Welcome to the pages of the WA Folk Federation.
The WAFF was established in 1970 with the principle aim of promoting Folk Music and Dance in WA and attracting the National Folk Festival to WA which we hosted in 1978 in Fremantle & 1985 at The University of WA. The National Folk Festival, held over the Easter Weekend, is now located in Canberra with a featured state each year.
We became an incorporated body in 1974. We serve the entire state, although predominantly the Perth Metro area, and have done so for more than five decades. The WAFF is working now to reinvigorate itself and redefine its role in promotion of folk performing arts in Western Australia, including music, dance, yarns and poetry. In the coming months we promise many new and exciting developments. Join us as we work to elevate understanding and appreciation for folk music, poetry, dance, and story-telling.
on the 26th April 2025 The WAFF put on a show for Heritage Month
— Here’s to the West Concert – History & Heritage in Song
Welcome to Australia’s largest community-driven celebration of heritage. As part of this festival the WAFF presented a concert to celebrate our WA Heritage.
A good audience was welcomed to the West Australian Folk Federation for an afternoon of Western Australian original and traditional music, bringing to light lesser known stories through song and spoken word performed in the Heritage Listed Christ Church in Claremont, one of the oldest suburban parish Churches in Perth featuring the song writing talents of: Bernard Carney OAM, Warralakin, The Western Songbirds, The Rambling Bilbies & John Ralph.
The church was built of locally quarried Cottesloe limestone the foundation stone was laid on the 10th September,1892. This combination of Folk music in a beautiful heritage building was perfect with wonderful acoustics accentuating the performers talents.
Artist info:
| Warralakin Hear the Music, Smell the Dust, Listen to the Stories. Phil and Yvonne Gray are Warralakin and opened the show with songs from their new CD which and you certainly could feel dust and stories in the songs. they have lived and worked in the places less travelled and have a lifetime of Story, Song and Verse that reflect an Australian way of life. Warralakin took us on an authentic Australian Folk journey. Songs, verse and stories of seafarers, pirates, whalers, shearers, drovers, farmers and many other Australians. Much of Warralakin Music is their original material and they painted a picture of our Western Australia. |  |
| The Rambling Bilbies are a Western Australian based duo of Rob & Jill Oats. Their musicality was evident with Songs written by Rob and Jill hightlightiing lives and struggles of Western Australians around out great state from the plight of the farmers and the itinerant workers to the beautiful trees and landscapes and a Pat O’leary poem about trees and forests. They finshed their set with Jill’s song about the race riots in Kalgoolie in the early 1900’s www.thebilbies.com.au |  style=”height=100px”> |
| John Ralph came on to finish the 1st half with songs and tunes that painted stories influenced by his studies of Western Australian music during the ealy settlement and beyond including a set of songs showing the diversity of life after and before European settlement. JJohn’s guitar playing is wonderful to listen to, his experience playing around the world shows through in the fine songwriting and performing |  > |
| The Western Songbirds are Carmel Charlton & Lynda Martin. Carmel & Lynda have been playing around Australia both as solo and a duo for quite a while thand their voices blend beautifully. Opening the 2nd half they presented songs written by Carmel and Lynda as well as others which enlightened the audince with some quirky names of towns and the lives bought up in rural Australia. Their experiences in rural and city life were presented in a wonderful variety of songs.www.carmelcharlton.com Carmel will be joined by Lynda Martin a singer guitarist with many years playing and writing songs. |  |
| Bernard Carney closed out the concert in the only way Brenard know with songs of humour, serious songs and all done with impecable guitar playing. He has written many songs of the West and on this concert he bought them to life. He had the audience joining in his song about the Midland Workshops and any other song that they knew. It was a masterful performance and a great way to finish a wonderful afternno of good music. |  |
| We can’t close without thanking the people who provided support for this concert. Joe Ralph did a wonderful job on the sound desk, often a forgotten member of the crew. Manning the front desk was Terry Bonnett dealing with the busy crowd as the doors were open, not always an easy job but between he and Wendy they managed to get everyone in before start time and then made teas and coffee at half time. This whole show was pulled together in quick time by the WAFF committee when we received an email from the Heritage council only a couple of weeks before the show. The venue was wonderful and thanks to the Christ Church people for the use of a wonderful venue. If I have forgotten any one I apologise. We will organise another concert soon. |  |
Currently two clubs are officially run under the banner of the WAFF (Wanneroo Folk Club & Swan Acoustic) and a number of others are affiliated.
