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.

In 2021 we came together with Hillarys Boat Harbour to present the 2nd Folk on the Water Festival running over the whole weekend 16th & 17th October. We will once again showcased West Australian talent with a diverse array of acoustic styles. For info on the acts click on the tab on this page.

WAFF Affiliated Folk Clubs

WAFF supports new and existing WA Folk Clubs through affiliation. Affiliated clubs can receive benefits though WAFF such as APRA license fees and other assistance. Affiliated clubs are asked to pay WAFF a small membership fee yearly to help cover expenses for club license coverage. WAFF can and sometimes does help with managing clubs and finding performers.

If you would like to start a folk club we are here to help you!

Currently two clubs are officially run by the WAFF (Wanneroo Folk Club & Jackadders Music Club) and a number of others are affiliated.



Wanneroo Folk Club
2nd Friday of the month

Dorchester Hall, 2 Dugdale St, Warwick.
Find us on Google Maps here
Entry price varies:
Guest Nights $12 ($10 WAFF Members).
Doors open: 7:00pm, Music from 7:30pm
Come-All-Ye nights $8 ($5 WAFF)
Doors open: 7:00pm, Music from 7:30pm
For more info and performers Email: Rob Oats


Jackadder’s Music Club
— JACKADDER’S MUSIC CLUB – FINAL CONCERT 24th MARCH (4th Sunday)
On Sunday 24th March Jackadder’s Music Club will present their final concert. It has been a wonderful 20 years of presenting both established and up and coming artists. Jackadders Music Club has been a regular music event of the Folk West Australian Folk Federation Inc. since August 2003. Over the years there have been many who have gone on to form duo’s and bands after meeting other likeminded musician at the club.
Jackadders has been a financially viable self-funding event (break-even) while keeping entry fees low to encourage bigger audiences. The current entry fee is only $12 with children free. The average attendance over 20 years has been an average attendance of 43 people each month. Performing artists deserve to get paid for their entertaining skills and efforts. For many this is their livelihood so they are paid out of income. Since commencement of Jackadders this has provided over $36,000 support to artists. The concerts have also given artists an opportunity to sell their CDs. Jackadders has also purchased over $4,300 worth of artist’s CDs for monthly raffle prizes.
When we commenced Jackadders Music Club our main aims were to: Give young audiences the opportunity to experience quality traditional and contemporary folk music; Promote live music, develop performing skills and provide encouragement; Encourage new performers; especially young people; Attract new audiences to musical performances and educate and promote audience interest.
I would like to thank all those who have assisted over the years including: husband Eric with the movement of sound equipment, running the ‘door’ and keeping the books; the loyal audience and supporters who have assisted each month with setting up (chairs etc.) and clean-up; and all those performers who have contributed their talents to making the event such a long lasting success.
At this point in time unfortunately there are no volunteers to enable the event to continue and Sunday 24th March will be the final concert of Jackadders Music Club unless there is someone who thinks they would like to take on the running of Jackadder’s Music Club. Please get in touch with me if you are interested 0412777061.
We have a great line-up on 24th March including Duality (John and Joe Ralph) who play banjo, mandolin and guitar and have a great following around town. Also performing will be the Rambling Bilbies, Warralakin, Jake and Johnny two wonderful young musicians from Wembley Downs who are only eleven years old and compose their own songs! JimJam, who played at Jackadder’s just after it started in 2003, Patrick O’Leary, Stan the Man and the Western Songbirds (Carmel and Lynda).
We’ve had great support from the West Australian Folk Federation, Ron Grim who for many years videoed all the performances and delievered them to each performer and of course the lovely audiences who enjoyed and encouraged ‘live’ music in the community. A big thank you also to the Post Newspaper who have always been willing to promote Jackadder’s in their newspaper. I’d like to spend more time on my music without the regular commitment of Jackadder’s. I’m also part of a duo called the Western Songbirds with Lynda Martin. If people are interested in my music they can visit www.carmelcharlton.com

NOTE the new VENUE: Wembley Downs Scout Hall, 7 Dover Cresc. Wembley Downs.
Find us on Google Maps here
Adults $12, Children FREE, (WAFF $6)
More Information at: www.carmelcharlton.com/
Carmel Charlton 0412777061 carmel@carmelcharlton.com


Ken’s Drawing

The combination of Ken’s & Cindy’s drawings

the colourised version

How our logo/banner came about
Prior to 1997 there was a new “modern look” logo in use which didn’t really say much about who we are or what we do. After the the Joondalup Festival the committee decided that we needed to go back to basics a bit. As the new Town Crier editor at the time I was looking through the WAFF office and unearthed 2 items. One was a drawing by the late Ken Ferguson which was used as the logo for the National Folk Festival in 1978. The other was a silk screen of Swans and instruments which was used for a tee shirt design for the 1990 Toodyay Folk Festival.
I had no idea who had designed the T-shirt art work but at the Wanneroo Folk Club a couple of years ago I discovered that this mystery artist was a lady by the name of Cindy Stonor-McClean, a long time supporter of the WAFF and folk music in WA. I liked the look of both drawings since they had a connection to both folk music and Western Australia. So after much scanning and fiddling on my computer I combined the two drawings into one and a new logo was born. Over time it evolved with the adding of a bit of colour. The banner at the top of our new pages has better definition and is the latest version.

