contemporary Tasmanian tunes meet local storytelling, global influences and a modern twist. Led by violinist and musical director Emily Wolfe, the Hobart/nipaluna-based ensemble keeps Tasmania’s musical traditions alive while giving them a fresh contemporary edge.

Up She Rises take their pirate spirit on the move, roaming the Festival with foot-stomping shanties, bold harmonies and plenty of cheek.

Billy Whitton, Hobart’s own crooner, brings smooth guitar, classic songs and an easygoing mix of favourites from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Gamelan Beleganjur Selatan, the Walking Warriors of the South, rise again after a 10-year hiatus with the thrilling, hypnotic pulse of Balinese gongs, cymbals and drums. Find them roving the Festival and also accompanying the Balinese boat launch on Sunday at 3pm.

Tas Maloya is a new project led by violinist Emily Sheppard, drawing on the driving rhythms, percussion and communal spirit of Maloya. Expect a vibrant, groove-rich performance with plenty of energy and movement.

Hear Up She Rises fill the heritage walls of Hobart City Hall with bold harmonies, sea shanties and their unmistakable pirate spirit.

Montz Matsumoto takes his banjo on the move, weaving bluegrass, Celtic and Japanese influences through a lively roving set across the Festival.

Sands Family Circus brings acrobatics, balance, humour and plenty of circus fun for kids and grown-ups alike.

The Southside Steppers bring the party with roving brass, punchy percussion and a feel-good mix of New Orleans funk, pop, R&B and soul.

Sip Tasmanian rum, follow the sound of sea shanties and live music, and soak up the rollicking maritime atmosphere in the historic grounds of Narryna Heritage Museum. Entry: $10 per person

Ray Singline & the Trawl Dogs serve up sea shanties with a rough-edged country-rock swagger, laced with local folklore, mischief and plenty of character.

Born of smoke, moss and whiskey in Tasmania’s deep south, a group of burly men gather in the winter dark to sing shanties of work, women, whiskey and lonely seas. Rollicking, roaring and shoving the jug, they lift their voices into the night before slipping back into the known world at dawn.

Lauren O’Keefe is a Hobart singer, songwriter and guitarist known for powerhouse vocals, driving rhythms and fresh takes on blues, rock and pop from the ’60s to today.

Captain O'Brien's Craic are a seven-piece Celtic punk band from Launceston, lutruwita/Tasmania. Leaning into Tasmania's convict past, bushranger tradition and their deep Irish roots, they weave rollicking tales of the sea, rebellion and the colonial experience into high-octane folk punk. Many members also bring a background in musical theatre, giving their storytelling real dramatic punch. After hitting the festival circuit in 2023 and releasing two EPs, 2026 sees them dropping new studio tracks that capture the full force of their raucous live show.

The Royal Australian Navy Band Tasmania turns up the volume with a sharp set of 70s rock, modern pop and crowd favourites.

Join Wendy Grose for a fun sea shanty singing workshop, followed by a lively performance amongst the Tall Ships. All ages and abilities welcome.

Nikayla & Tom Duo reinvent favourite songs with rich harmonies, guitar, keys and live looping, bringing a sharp, contemporary edge to their acoustic sound.

Experience the colour, rhythm and energy of Indonesian culture through a captivating performance of traditional dance.

Hear Up She Rises fill the heritage walls of Hobart City Hall with bold harmonies, sea shanties and their unmistakable pirate spirit.

Sink into Joely’s soulful acoustic sound, where a rich, husky voice meets dynamic live looping and distinctive takes on favourite songs.

Up She Rises is a fun, feisty and fierce Hobart women’s choir, first formed for AWBF in 2023 and now back for their third Festival. Directed by Jane Christie-Johnston, they bring foot-stomping shanties, folk ballads, silly songs, serious songs and plenty of personality.

Sisongke Community Choir is a joyful a cappella ensemble singing songs of peace, justice and community from around the world. Expect rich rhythms, global folk traditions and, especially for AWBF, songs inspired by islands and the sea. Join in, move to the beat and enjoy the music.

Montz Matsumoto & Voicestrings blend bluegrass with Celtic, Indian and Japanese influences, pairing sparkling banjo, flute and soaring vocals in a sound that moves from the rice fields of Japan to the Appalachian Mountains.

Sing Australia’s Kingston and New Town groups unite at AWBF for a joyful set of nautical songs. Inclusive and welcoming, they’re built on the belief that everyone can sing.

Like the moods of the ocean, Storm Bay bring you sweet tunes and heartfelt ballads, jigs faster than a gale force blow and momentos of stories still fresh on the tide. Cello, violin, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and hearty vocals are just the ticket to present Tasmania's local salty stories to any motley crew!

Turn up for Jess Clennett and Sean Hall as powerhouse vocals meet sharp guitar work across pop favourites, classic rock and big sing-alongs.

Nourish Women’s Choir is a vibrant ensemble of around 40 voices, bringing rich contemporary harmonies, warmth and plenty of joy to every performance.

Isaac Westwood is a Hobart-based solo acoustic artist delivering stunning, soulful covers from the 60s to today. With 20+ years on stage, he brings impressive vocals and a massive pop, RnB, rock, and soul repertoire to every live show.

Day Star Duo bring a warm, nostalgic soundtrack to the Festival, moving effortlessly through ballads, rock ’n’ roll, country, Australiana and much-loved songs from across the decades.

Sands Family Circus brings acrobatics, balance, humour and plenty of circus fun for kids and grown-ups alike.

Feel the power and rhythm of taiko as the drummers bring bold movement, thunderous beats and high-energy performance to the festival.

Let the skirl of pipes and thunder of drums draw you in as the City of Hobart Highland Pipe Band sweeps through the Festival with stirring rhythms that roll across the waterfront.

Tasmania’s premier Yacht Rock tribute band, Baby Come Tack, will have you singing and dancing your boat shoes off to the smoothest hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Enjoy music from Hall and Oates, Toto, America, Little River Band, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Player, and more!

Matt Doyle fires up the stage with powerhouse vocals, sharp guitar work and a crowd-pleasing mix of acoustic pop, blues and country.