 |
Wanneroo Folk Club (in Warwick) 2nd Friday of the month Dorchester Hall, 2 Dugdale St, Warwick. |
 |
Swan Acoustic (3rd Friday of the month), was launched on Friday February 21st, 2025, at the Swan Bowling and Recreation Club on the corner of James and Attfield Streets, Guildford. As this is a NEW venture, in the initial stages we will be running this along the lines of a Blackboard ‘Come all Ye” Folk Club with 3 song/15 mins each act. It will operate in a side room off the main area, and will have a small p/a with vocals and instruments playing through 2 x large diaphragm condenser microphones (if required)- just so as to lift the sound slightly. Operating under the banner of the WAFF, in addition to seasoned performers, it offers an opportunity for acts (young and mature) starting out, learning to perform in an intimate, live audience atmosphere. This offers a unique opportunity to develop the skills required to engage with the audience, and present music in a safe and supportive environment. Original music is encouraged – both song and instrumental. The music commences at 7:00pm and will conclude around 10:00pm. The bowling club is run entirely by friendly volunteers and they offer an economical single choice meal available from around 6:00pm, but be early as there only a set number of meals and they disappear quickly! You’re welcome to bring your own snacks. Be aware that this is a licensed venue and so NO BYO drinks and any minors are to be accompanied by an adult. Club nights will be the 3rd Friday of each month, unless otherwise advertised. Come along and help us kick this year along the road. If you have any queries at all, call or message Phil Gray on 0404 629 125. |
 Ken’s Drawing  Cindy’s Drawing  The combination of Ken’s & Cindy’s drawings  the colourised version |
How our logo/banner came about |
WELCOME to the West Australian Folk Federation (WAFF)
Welcome to the pages of the WA Folk Federation.
The WAFF was established in 1970 with the principle aim of promoting Folk Music and Dance in WA and attracting the National Folk Festival to WA which we hosted in 1978 in Fremantle & 1985 at The University of WA. The National Folk Festival, held over the Easter Weekend, is now located in Canberra with a featured state each year.
We became an incorporated body in 1974. We serve the entire state, although predominantly the Perth Metro area, and have done so for more than five decades. The WAFF is working now to reinvigorate itself and redefine its role in promotion of folk performing arts in Western Australia, including music, dance, yarns and poetry. In the coming months we promise many new and exciting developments. Join us as we work to elevate understanding and appreciation for folk music, poetry, dance, and story-telling.
on the 26th April 2025 The WAFF put on a show for Heritage Month
— Here’s to the West Concert – History & Heritage in Song
Welcome to Australia’s largest community-driven celebration of heritage. As part of this festival the WAFF presented a concert to celebrate our WA Heritage.
A good audience was welcomed to the West Australian Folk Federation for an afternoon of Western Australian original and traditional music, bringing to light lesser known stories through song and spoken word performed in the Heritage Listed Christ Church in Claremont, one of the oldest suburban parish Churches in Perth featuring the song writing talents of: Bernard Carney OAM, Warralakin, The Western Songbirds, The Rambling Bilbies & John Ralph.
The church was built of locally quarried Cottesloe limestone the foundation stone was laid on the 10th September,1892. This combination of Folk music in a beautiful heritage building was perfect with wonderful acoustics accentuating the performers talents.
