Visual Artists
Debra Ferry
My name is Debra Ferry. I am an emerging artist based in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria.
Over the years my chosen medium has become acrylic on canvas and my love of nature has now become the subject of my art. Creating individual pieces inspired by bold colours, the beauty of nature and the vibrant energy of animals, has led to the development of my own individual style.
My contemporary abstract style invites viewers to think, look and see beyond the surface, discovering hidden meanings and images within my paintings. Through my work, I hope to evoke a sense of wonder for the world around us, encouraging my audience to connect with themselves and appreciate our life here on earth. My paintings are a reflection of my passion and my journey in life.
Ray Besserdin
Julie Skipsey
Julie Skipsey is a hills based artist who specialises in vibrant, often nature-inspired works using acrylics, watercolours, and mixed media.
Julie paints intuitively and is inspired by both her surrounds and the people in her life, she has been creating since childhood but only in the last few years has she taken her passion for art seriously by embarking on a learning journey to explore all forms of mark making.
See Julie’s Work at Gemco 19 Kilvington Drive every day from 11 – 18 April.
Tracey Roberts
Tracey Roberts is an established visual artist, graphic designer, singer-songwriter and jazz-folk musician based in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges. She uses her gift of music-colour synesthesia to express colours, shapes and textures inspired by multiple aspects of music.
Her pencil hand-drawn illustrations are digitally embellished into rich, vibrant artworks which reflect how she synesthetically interprets music, in both figurative and abstract forms, and withinnatural landscapes. Her works invite the viewer to gain a glimpse into the mind of a music-colour synesthete – to “see what they hear” and to “hear what they see”.
She is an award-winning artist who has had several successful art exhibitions and over 20 years experience producing a variety of illustrations and fine art commissions for corporate and private clients, authors of children’s books, musicians and educational institutions.
All pieces are limited edition fine art prints, printed with archival pigment inks on archival canvas or cotton-based stock. These prints are also available in different sizes and can be ordered via her website. Please contact tracey@traceyroberts.com for more information. www.traceyroberts.com
Ted Krzywokulski
Born in Germany in a refugee camp in 1947, John Krzywokulski came to Australia when he was 3 years old with his Russian mother Alexandra, Polish father Peter and brother Tadek, a family of displaced people. John’s life in Australia started at the Bonegilla migrant camp in Northern Victoria.
The family was fortunate enough to be taken in by the Irving sisters who ran the Mount Waverley Riding School, a premier establishment covering all aspects of horsemanship and eventually gaining an international reputation. Life with the Irving sisters enriched the family immensely. Surrounded by beautiful country, animals, art and sculpture, the Krzywokulski family was able to experience a lifestyle and culture presumed impossible for a refugee family at that time.
Throughout John’s school life his main interests were art and theatre. His high school art teacher Peter Ralph (Dandenong High School) was a profound influence, with art exhibitions and performing arts becoming regular extra curricular activities which introduced John to the real art world. Following high school, John studied at Caulfield Institue of Technology (now Monash).
During his second year in 1967, he was approached by Sweeney Reed who saw John’s work at a student exhibition. At this time Sweeney was directing the gallery Strines, one of the most progressive and avante garde galleries in Melbourne. Sweeney introduced John to the John and Sunday Reed circle at Heide. John K’s first ever sale was made to John Reed, John and Sunday’s passion for his work sustained a friendship and patronage that lasted until their deaths.
John Reed wrote about John K’s work, probably the longest article on a single artist ever written by John Reed. This article was published in Art In Australia with the added coup that John’s work was reproduced on the front cover. The Reed collection eventually held over two dozen pieces of John’s artwork. However, a large portion of the collection was dispersed prior to their deaths, leaving a core of only nine examples. With the deaths of Sweeney and John and Sunday Reed, an extraordinarily enriching personal, professional and historical era ended.
John K. has continued to pursue his personal visions in relative isolation from the general art world. Difficult to label and associate with any particular contemporary movement; he has remained a maverick. His homage to both the spatial concepts and the enigmatic concepts of Surrealism are clearly evident, but John has extended these into a very personal idiom.
