Festival of the Winds

Since 2014, New South Wales music students have travelled to Bali to learn traditional Gamelan instruments from the best players. Students and community members of this Gamelan have played  at arts festivals, temple ceremonies and the Australian Consulate-General  in Bali itself to great appreciation. They have brought their learnings and experiences back to Australia to perform in this most beautiful ensemble. This ensemble, called Suwitra Jaya or Noble Friendship, performs under the direction of Dr Manolete Mora and often combines traditional Gamelan with western instruments or those from other cultures, such as the Indian Sarod, which is featured in this performance. This  striking performance offers  music reflecting the notion of the ocean, connecting Indonesia to Australia.  So what better place for this striking group to play but right here by the ocean at Bondi.

Castlereagh Connection are a proud First Nations 4-piece family band from Coonamble NSW made up of Travis (12 years old) on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Braydon (13 years old) on drums, David Jnr (15 years old) playing lead guitar and their father/carer David Snr on bass guitar. This young band plays an array of classics featuring their traditional language, Gamilaraay as well as a mix of well known country, pop and rock songs and also a few originals.

They have been travelling all over NSW and performing together for just over 5 years and have worked with the likes of Buddy Knox, Fitzroy Xpress, Mop and the Dropouts and Kobie Dee

Their latest appearance on the Voice spin-off series The Voice: Generations has seen them tally up thousands of new followers and millions of views on social media platforms which has allowed them to reach a wider audience and fill in their calendar with larger events, most recently for NAIDOC in the City and Parramatta NAIDOC celebrations.

They have also performed in Tamworth for the 50th Anniversary of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and were successful in making it to the biggest stage in Tamworth being selected at finalists for the busking championships.

Sirens Dance was founded by dance choreographer Ramona Lobo fourteen years ago to share the beauty of Bollywood dance.  They have performed at hundreds of events and festivals included Parrasamala, worked on TV including Dance Boss and So You Think You Can Dance and won the prestigious ANZ Blue Rooms Award for talent. The team includes dancers from diverse cultural and dance backgrounds who have travelled to India for training, and bring the inspiration and sense of joy from India to their vibrant shows.  Fusing different world styles with classical Indian dance, Sirens Dance share their love of Indian culture through their own eclectic style they call Bollywood fusion.

Victor Valdes is a walking encyclopedia of Latin music past and present. One of Australia’s leading world music artists, this virtuoso Mexican singer, dancer and harpist has redefined the Harp as a solo and lead instrument. Valdes’ powerful, compelling voice and passion for storytelling takes audiences on a sonorous journey through the many emotions of MEXICO & the Latin American musical landscape.

VICTOR VALDES is a truly extraordinary performer and presents an opportunity to experience him in full regalia with HIS BIG MEXICAN MARIACHI BAND, as they play all the Mexican favourites!

He's shared the stage with everyone from Angus & Julia, Stone, Aloe Blacc, to Los Lobos, Mirusia, Jimmy Barnes, and The Wiggles. Valdes has appeared on folk, world music, rock, and blues festival stages Australia-wide and was named Director’s choice at Bluesfest.

“The brilliant singing of Valdes, who plays the harp equally well, made the heart pump that little bit faster.” John Shand Sydney Morning Herald

This 8-piece Afro-Australian band’s extraordinary talent creates sensational music that traverses across the traditional sounds of West Africa, reggae, funk, rap and groove.

Local Bondi resident, Sibo Bangoura, known as one of Australia’s leading West African percussonists, leads KEYIM BA, bringing together an exciting group of Afro-Australian musicians who take audiences on an exciting musical journey celebrating everything that is joyful and music and dance. This band delivers one almighty vibrant show that you cannot resist dancing along with!

KEYIM BA are Sibo Bangoura, vocals and percussion, Blair Greenberg on rhythm guitar, Calvin Welsh on drums, Jonathan Pease, lead guitar, Paula Baxter, vocals and dance, Tina Harris on bass guitar, Yacou M’Baye, percussion, Rachel Bangoura, vocals and dance.

“Australian has a West African band capable of holding its own on the  world stage …..” Tony Hillier, The Australian

Festival favourites are back again this year performing at the Main Stage and forecourt entertainment area dancing in the spring!

Black Joak Morris performs the Morris dances of the Cotswalds in southern England, which date back to the 13th century, and their own local Sydney tradition, which dates back to 2004. They offer a lively assortment of dances and most colourful traditional costumes and are accompanied by their trusty musicians, fools and hobby horses!

Beeswax and Bottlecaps are the collective minds of Monica Trapaga, George le Couteur and Lil Tulloch. Together they tailor entertainment, variety performance and vaudeville to stages both big and small. They have performed internationally and throughout Australia for large scale public events and corporate performance whilst also feeding their passion to produce independent theatre performances.  They will be gracing our mainstage, festival forecourt and Kids zone with their fun and clever shows as well as popping up around the festival throughout the day.

Did you know that ‘Paper Pilot’ is actually a real job title? Well, it sure is and yes, you guessed it… it involves flying paper planes for a living. Dylan Parker’s love for paper planes has taken him on an incredible journey, a journey that even inspired the latest hit Aussie family film, PAPER PLANES. Dylan’s love for design and all things aeronautical began during his university years which has taken him on to compete not only at the Australian Championships but the World Championships in Austria in 2009 where he scored a 3rd world ranking with a throw of over 42 metres!