The annual event brings folk, blues and world music to Melbourne's west this July.
The Newport Folk Festival is set to return with more than 40 acts across six venues in Newport this July.
The community-driven festival showcases an eclectic mix of folk, blues, world music and storytelling, featuring both established and emerging artists from across Australia.
Newport Folk Festival
- Where: Various venues across Newport, including Newport Bowls Club, The Substation, Newport Scout Hall, Mechanics Hall, The Hub, and Bowlo Back Room
- When: Friday 4 July and Saturday 5 July 2025
The full lineup includes:
- A Band of Rain
- Ally Row
- The Anderson Collective
- Beatrice Cole
- Beginner Playalong Group
- The Bobcats
- Catgut and Air
- Celtic Piping Club
- Celtic Session
- Cherry Ballart
- CJ Commerford & The Supertones
- The Drongo and the Crow
- Fine Wool Mix
- Floyd Thursby Trio
- Folk Circle
- Fred Smith
- Greg Jenkins
- The Grooovetones
- The Inklings
- Jackie Kerin and Sarah Depasquale
- Jordan Brodie
- Joydah Mae
- Kinematic
- La Descarga
- Lizz Lethlean
- Music Playground Newport
- Newport Bush Orchestra
- Newport Djangos
- Newport Drummers
- Newport Old Timey Session
- Newport Storytellers: Stories by the Fire
- Newport Strings
- Ostralishe Kapelye
- Paisley and Plaid
- Queens of the West
- Rhys Duursma
- Sam Fletcher
- Savanah Solomon
- Seal Prince and the Roof Rats
- Sibyl
- SKULL (St Kilda Ukulele Lovers League)
- Sweet Mona’s Choir
- The Tallboys
- Tommy Castles & Carl Dickens
- Tues Blues
- Ukulele Dolls
- Ungus Ungus Ungus
- With One Willin Newport Voice
Check out our gig guide, our stage guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
The Newport Folk Festival begins Friday evening with performances at the Newport Bowls Club including The Anderson Collective, Jordan Brodie, and headline act Ungus Ungus Ungus, a self-described “stripey, strange, swinging circus party band.”
Saturday’s program spans from 10am until late across all six venues, with highlights including award-winning guitarist Fred Smith at The Substation, Kinematic at Newport Bowls Club, and Sweet Mona’s Choir performing their blend of gospel and world music.
Emerging artists feature prominently in the lineup, including Savanah Solomon, crowned 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year at the WA Country Music Awards, and Sam Fletcher, winner of the senior category at the 2024 NSW Folk Federation Young Folk Artist of the Year awards.
The festival also embraces cultural diversity with performances from Ostralishe Kapelye, specialising in Klezmer music of Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish traditions, and La Descarga, a Latin-Australian band blending Colombian tropical rhythms with Australian influences.
Beyond music, the Newport Folk Festival offers storytelling sessions, including Newport Storytellers: Stories by the Fire at the Scout Hall, where attendees can enjoy tales and poems with soup and crusty bread.
For those looking to participate rather than just spectate, the festival includes numerous workshops covering guitar techniques, vocal harmonies, and traditional music styles. The Folk Circle session, led by festival director Michael, invites everyone to bring an instrument and join in creating spontaneous folk music.
Online tickets are now available at $45 for adults, $33 for concessions, with free entry for under-18s. The festival organisers advise booking online in advance, as tickets will cost more at the door.
Festival coordinator Lucas Davies explained that the Newport Folk Festival relies heavily on volunteer support, with roles available in first aid, as MCs, stage managers, and general assistants. All volunteers receive a free festival wristband.
For more information, head here.