Patricia Buoncristiani
Retirement from a life in education provided me with the time to scratch the itch of painting. It had been building up for decades.
The Australian landscape is my constant source of beauty and inspiration. A recent trip to Arizona’s red soil country immediately felt at home and provided more vistas begging to be translated into paint. The light and the colour entrance me. When I look at trees I see so many variations of green. Clouds contain barely perceptible rainbows.
Although landscapes have been my focus, I also love the challenge of finding accuracy in the painting of the human figure.
My work has been exhibited in exhibitions in Australia and the USA.
Belinda Conibeer
Belinda Conibeer is a Melbourne-based mosaic artist working from her studio in Gembrook in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. Through Beliana Mosaics she creates detailed glass, ceramic and mixed-media works inspired by nature, particularly birds, botanicals and the Australian landscape. Alongside her studio practice, Belinda creates private and community commissions and has extensive experience leading collaborative mosaic projects. She also teaches adult workshops in her home studio, sharing traditional mosaic techniques and encouraging others to explore creativity through tile, glass and found materials.
Kim Oakes
Kim Oakes is an artist who studied drawing at Victoria College in the 1980s and printmaking at RMIT in the 1990s.
She lives in Clematis and has been developing her printmaking practice at the Emerald Arts Society since 2000.
I’ve been exploring my paternal ancestry through a series of prints and drawings about Cornwall since my first visit in 1983. I felt an immediate connection to the landscape and inhabitants, which led to research and further visits in 2023 and 2025.
My prints and drawings are influenced by images and colours that speak of this special part of the world – the sea, land and people of my ancestral line.
Leticia Tabone
My work is painted acrylic on canvas, my process is very simple, I listen to feeling and paint it. No plan, just presence. The work I do comes from the heart, an extension of my life experience. Brutally Beautiful, chaotic, confronting, divine – raw in all its beauty and movement.
I’ve loved painting for as long as I can remember, from 2018 I understood it to be my purpose.
Colour is my greatest medicine. The place where the internal is liberated, where what can’t be spoken finally gets to breathe. Brush in hand, my heart pours and I simply
Leticia’s work will be on display at Fernlea Community House throughout the festival.
Minjarra Dye
My name is Minjarra Dye I am a 18 year old Aboriginal artist my mob is Wemba-Wemba. I’ve been painting since I was 14, developing my own style through dot painting
I use symbols, colour, and patterns to represent journeys, spirit, and community. Art is a way for me to express myself
Through my art, I aim to keep culture strong while sharing my journey as a young Aboriginal artist.
Minjarra’s art will be available for viewing and purchase at Emerald FunFest on Sunday 12th April, 10-3pm around Gemco car park and Primary School.
Gemma Pullar
Gemma Pullar is an emerging artist based in Cockatoo, Australia. Her practice centres on emotional abstraction, combining minimal, figurative, and narrative elements to explore themes of containment, growth, and transformation.
Her work sits between the familiar and the surreal, using subtle shifts in form and context to suggest underlying emotional states and open-ended narratives. Domestic motifs, particularly houseplants, recur as symbolic forms, reflecting ideas of restriction, autonomy, and the impulse to move beyond imposed boundaries.
Performing Artists
The Railway Cats
You never know what you’re going to get when Pete & Andy from the Railway Cats team up with Big Al to perform as The Rockin’ Seeds. You might even see a guest appearance from Belle & Big Al MK II. It’s an experience you don’t see every day (week or month or year) come & join us for a real show.
folkTrain
folkTrain is a band based in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. The band performs an Australian/Celtic blend of tradition and original songs. Since forming in 2010 folkTrain has performed at clubs, pubs and festivals in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. Audience participation is always encouraged! The folkTrain line up is Heather Allan (accordion, keyboard and vocals), Gerry Breukers (banjo, mandolin, harmonica and bodhran) and Chris Stack (guitar, octave mandolin, harmonica and vocals).
folkTrain perform live on the main stage at Emerald FunFest Sunday 12th April.
