Join us for a three-day music festival in the magical bushland setting of Fairbridge Village.
27 – 29 March 2026
What to expect
Simply come along and enjoy the musical offerings at leisure – OR delve deeper and open your mind at inspiring workshops, join in the jam sessions, and meet like-minded people as you share meals and social times with other festival attendees and artists!
Performances Workshops Sessions Blackboard concerts Camping and cottage accommodation at Fairbridge Village Meals provided on site
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What you need to know
Some key details about the Playmakers festival weekend.
What, when and where.
Playmakers takes the form of a boutique three-day festival in the magical bushland setting of Fairbridge Village, Pinjarra.
Festival attendees will enjoy hands-on workshops, inspiring talks, and world-class concerts.
The immersive quality of the event will provide ample opportunity for participants to both engage with the programme, but also interact at leisure.
2026 Festival Dates: 27-29 March
Tickets, accommodation and meals.
Tickets include all workshops and performances over the weekend.
Accommodation and meals are additional, and provided at an affordable price by Fairbridge Village (camping and cottages!)
This is a limited capacity event – so get in quick if you don’t want to miss out!
Programme.
The programme will be packed with concerts, talks and special presentations such that audiences can engage with the event as passive onlookers or as active participants.
The line-up will include highly-regarded instrument makers and players from the Australian acoustic music scene, covering a range of genre from folk to classical.
There will be soloists and musical groups on the programme, carefully curated to educate, inspire, and entertain you over the weekend.
About Playmakers
The ‘Playmakers’ concept was established in 2002, and for eight highly successful years was part of the Perth Festival’s Great Southern Program.
Playmakers returns in the shape of an immersive three-day festival that brings together people who are interested in world-class performances; informative and inspiring workshops; unique opportunities to engage in the world of instrument making, and the joy of sharing a lived-in, musical experience in a heritage location.
Whether you are a novice musician, a curious punter or a seasoned artist, there is something for everyone and every level. The principal ingredients are INCLUSION and FUN!
Gallery
Reminiscing on the success of past Playmakers events. Photos by Bob Lipinski.
Testimonials
Kristina Olsen (USA)
SONGWRITER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, COMPOSER, MUSIC TEACHER & AUTHOR
“Playmakers is such a vital festival! So needed, so important! Instrument builders toil away, often in isolation creating magical tools that musicians use. We musicians’ interactions with the builders are often brief and rushed, then most communica6on is done through email. At Playmakers we got to really play with the people who created our instruments. Not just the important working dialogue of ‘What do you like about this, what don’t you like about that’ but to actually play together, musically, creatively, and socially. The Playmakers festival that I attended stands out as a high point in my long career.”
November 2024
Joe Filisko (USA)
MASTER HARMONICA PLAYER & LEADER OF THE HOHNER AFFILIATED CUSTOMIZER PROGRAM (HAC)
“I had the unforgettable pleasure and honor to participate in the Playmakers festival with my duo partner Eric Noden. It was a great festival hosted by Rod Vervest. I highly recommend checking it out if you can.”
November 2024
Paul Duff (AUS)
DUFF MANDOLINS & GUITARS
“Engaging with the creators of these tools used by musicians and following the processes required to create specific tonal qualities will provide an entirely new experience for audiences and participants in this festival… I, for one can’t wait to have the opportunity to participate in the experience once again.”
November 2024
Mic Conway (AUS)
ARIA AWARD WINNING MUSICIAN & VAUDEVILLE ENTERTAINER
“The Playmakers festival is both fun and informative. My part in it was workshopping with children and adults, making basic musical instruments out of everyday objects like drinking straw flutes, rubber glove bassoons and tin can banjos. They were fun to play and easy to make and a good time was had by all.“
November 2024
Mike Compton (USA)
MASTER MANDOLINIST & MENTEE OF “THE FATHER OF BLUEGRASS” BILL MUNROE
“The day [at Playmakers] could not have been better spent than in the company of old friends and several of the best luthiers on the planet present and comparing notes on their craft and it’s many facets. The instruction, the company, the music, the day in general was a lovely relaxed time and I enjoyed having a go at a few tunes myself. I’ve become quite fond of this little corner of the planet and go back every chance I get. Save me a spot!”
November 2024
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Playmakers respectfully acknowledges the Menang Noongar people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we create, play, and conduct business, and we pay our respect to elders past and present.
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