Presenting our players and makers for 2026 (listed alphabetically)… with more to come soon:
ANDREW ELLIS (AUS)
Andrew Ellis is a master luthier and musician based in Perth, Western Australia. As the founder of Ellis Guitars, Andrew has built instruments for some of rock’s biggest names, including Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Steve Morse (Deep Purple), and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) – earning him a global reputation for his creations that push the boundaries of traditional guitar making.
With a waitlist stretching years, and guitars shipped to over 50 countries – Ellis Guitars has become synonymous with uncompromising craftsmanship and sonic excellence.
AXIS THREE TRIO (AUS)
The Axis Three Trio comprises Glenn Rodgers, Don Candy, and Brendan Biddiss. Three Australian guitarists united by a curiosity for harmony, texture, and expression. Their music inhabits the space where classical precision meets the spontaneity of jazz. Through subtle interplay and open improvisation, they create soundscapes that are at once contemplative and rhythmically alive.
BASSET (CANADA)
Toronto-based folk duo Basset, are full of timeless heart, with deeply human lyrics and stunning duo harmonies reminiscent of the early folk revival. Yasmine Shelton has one of those instantly recognizable voices that can dive, dip and soar all in a single phrase, while Sam Clark brings nuanced and tasteful support on guitar and other acoustic instruments.
“If you’re a lover of great close harmonies, like Simon and Garfunkel or Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, I think you’re going to love this” – Tom Power, CBC Radio
DAISY TEMPEST (UK/AUS)
Daisy Tempest is a British luthier based in the quiet Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. She builds one-of-a-kind acoustic guitars under her company, Tempest Guitars, which she founded in 2021 after two luthier taught apprenticeships. Daisy prioritises traditional craftsmanship and holds materials, storytelling, and client experience at the heart of her work.
Her guitars have been featured internationally and acquired by players and collectors around the world. Through her YouTube channel and social media, she shares the craft of lutherie with hundreds of thousands of people, aiming to connect more deeply with others and highlight the extraordinary beauty of making something by hand in an increasingly mechanised age.
“Tempest’s handcrafted instruments are each a work of art” – Financial Times
DANIEL DRIEBERG (AUS)
Daniel Drieberg is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose playing spans jazz, classical, folk, world and contemporary styles. A WAAPA graduate and Golden Fiddle Award winner, he brings together violin, mandolin, guitar and voice with a passion for improvisation and cultural exchange. Whether on stage or in the studio, Daniel’s sound is dynamic, collaborative and full of energy.
“Daniel’s versatility and passion for cultural exchange through music has found him to be sought after as a session musician…” – X-Press Magazine
DIALINGA (AUS)
Dialinga is the collaboration of Zimbabwe-born guitarist Ilan Zagoria and Western Australian reed player and instrument maker Mark Cain. Their music traverses southern African traditions and jazz, creating a sound that is both grounded and exploratory.
Ilan’s intricate guitar and mbira playing reflect his roots in Zimbabwe and South Africa, alongside decades of experience performing with ensembles such as Sundiata Marimba Band and Shangara Jive. Mark Cain brings a lifetime of musical curiosity, shaped by his work with acclaimed groups including Eastwinds, Daramad, and the Praashekh Quartet. Together, Dialinga offers audiences a vibrant, cross-cultural journey – a meeting of rhythm, melody, and improvisation.
LOWRY OLAFSON (CANADA)
Lowry Olafson is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose music blends heartfelt lyrics with intricate fingerstyle guitar. Lowry has spent decades crafting songs that resonate deeply with audiences. His performances feel more like gatherings of friends than concerts, offering an experience that is as authentic as it is unforgettable.
With roots in the Perth folk scene of the early 1980s, and after playing events such as Nannup and Fairbridge Festival in the 1990s, Lowry returns to Western Australia to launch his 10th album, Born for This – marking a full-circle moment in his musical journey.
“So long as Lowry Olafson releases a new CD each year, all is right with the world.” – Jurgen Gothe, CBC Radio
RICCARDO TESI & GIUA (ITALY)
With a stellar career, Riccardo is one of the most respected musicians in the world for his amazing musical compositions but also as a teacher and custodian of many Italian folk music styles. Audiences may remember his visit to WA several years ago with Banditaliana.
Riccardo returns in duo form with Giua, a stunning female vocalist and guitarist.
“The recognised master of the diatonic accordion alongside one of the most beautiful voices and expressive guitars in Italian music” – Laura Bianchi
SUD (ITALY/ AUS)
SUD blends music from Italy to South America, taking the audience to an exciting musical journey. Emiliano Beltzer (bass, voice and guitar) and Salvatore Rossano (accordion, voice and guitar) have been playing together since their arrival in Australia in 2013, when they formed the Italian folk band Santa Taranta.
TONY MCMANUS (SCOTLAND/ CANADA)
Hailed by John Renbourn as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’ Tony McManus has been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. His fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic diaspora – Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec – along with still further-ranging flavours, such as jazz and east European music.
“Tony’s music is beyond beautiful, it’s perfect” – Tommy Emmanuel