Due to popular demand, The Southern Fork Americana Fest is excited to announce that a second Justin Townes Earle show has been added on Thursday October 12th. The award-winning Nashville songwriter has a rich reputation as a singular leading light in the Americana music community, and is lauded for his personally charged lyrics and infectious melodic craftsmanship. He’ll be supported for both shows by Ontario-based country-rock quartet The Sadies, who’ll also take the stage as his backing band for a set of new and well loved material.

Due to a recurring injury, The Warratahs are no longer able to perform in the festival. However, we are excited to let you know that Lyttelton’s hardest working band, The Eastern have joined the bill alongside The Bads and opening act Napier-based singer-songwriter Stretch & band on Sunday 8th October. With over 10 years and 1000 shows under their belt, The Eastern have earned a reputation for thrilling live performances and we are delighted tonally have them heading our way to rock our stage.

Opening acts have also been added to the festival lineup featuring Lisa Crawley & Ben Mastwyk, Dead Little Penny, and Lubin Rains (solo).

Celebrating the festival launch alongside The Miltones and Eb & Sparrow on October 7th will be goth-tinged alt-country four-piece Dead Little Penny. Fronted by Hayley Smith and Rodney Fisher (Goodshirt), their sound ranges from dreamy melancholic country to upbeat tongue-in-cheek rockabilly skif e.

Alt-country Melbournite Ben Mastwyk and pop darling Lisa Crawley join forces as they open for Grammy-nominated Robbie Fulks on October 10th. With an extensive back catalogue coupled with countless collaborations, tours and television appearances, Lisa Crawley is regarded as one of Australasia’s most beloved musicians. She’ll be joined by Ben Mastwyk, whose proli c country sound saw his debut album, Mornin Evenin, receive a nomination for Best Country Album at The Age Music Victoria Awards. Both charismatic performers in their own right, Mastwyk’s country-folk storytelling combined with Crawley’s retro-soul pop sensibility results in a dynamic duo performance not to be missed.Lubin Rains also joins the bill as he opens for cult-favourites Son Volt with a solo performance of weary tales woven with country-folk tones reminiscent of Neil Young. Best known as the singer of esteemed Auckland alt-folk act The Vietnam War, Lubin’s fragile and timeless songwriting style has seen him captivate audiences in his rare solo performances infused with a wayward and intoxicating countryavour.

The Southern Fork Americana Fest

• Saturday October 7th // Eb & Sparrow + The Miltones with Dead Little Penny

• Sunday October 8th // The Eastern + The Bads with Stretch

• Tuesday October 10th // Robbie Fulks with Lisa Crawley and Ben Mastwyk

• Wednesday October 11th // Justin Townes Earle with The Sadies

• Thursday October 12th // Justin Townes Earle with The Sadies

• Friday October 13th // Son Volt with Lubin Rains (solo)

• Saturday October 14th // The Shape I’m In: Hootenanny & BBQ featuring Reb

  Fountain, Tom Cunliffe, Hopetoun Brown and Dave Khan

• Sunday 15th October // Traveller (Cory Chisel, Robert Ellis, Jonny Fritz) with Joshua

  Hedley

  Festival passes for the Southern Fork Americana Fest have now sold out, but individual tickets and multi-show discounts are still available from Ticketmaster.co.nz