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.

In 2021 we came together with Hillarys Boat Harbour to present the 2nd Folk on the Water Festival running over the whole weekend 16th & 17th October. We will once again showcased West Australian talent with a diverse array of acoustic styles. For info on the acts click on the tab on this page.

WAFF Affiliated Folk Clubs

WAFF supports new and existing WA Folk Clubs through affiliation. Affiliated clubs can receive benefits though WAFF such as APRA license fees and other assistance. Affiliated clubs are asked to pay WAFF a small membership fee yearly to help cover expenses for club license coverage. WAFF can and sometimes does help with managing clubs and finding performers.

If you would like to start a folk club we are here to help you!

Currently two clubs are officially run by the WAFF (Wanneroo Folk Club & Jackadders Music Club) and a number of others are affiliated.



Wanneroo Folk Club
2nd Friday of the month

Dorchester Hall, 2 Dugdale St, Warwick.
Find us on Google Maps here
Entry price varies:
Guest Nights $12 ($10 WAFF Members).
Doors open: 7:00pm, Music from 7:30pm
Come-All-Ye nights $8 ($5 WAFF)
Doors open: 7:00pm, Music from 7:30pm
For more info and performers Email: Rob Oats


Jackadder’s Music Club
— JACKADDER’S MUSIC CLUB – FINAL CONCERT 24th MARCH (4th Sunday)
On Sunday 24th March Jackadder’s Music Club will present their final concert. It has been a wonderful 20 years of presenting both established and up and coming artists. Jackadders Music Club has been a regular music event of the Folk West Australian Folk Federation Inc. since August 2003. Over the years there have been many who have gone on to form duo’s and bands after meeting other likeminded musician at the club.
Jackadders has been a financially viable self-funding event (break-even) while keeping entry fees low to encourage bigger audiences. The current entry fee is only $12 with children free. The average attendance over 20 years has been an average attendance of 43 people each month. Performing artists deserve to get paid for their entertaining skills and efforts. For many this is their livelihood so they are paid out of income. Since commencement of Jackadders this has provided over $36,000 support to artists. The concerts have also given artists an opportunity to sell their CDs. Jackadders has also purchased over $4,300 worth of artist’s CDs for monthly raffle prizes.
When we commenced Jackadders Music Club our main aims were to: Give young audiences the opportunity to experience quality traditional and contemporary folk music; Promote live music, develop performing skills and provide encouragement; Encourage new performers; especially young people; Attract new audiences to musical performances and educate and promote audience interest.
I would like to thank all those who have assisted over the years including: husband Eric with the movement of sound equipment, running the ‘door’ and keeping the books; the loyal audience and supporters who have assisted each month with setting up (chairs etc.) and clean-up; and all those performers who have contributed their talents to making the event such a long lasting success.
At this point in time unfortunately there are no volunteers to enable the event to continue and Sunday 24th March will be the final concert of Jackadders Music Club unless there is someone who thinks they would like to take on the running of Jackadder’s Music Club. Please get in touch with me if you are interested 0412777061.
We have a great line-up on 24th March including Duality (John and Joe Ralph) who play banjo, mandolin and guitar and have a great following around town. Also performing will be the Rambling Bilbies, Warralakin, Jake and Johnny two wonderful young musicians from Wembley Downs who are only eleven years old and compose their own songs! JimJam, who played at Jackadder’s just after it started in 2003, Patrick O’Leary, Stan the Man and the Western Songbirds (Carmel and Lynda).
We’ve had great support from the West Australian Folk Federation, Ron Grim who for many years videoed all the performances and delievered them to each performer and of course the lovely audiences who enjoyed and encouraged ‘live’ music in the community. A big thank you also to the Post Newspaper who have always been willing to promote Jackadder’s in their newspaper. I’d like to spend more time on my music without the regular commitment of Jackadder’s. I’m also part of a duo called the Western Songbirds with Lynda Martin. If people are interested in my music they can visit www.carmelcharlton.com

NOTE the new VENUE: Wembley Downs Scout Hall, 7 Dover Cresc. Wembley Downs.
Find us on Google Maps here
Adults $12, Children FREE, (WAFF $6)
More Information at: www.carmelcharlton.com/
Carmel Charlton 0412777061 carmel@carmelcharlton.com


Ken’s Drawing

The combination of Ken’s & Cindy’s drawings

the colourised version

How our logo/banner came about
Prior to 1997 there was a new “modern look” logo in use which didn’t really say much about who we are or what we do. After the the Joondalup Festival the committee decided that we needed to go back to basics a bit. As the new Town Crier editor at the time I was looking through the WAFF office and unearthed 2 items. One was a drawing by the late Ken Ferguson which was used as the logo for the National Folk Festival in 1978. The other was a silk screen of Swans and instruments which was used for a tee shirt design for the 1990 Toodyay Folk Festival.
I had no idea who had designed the T-shirt art work but at the Wanneroo Folk Club a couple of years ago I discovered that this mystery artist was a lady by the name of Cindy Stonor-McClean, a long time supporter of the WAFF and folk music in WA. I liked the look of both drawings since they had a connection to both folk music and Western Australia. So after much scanning and fiddling on my computer I combined the two drawings into one and a new logo was born. Over time it evolved with the adding of a bit of colour. The banner at the top of our new pages has better definition and is the latest version.