Final reminder: Performer applications for the 28th Illawarra Folk Festival (17-20 January 2013) close 30 June.

Wongawilli Band, Dancers & Colonial Dance Club celebrate 25 years of making music & dance! Concert, Bush Ball & Social Picnic planned for 3 to 5 August in Wollongong.  Details: Email or visit web site.  

Song Session Night - Theme: Songs of The Dubliners with special guest singer Danny Priestley (dancers welcome but no walk-throughs).   Wongawilli Hall.  8pm.  $3.  David De Santi,  0409 57 1788.

The Popes (Ireland).  The Vanguard, 42 King St, Newtown.  $48.80 (incl. bf), meal & show $83.80 (incl. bf).  Bookings, 9557 9409.

Kim Sanders & Friends: Gypsy Madness! Special guest, Boyd, who performed with Kim in legendary Gypsy-World band Brassov in the '90s. Plus the return of Bobby Singh on tabla. Kim Sanders (goat bag, breath tubes, medium-sized saxofon); Boyd (big saxofon, maybe big clarinet too); Llew Kiek (string things); Sam Golding (sousaphone honkenblurter); Bobby Singh (those little Indian bongo things). Camelot Lounge, 19 Marrickville Rd (cnr Railway Pde, 2 mins walk from Sydenham station), Marrickville. Fully licensed. Pizzas, mezzes, snacks, sorbets available. 9pm (doors 7.30). $25, $20. (02) 9550 3777. Info.  Bookings.

RFDS Contra Dance with Pastrami on Ryebuck, caller Julie Bishop.  *Note NEW VENUE & times.  Ermington Community Centre, 10 River Rd.  7-11pm.  $17, $14, under-18 (with an adult) free.  John 9623 7551, Leila 9896 8992.

The Popes (Ireland), featuring Paul 'Mad Dog' McGuinness, Will Morrison, 'Whiskey Mick' Rowan & Dave Allen.  +Dubliners 50th Anniversary Tribute.   Illawarra Folk Club, City Diggers Wollongong, cnr Church & Burelli Sts. 7.30pm. For info email or call 1300 887 034.

Engadine House Concert, with Mary-Jane Field, still singing & writing songs. Some personal favourites from her days singing at the Harbourtown Lounge in South Carolina, USA, plus songs from Sth America (with maracas & goats’ toenails!); some of her most loved Australian ballads, & songs related to issues that concern her + a cheeky surprise or two. She has invited the composer of an entry in last year’s SydneyVision contest to sing her song - along with a taste of this year's entry. Mary-Jane has played on the Opera House stage, in Martin Place & Darling Harbour, twice as a guest at an International Folkloric Festival in Argentina, & in restaurants, folk clubs & festivals - but loves the intimacy of a house concert. Yummy home-made afternoon tea. 2pm. Suggested donation  $15, $20. Booking essential: Email or phone Margaret 9520 6180, 0403 936 785.

Monthly Celtic Session, Carrington Old Bank Bar, Katoomba, is a week later than usual, because of last weekend's Winter Magic Festival. Irish fiddle champion, Louise Phelan, will be coming up again. Free drink for all players. 3pm.  Nick Szentkuti

BMC Dance Workshop. Winning Dances - some dances which have won club competitions or have become popular because they present something special.  Pennant Hills Community Ctr, Yarrara Rd. 7.30-9.30pm. $7. Felicity 9456 2860

The Hannafords +Pukara, Sydney based group who play the music of Latin America: from the poetic songs of Victor Jara to Salsa to Latin Jazz Fusion. Illawarra Folk Club www.illawarrafolkclub.org.au/, City Diggers Wollongong, cnr Church & Burelli Sts. 7.30pm. Info email or call 1300 887 034.