Artist info:
| Warralakin Hear the Music, Smell the Dust, Listen to the Stories. Phil and Yvonne Gray are Warralakin and opened the show with songs from their new CD which and you certainly could feel dust and stories in the songs. they have lived and worked in the places less travelled and have a lifetime of Story, Song and Verse that reflect an Australian way of life. Warralakin took us on an authentic Australian Folk journey. Songs, verse and stories of seafarers, pirates, whalers, shearers, drovers, farmers and many other Australians. Much of Warralakin Music is their original material and they painted a picture of our Western Australia. | |
| The Rambling Bilbies are a Western Australian based duo of Rob & Jill Oats. Their musicality was evident with Songs written by Rob and Jill hightlightiing lives and struggles of Western Australians around out great state from the plight of the farmers and the itinerant workers to the beautiful trees and landscapes and a Pat O’leary poem about trees and forests. They finshed their set with Jill’s song about the race riots in Kalgoolie in the early 1900’s www.thebilbies.com.au | style=”height=100px”> |
| John Ralph came on to finish the 1st half with songs and tunes that painted stories influenced by his studies of Western Australian music during the ealy settlement and beyond including a set of songs showing the diversity of life after and before European settlement. JJohn’s guitar playing is wonderful to listen to, his experience playing around the world shows through in the fine songwriting and performing | > |
| The Western Songbirds are Carmel Charlton & Lynda Martin. Carmel & Lynda have been playing around Australia both as solo and a duo for quite a while thand their voices blend beautifully. Opening the 2nd half they presented songs written by Carmel and Lynda as well as others which enlightened the audince with some quirky names of towns and the lives bought up in rural Australia. Their experiences in rural and city life were presented in a wonderful variety of songs.www.carmelcharlton.com Carmel will be joined by Lynda Martin a singer guitarist with many years playing and writing songs. | |
| Bernard Carney closed out the concert in the only way Brenard know with songs of humour, serious songs and all done with impecable guitar playing. He has written many songs of the West and on this concert he bought them to life. He had the audience joining in his song about the Midland Workshops and any other song that they knew. It was a masterful performance and a great way to finish a wonderful afternno of good music. | |
| We can’t close without thanking the people who provided support for this concert. Joe Ralph did a wonderful job on the sound desk, often a forgotten member of the crew. Manning the front desk was Terry Bonnett dealing with the busy crowd as the doors were open, not always an easy job but between he and Wendy they managed to get everyone in before start time and then made teas and coffee at half time. This whole show was pulled together in quick time by the WAFF committee when we received an email from the Heritage council only a couple of weeks before the show. The venue was wonderful and thanks to the Christ Church people for the use of a wonderful venue. If I have forgotten any one I apologise. We will organise another concert soon. | |
Currently two clubs are officially run under the banner of the WAFF (Wanneroo Folk Club & Swan Acoustic) and a number of others are affiliated.
|
|
Wanneroo Folk Club (in Warwick) 2nd Friday of the month Dorchester Hall, 2 Dugdale St, Warwick. |
|
|
Swan Acoustic (3rd Friday of the month), was launched on Friday February 21st, 2025, at the Swan Bowling and Recreation Club on the corner of James and Attfield Streets, Guildford. As this is a NEW venture, in the initial stages we will be running this along the lines of a Blackboard ‘Come all Ye” Folk Club with 3 song/15 mins each act. It will operate in a side room off the main area, and will have a small p/a with vocals and instruments playing through 2 x large diaphragm condenser microphones (if required)- just so as to lift the sound slightly. Operating under the banner of the WAFF, in addition to seasoned performers, it offers an opportunity for acts (young and mature) starting out, learning to perform in an intimate, live audience atmosphere. This offers a unique opportunity to develop the skills required to engage with the audience, and present music in a safe and supportive environment. Original music is encouraged – both song and instrumental. The music commences at 7:00pm and will conclude around 10:00pm. The bowling club is run entirely by friendly volunteers and they offer an economical single choice meal available from around 6:00pm, but be early as there only a set number of meals and they disappear quickly! You’re welcome to bring your own snacks. Be aware that this is a licensed venue and so NO BYO drinks and any minors are to be accompanied by an adult. Club nights will be the 3rd Friday of each month, unless otherwise advertised. Come along and help us kick this year along the road. If you have any queries at all, call or message Phil Gray on 0404 629 125. |
Ken’s Drawing Cindy’s Drawing The combination of Ken’s & Cindy’s drawings the colourised version |
How our logo/banner came about |