G&T Jazz
G&T Jazz was started by Gill (vocalist/songwriter) and Tiina (pianist) in 2016. The band is now a 6- or 7-piece, bursting with great musicians and a big sound. They have played all over Melbourne and Victoria including Port Fairy Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival and Merimbula Jazz Festival, as well as the Basin Music Festival and many other individual performances. This is their first time at PAVED and we are delighted to have them re-energise the space at Emersleigh Winery for the jazz enthusiasts. “When The Cats Come Out To Play…” is their first album – a celebration of the band’s musical highlights and a record of some of the finest jazz songs that Gill has written for them.
They’ll be performing at Jazz at Emersleigh Estate winery on Thursday 16 April, 7:30pm
INCHOIR
Dalys Mithen and Steve Kyval are the driving force behind INCHOIR. Together, they lead the much-loved Lyrebirds Community Choir – a welcoming group of all ages and abilities who meet weekly to sing and connect.
After their success leading The Treetop Pub Choir series in 2024 at Belgrave’s iconic Sooki Lounge, they discovered a simple truth:
There’s no song they can’t arrange, no crowd they can’t inspire, and no performance they can’t bring to life!
Shea Laoise
Shea Laoise – Hive Wine Bar Sunday 12th April 7pm – 9pm
Shea is a singer/songwriter from the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne, Australia.
Shea last performed at the PAVED Festival in 2023 and had audiences eating out of her hand. Her stage presence, exquisite musicality and lyrics are all of a standard usually possessed by seasoned artists. Her maturity and captivating voice will delight audiences and her engagement will put a smile on your face.
Beck Sian
Beck Sian loves Kookaburras, dragonflies and cloud-watching. She is an award-winning singer and songwriter, and is a musician, gardener and artist. Now back home permanently in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges after ten years in the U.K., Beck is so happy to be part of the very special Women in Song concert 2026.
“Some singers have only to utter a note and instantly, you’re transfixed. They’ve reached out, touched your soul. Beck Sian has that rare quality. In Beck, you sense she’s on a journey and, for a short while at least, you’re a traveling companion. With a soprano voice to die for, her approach is highly individual, the ambiance emotional and utterly entrancing. She’s charismatic, convivial and funny on stage – in short, a real show-stopper! It’s mystical, magical music, spiritual and enchanting. There are touches redolent of Kate Bush, to whom Beck is related, but these are mere brush-strokes of influence. Overall, it’s as distinctive as it’s original. Unmissable.” (Julian Badcock – Wheaton Aston Folk Festival, U.K. 2007)
Website:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BeckSianMusic
Youtube:
Ashley Naylor’s Spaceship (trio)
Ash Naylor’s musical career commenced in 1987 at the age of seventeen, when he played guitar for indie rock band The Swarm. In 1994 he formed EVEN with Matthew Cotter, whom he had played with in The Swarm, and bass player Wally Kempton of The Meanies. In addition to his work in EVEN, Ashley has been involved as Musical Director for the recent Bob Dylan Night series and the ARIA award-winning Triple J Tribute to Paul Kelly ‘Before Too Long’. He has performed alongside Tex Perkins in the Johnny Cash musical ‘Man In Black’ and Claire Bowditch in ‘Tales from the Life of Eva Cassidy’. Ashley’s talents have seen him touring with the RocKwiz Orkestra, an integral member of the Countdown Spectacular (2006) house band, member of The Bull Sisters’ (Vika and Linda) band, and more recently with Thee Marshmallow Overcoat celebrating sixties classics and of course lead guitarist for the past decade or so for one of our national musical treasures, Paul Kelly. Ash’s band, Spaceship performed the Jimi Hendrix Experience album “Are You Experienced” at PAVED last year, to rave review. Ash is bringing his Spaceship to Emerald on Thursday 16th April 2026 to perform his favourite Jimi Hendrix’s tracks. Ash will be joined by Lachlan O’Kane on drums and Richard Bradbeer on bass. A powerhouse performance is guaranteed.
