The Great Divide

Irish Balladeer Dan McCabe Returns For His Biggest Australian Tour Yet, Building On A Remarkable Rise From Lockdown Viral Star To International Concert Drawcard

Irish Folk Powerhouse Reveal Australian Supports As Band Prepares For Festival Appearances And Stadium Dates With Ed Sheeran

Port Fairy Folk Festival has unveiled a substantial fourth artist announcement for its 49th event, further shaping what is already one of the most expansive and culturally rich programs in the festival's recent history. Taking place across the Labour Day long weekend in March 2026, the iconic Victorian gathering continues its long tradition of blending international voices, First Nations storytelling, Australian songwriting excellence and deeply rooted community participation.

Handsome Tours has announced the return of Iron & Wine to Australia and New Zealand, with the revered US indie folk project set for a series of intimate performances across February and March 2026. The tour will see Sam Beam performing solo, bringing his quietly influential catalogue back to local stages following the release of his latest album Light Verse.

Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter Jeffrey Martin has unveiled plans for his first-ever live album, Alive July 25, 2025, due for release on February 20, 2026, via Fluff & Gravy Records. The record, a document of a single Portland show, arrives just a month before Martin makes his Australian debut, bringing his distinctive folk sound to stages across the country for the very first time.

Pierce Brothers will enter 2026 with momentum few Australian acts can match, rising from the success of their fourth studio album Moonrise, released in late 2025, and now preparing for an extensive Australian tour from March through May.

Robert Plant stepped into the Tiny Desk space on a windy Halloween afternoon and immediately commented on the minimalist setup, telling the room that it reminded him of Live Aid, adding that he could not hear himself there either, because the format avoids amplified vocals and personal monitors. The limitation did nothing to unsettle him, because Plant has long embraced reinvention, moving from the power of Led Zeppelin to the refined folk, blues and roots recordings he has championed over recent decades.