NELLIGEN FOLK FESTIVAL 2026
Authentic, heart-led folk music and a celebration of song, story and connection this Easter long weekend!
The curated lineup brings together some of the most compelling original artists from the South Coast and across Australia:
Kicking things off | Kane Calcite
Earthy, emotive and deeply connected to place, Kane Calcite opens the festival with smooth acoustic textures and vulnerable storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the ocean, nature and human connection, Kane’s performances are both powerful and intimate. Having shared stages with Jack Botts, Kim Churchill, Ash Grunwald and more, Kane sets the tone beautifully for the day ahead.
Mark Howard
Phillip Island troubadour Mark Howard brings dusk-lit songs shaped by decades of travel and forty-five countries’ worth of stages. His cinematic blend of alt-rock, folk blues and alt-country is anchored by a swampy groove and a voice that sounds like it’s lived a few lives. With AMRAP No.1 singles, ABC Radio play and festival appearances from Edinburgh to Adelaide Fringe, Mark is a magnetic storyteller not to be missed.
JC and the Tree
Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, JC and the Tree offer a rich folk-rock fusion inspired by nature and crafted with intention. Featuring soaring violin, lush harmonies, piano and hand-built acoustic guitars, their sound is intricate yet accessible. With appearances at Woodford Folk Festival, Caloundra Music Fest and beyond, this duo takes audiences on a genre-spanning journey that is both grounded and transcendent.
Blue Mallee
Genre-bending and cinematic, Blue Mallee fuse indie rock, ambient textures and traditional folk roots. Known for their roaring vocals, poetic grit and generous wit, their live shows are part concert, part storytelling. With festival appearances across NSW and supports alongside The Black Sorrows and Ash Grunwald, Blue Mallee bring warmth, humour and depth to the stage.
Closing the night | Jack Raymond
Rugged, raw and deeply grounded, Jack Raymond closes the festival with his signature “mountain roots” sound. Inspired by the landscapes of regional Victoria, his blues-tinged folk songs crackle with emotion and storytelling, delivered through a voice as textured as gravel roads and campfire embers.
Good music. Great stories. A riverside pub.
Come along to the Steampacket Hotel and soak up a full afternoon and evening of original folk music in one of the South Coast’s most loved live music spaces.
🌿 NELLIGEN FOLK FESTIVAL 🌿
📍 The Steampacket Hotel, Nelligen
🙏curated by MUVE management
🗓 Easter Long Weekend — Saturday 4 April
⏰ 3:00pm – 9:30pm
🎶 Original Folk • Storytellers • South Coast & Beyond
🎟 Free / Entry details as per venue
🍻 Family-friendly • Pet-friendly • Dinner available • All welcome