Kavisha Mazzella AM
“A power and presence that’s beyond words” Colum Sands
ARIA award winner and songbird Kavisha Mazzella original song’s lyrical ingredients include humour, poetry, social justice and the spiritual. Combine this prowess with the voice of an angel and you have the experience of a Kavisha concert. Singing in English and Italian, she will take you on an uplifting boundary riding journey of well-crafted stories and songs ringing with echoes of Celtic, Fado and Gypsy influences that will strike a resounding chord within. With 8 solo albums under her belt, she has sung and given vocal workshops at national music festivals and abroad.
In 2000 Kavisha was awarded Italia Nel Mondo award for her work in creating Italian Women’s Choirs in Australia
In 2011 Kavisha was awarded an Australia Day Honour for her contribution to music and Community. Her website is www.kavisha.com
Recently she started a new Italian community Choir “Lingua Madre” open to all .
Anouk Ely
Melbourne-based Anouk Ely is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter whose music combines delicate acoustic textures with heartfelt lyricism.
Drawing inspiration from her Japanese heritage and artists such as Beabadoobee, Bon Iver, Sally Seltmann, First Aid Kit and Elliott Smith. Anouk teaches choir and gives singing lessons when she’s not performing. She recently released her debut album ‘433’.
She has been writing music all her life with her dad, Ben Ely (Regurgitator) and little sister, Dee Dee Ely. In her childhood home she says songwriting was the same as breathing.
Anouk Ely will be performing at Women in Song Wednesday 15th April, 7:30pm at Gemco Theatre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald.
Freya Josephine Hollick
Freya Josephine Hollick is a singer-songwriter from Victoria who has a distinct identity within the Australian country music genre. Her musical style has been described as cosmic country, but that is merely a label for something that is definitely country music yet absolutely her music: an embrace of the structure of country as a pathway to greater creativity. Hollick writes songs that work on macro and micro scales, and nowhere is that better displayed than on her album, The Real World, which is both a manifesto and an offering of love.
Freya is something of a country siren known for her spellbinding vocals and gritty, poetic storytelling. Freya brings a raw spirit of outlaw country to her performances with perfect pitch, haunting melodies and entrancing lyrics.
Freya will be performing at Women in Song Wednesday 15th April, 7:30pm at Gemco Theatre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald.
Benoit
Benoit is a singer-songwriter hailing from the eastern hills of Victoria, Australia. The music of Benoit is melodic and reflective, with soulful lyrics. Benoit provokes his audience to consider another perspective and think deeply about the everyday things of life. In relating to the human condition and the issues of the day, Benoit seeks to present another narrative, one full of beauty, love and life.
After performing Bob Dylan’s classic Freewheelin’ album in 2026, Benoit returns to PAVED to launch his own album.
Luke Townzzend
Luke Townzzend will be performing at the Hive Wine Bar Wednesday 15th April 8pm.
His sultry, thoughtful lyrics and smooth voice are the perfect combination for this venue.
Duplicity Live
Duplicity – the unstoppable force fusing jazz, blues, rock, and pop into one mesmerizing experience! Since taking home the crown for Best Group at the Dandenong Ranges Ukulele Festival (DRUKE) back in 2017, they’ve been on fire, pushing the boundaries of what ukuleles can do. Led by the dynamic duo of Sue Kidd on vocals, ukulele, and percussion, and Brendan Canty on ukulele, guitar, bass, and vocals, Duplicity brings a fresh vibe to the Melbourne music scene. From soulful vocals to ingenious arrangements, they’re not just a band – they’re a sonic adventure.
Duplicity Live – Hive Wine Bar – Thursday 16th April 8pm
Mark Gardner
Mark Gardner is a multi- instrumental singer / songwriter who has performed over 1000 shows including Sooki Lounge supporting The Sharp , The Oaktree Tavern , Montrose Community Festival , The Espy and Sips n sounds in Ascot Vale. Mark has “ Sail to you” selected for a compilation CD – “ Where words fail , music speaks “ Second Tour for Guitar for Veterans Australia and recorded it with the John Farnham band and recently became a guitar ambassador for Guitar for Veterans Australia . Mark is releasing a limited edition double a side single very soon and currently working on a new upcoming album .
