The Koroit Irish Festival is home to some the best Irish music, dance, comedy and song in Australia.
After all, we are the heart of Ireland in Australia.
What a line up of talent we are assembling for the 2020 Koroit Irish Festival.
The performer announcements have begun with more huge news to come.
Stay tuned.
JESSICA ARLO IRISH
We are beside ourselves with excitement to announce to the world that Jessica Arlo Irish is coming to the Koroit Irish Festival on May 1-3.
Jessica will be introduced with a cameo appearance at our Opening Night on the Friday before coming back for a show on the Saturday afternoon.
Jessica is a singer, songwriter and fiddle virtuoso who is from Sydney and has performed around the world. She will be familiar to Koroit audiences, she was the dynamic fiddle player in Damien Leith’s band!
STRING LOADED IRISH FIDDLE BAND
After an incredible Koroit debut in 2019, String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band just had to come back.
The performance of this family band from Newcastle in New South Wales was stunning and we can’t wait for more.
An award-winning outfit, String Loaded Celtic Fiddle Band are much sought after all over the country, including as one of the big acts at the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival.
BHAN TRE
A wonderful old-fashioned Singalong will again be at the heart of our Opening Night on Friday May 1. Leading the Singalong this year will be renowned Melbourne Irish band Bhan Tre.
These girls are the perfect fit for our 2020 Koroit Irish Festival theme, CELEBRATING IRISH-AUSTRALIAN WOMEN.
They will also be performing on Saturday may 2.
CHRISTINE AYRES SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING
There are few things that set Irish hearts racing as much as Irish dance.
In the Christie Ayres School of Irish Dancing, we believe we have some of the best exponents of Irish dance in the world coming back to our stage at the Koroit Theatre in 2020.
What a brilliant show these amazing dancers will put on again.
KATE GANE, JO BROOKS AND MAREE DAFFY
The Celebrating Irish-Australian Women theme will again be the at the fore when the extremely talented trio of Kate Gane, Jo Brooks and Maree Daffy hit the stage at the Koroit Irish Festival.
This trio know how to entertain a crowd that love Irish music.
THE SESSION
Some of the most respected Celtic players in south-west Victoria have joined together to form this collective, The Session. Led by Merran Moir, this talented bunch will add even more depth and class to a line-up of Celtic performers to match any in the country.
MARIA FORDE
The queen of Irish music in Australia and a beloved figure in Koroit. Maria Forde will once again bring with her to Koroit a beautiful collection of songs and a wonderful stage presence, a package that has long made her a Koroit Irish Festival favourite.
OLD MELBOURNE ROAD
The boys from Ballarat do Irish rock as well as anyone and always make everywhere they play into a party. Old Melbourne Road play the Irish classics and as everyone knows, there are no better classics than the Irish classics.
KNOT O’ THE GATE
If you like your Irish music high energy then make sure you put shows from Knot O’ The Gate on your Koroit Irish Festival agenda for 2020. These lads are pros and know how to put on a performance that gets feet tapping and Irish hearts beating strong.
THE RUMMAGERS
We are excited to bring The Rummagers back to town in 2020.
This four-piece band from the rugged Victorian coastline play some mean tunes and will quickly become a must-see. The Rummagers feature former Koroit man and Kilmurphys member Michael Murphy.
TUDDY, MICK AND CO.
Few acts are as beloved at the Koroit Irish Festival as Tommy, Tuddy and Mick. Unfortunately, Tommy Brooks passed away in 2018 but his old mates, Frank “Tuddy” Bowman and Mick Morgan will be back once more to keep up the tradition.
As they did last year, the pair will have alongside them Melissa Bowman and Trevor McKenzie.
As this picture (above) shows of Tuddy, Mick and Co. playing in front of a full house at the Koroit Commercial Hotel, this band are very popular and great fun.