Bush Music Club Singabout Night. 'The Songs They Used to Sing.'  Bring a song or a poem, & food to share.  Tritton Hall (Hut 44), Addison Road Community Centre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville.  8-10pm.  $5.  Bob Bolton 9569 7244

The Bushwackers, an Australian music institution, with 2012 their 41st year. In the '70s & '80s The Bushwackers toured Australia relentlessly playing the thriving pub rock circuit. They came to Sydney 5 or 6 times a year, playing a solid week of pub gigs, finishing up with a bush dance at Paddington Town Hall, or at the height of their popularity in the '80s, their Sunday afternoon 'Giant Bush Dances' at Birkenhead Point, with 2,500 - 3,000 people. The Empire Hotel, 103A Parramatta Rd, Annandale. 8pm. $20, $15. All tickets at the door. Children allowed with a parent. Good food at reasonable prices.  9557 1701

Beecroft Bush Dance, with Snake Gully. All dances taught.  Beecroft Community Centre, Beecroft Rd (opp. Fire Station).  8pm-12.  $17, $14, $12, incl. supper.  Sigrid 9980 7077, Wilma 9489 5594

The Foreday Riders, true legends of Australian Blues, this year being their 45th year as a band.  And they are as good as ever!   The Empire Hotel, 103A Parramatta Rd, Annandale (cnr Johnston St). www.empirehotelannandale.com.au  8pm.  $20. All tickets at the door. Children allowed with a parent. Good food available at reasonable prices.  9557 1701

Lawson ‘Live’ Christmas in July. 6pm, Mataya, talented young singer songwriter & piano player from Katoomba; with special guest, her father Micky Young on saxophone. 7pm, The Fortunes, very talented local acapella quartet: Kate Swadling, Katie McRobert, Trish Adams, Catrina McKay. 8pm, The Christmas Swamp Band, a great dance & party band well known for their Love Lawson Festival concerts. This time, 8 players: Kate Swadling, Anne Crestani & Dave Warren on vocals; Neil Sagewood, keyboard; Dave Crestani, bass; Brett Dennis, guitar; Julia Day, drums; Micky Young, saxophone.  Mid Mountains Community Centre, Lawson.  6-10pm. $ 15, $12. Under 12, free. Delicious home-made food for sale. BYO alcohol.  Laurie 4759 2592

Pat Drummond & Karen Lynne. Pat's decades of travelling Australia’s backroads & living with its people; often sleeping out under the stars & sharing the campfires of stockmen & travellers, have produced over a dozen albums of songs & stories that many critics have claimed sum up Australia & her characters more fully than possibly any other writer.  +The beautiful voice of Karen Lynne. Karen, who has been showcased on ABC’s Saturday Night Country as Australia’s premier bluegrass vocalist, has recorded two albums with Pat, & brings a touch of gentleness & grace.  Have a look at YouTube clips of their 2010 concert in Humph Hall. Humph Hall, 85 Allambie Rd, Allambie Heights.  2pm.  Audience numbers limited to 50 so book early!  Wayne Richmond 9939 8802,

NEWCASTLE:  The Popes (Ireland).  Great Northern Hotel.

CANBERRA:  Peter Woodley 'Flute Tunes' CD Launch.  The Merry Muse (Monaro Folk Society), Canberra Southern Cross Club (The Bowlo), McCaughey St (cnr Condamine St), Turner.  7.30pm.  $17, $14, MFS $12, under-16 free.  Eileen 0412 127 882.

CANBERRA:  Beginners workshop, "making a lady's chemise or a man's shirt. In following months we will be making stays, waistcoats, gowns & frockcoats": a series of 1780s sewing workshops; & 1780s Accessories Workshops, Promenade & Dinner in early Oct. Refreshments & notes provided.  Aylwen Gardiner-Garden.

NEWCASTLE:  Pat Drummond  +Douglas Stewart, entertainer extraordinaire, with Carole Garland.  Wesley Centre Hall, 150 Beaumont St, Hamilton.  7.30pm.  $15, $12, $10.  Carole 4929 3912, Lainey 0421 412 358, 4954 3455 Newcastle/Hunter Valley Folk Club.

QUEANBEYAN:  Alanna & Alicia Egan.  +Danny Mack.  The Artists Shed, 14 Foster St (behind Magnet Mart off Yass Rd).  2-5pm.  Entry by paper note donation. Enjoy a glass of wine, wonderful artworks, great music - & lovely rustic surroundings!  Ros 0438 768 754.