Go to www.markgardner.com.au for more details
Tall Teeth
“Tall Teeth’s delicate instrumentation soundtracks a confronting, emotive reflection of internal conflict that is equal parts haunting as it is alluring. The brainchild of singer, songwriter Bradley Price, Tall Teeth is the young Australian’s most honest musical endeavour to date, stripping back his indie electronica production in favour of a raw, acoustic outlet. Finding vocal inspiration from the likes of Björk, Goldfrapp and drawing upon thematic precedent of artists such as Jeff Buckley, Fionn Regan and Nick Drake, Tall Teeth’s tenuous balance of eerie and serene emerges within each of his auditory compositions. Tall Teeth’s musical offering sets a dark, yet optimistic tone that illustrates a universal appreciation of finding audible equilibrium”
Tall Teeth performs at the Hive Wine Bar Monday 13th April 8pm
Here For the Beers
Here for the Beers blend 90s and 00s rock and pop classics with everyone’s favourite instrument, the electric ukulele. The instruments may be tiny but the sound definitely is not. Guaranteed to have you singing along and stamping your feet to timeless anthems.
Performing on the deck outside the Hive Wine Bar on Friday 17th April, 6pm.
Belinda & Pete
Hills favourites Belinda and Pete are an energetic, fun duo, playing a mix of sing-a-long favourites and originals. You’ll want to be up and dancing and will find it hard not to join in with their infectious performance.
You’ll find Belinda and Pete at the Hive Wine Bar on Tuesday, 14th April, 8pm
Lyrebirds Community Choir
We are a gathering of all ability humans who enjoy singing and having a fabulous time doing so!
Lyrebirds will be performing on the FunFest main stage on Sunday 12th April, 11am
AND
see them in their nature finest costumes at Gemco Theatre on Saturday 18th April, 1:30pm to open the screening of The Message of the Lyrebird film.
Deep Steve
Born in a blackout on a stormy Halloween night, Deep Steve is a lonesome surfer, a mystic vampire, a psychedelic, garage rockin’, country and eastern crooner singing songs of lost loves, bad dreams and short coffins.
Deep Steve are…
Simon Jaunay – Guitar & Vox
Miles Menegon – Guitar & Vox
Claire Kuiper – Backing Vox, Keys & Tamborine
Tim Lines – Bass
Jason Kellett – Drums
Dave Diprose and Darryl Thompson
Dave Diprose and Darryl Thompson have been performing together for an incredible fifty years, cultivating a deep musical chemistry and an innate understanding of each other’s playing. Dave is a gifted storyteller and multi-award-winning songwriter whose evocative songs paint vivid scenes of rural landscapes and transport listeners to the nostalgic world of a bygone era. Darryl, a superb multi-instrumentalist, enhances their performances with his harmony vocals, guitar, and Dobro, adding the perfect texture and colour to their material.
Their music seamlessly weaves together the rich traditions of Bluegrass, Folk, and Singer-Songwriter genres, with distinctive touches of Australiana. Fans often describe it as a captivating blend of Steve Earle meets Norman Blake, with touches of The Dingoes thrown in.
With decades of experience and a reputation for professionalism, Dave and Darryl have graced festivals and clubs across the nation, earning the admiration of audiences everywhere. Dave Diprose and Darryl Thompson bring great songs, great stories, and great musicianship.
Dave and Darryl will perform on the FunFest Main Stage on Sunday 12th April at 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald.
Tracey Roberts duo
Tracey Roberts is one of the rare breed of singer-songwriter-pianists whose emotive and stylish performances consistently hold audiences spellbound – a gifted, “all-rounder” who often defies categorisation, such are her diverse capabilities.
Along with her experience performing and sensitive piano playing and richly poetic lyrics to create melodic arrangements of beautiful, original songs. Her music is a fusion of adult-contemporary, jazz-infused soul, pop and folk, with hints of blues, classical and Celtic influences … and theres always some surprising quirky cabaret stuff with spontaneous anecdotes and commentary thrown into the mix … an entertaining, class act.
Tracey performs at The Hive Wine Bar, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald on Friday 17th April, at 8pm.