15/04/2026
We’re having a Second Last Sunday Folk Up in April as we count down to the Top Half Folk Festival! Join us at Watertank Cafe on Sunday 19 April from 5pm for King Marong and Emmy Ryan 🧡
King Marong’s journey from the vibrant cultural landscapes of The Gambia to the diverse communities of Australia exemplifies his unwavering dedication to preserving cultural heritage and enhancing community well-being. Discover King’s dynamic rhythms; blending traditional West African Percussion with contemporary influences for a captivating cultural exchange. In Australia, King’s outstanding community development efforts have not only earned him accolades but have also cemented his partnerships with prominent organisations such as the NT Government, Vic Arts Council, NPY Women’s Council, Secure Care, Life Without Barriers, Anglicare, Casa Services, and the Alice Springs Town Council. His significant contributions, especially within the disability sector, have been recognised with prestigious awards from the Alice Springs Council and the NT Government, highlighting his impact and dedication to fostering inclusive communities through the arts.
A modern day troubadour, Emmy is back in her second home Mparntwe Alice Springs as part of her Big Sky Reunion Tour through SA, NT, and NSW. Emmy’s songs carry truth like a heartbeat — stories of love, loss, belonging, and the land that holds us. Pairing deft musicianship with a voice that sits somewhere between lullaby and reckoning, Emmy tells stories about finding home, facing history, and staying open-hearted in hard times. With songs that have earnt recognition in the International Songwriting Competition, the Northern Territory Music Awards, the Listen Up Songwriting Competition, and the Australian Bluegrass and Old Time Music Songwriting Prize, Emmy Ryan invites you in — not just to listen, but to feel.
See you there!
