Up Up & Away

The Far North’s premier world music festival returns this year with a huge global line-up.

The festival features International, National and tropical artists, playing an eclectic roots spectrum, from gospel to jazz, blues to traditional dance, electronic cross-over to acapella, reggae to improvisation.

Headlining a diverse program over 4 stages will be DobaCaracol (Canada), Edou (New Caledonia), Jeff Lang (Aust), Yilala (NT), Joseph & James Tawadros (Egypt), Way Out West (Melb) and many more.

DobaCaracol is one of Canada’s finest new music groups, combining French language, roots rythms and contemporary grooves into one hot mix. The group recently played the Live 8 concert in Canada, and are enjoying wide spread success with their new album ‘Soley’.

DobaCaracol, from French speaking Quebec, have been described as “a mixture of earth and air, textured atmospheres with a strong feminine touch; song-witing with African, reggae and modern influences that blend together in a completely original manner”.

Edou is now recognized as a major Kaneka artist around the Pacific Islands. His music is an interesting fusion of kaneka, reggae and groove music. Edou’s music style (which mixes different influences) joined by his unique voice, make Edou one of the most important artists in the Pacific.

Jeff Lang is critically acclaimed as a truly great guitar player. The unusual thing is that the guitar playing never gets in the way of the music, nor overshadows his gift for hauntingly poetic song-writing.

He has delivered show-stopping performances at festivals as diverse as Port Fairy, Woodford, Byron Bay, Mudslinger and Livid in Australia, and he has performed at such festivals as the Dublin Blues Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Quebec City Music Festival, Falcon Ridge, Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, Blissfest, and the Ottawa Blues Fest.

Expressions of interest now closed.

Thanks the many bands and artists that have applied to be part of the festival in 2005. Its great to see such diversity and passion out there. We’d love to program all applicants, but like every festival, have limited performing opportunites and budgets.

Successful applicants will be contacted directly. We wish all applicants success with their careers and look forward to future applications.

Check this page for more annoucements throughout the year.