Sunday Music at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre has been a live-music-scene staple since 1981, with this year’s curated lineup promising a mix of genres by both local and international artists.

The 25/26 season opens on Sunday October 5 with Kankawa Nagarra, also known as Olive Knight, an 82-year-old powerhouse of Australian blues, country and gospel and elder from the Wangkatjungka community in the Kimberley. Alongside Nagarra is ICONYX, whose connection to the late Archie Roach and Gurrumul grants her rare permission to perform and reimagine their music; the two Blak female musicians present an array of moving and powerful music.

Complementing the season opening will be a ceramics market on the top lawn, with over 45 artists taking part as part of Wedge: The Australian Ceramics Triennale. WFAC’s new garden café, Plated will also be open and operational for opening weekend.

“We are thrilled to announce the lineup for Sunday Music (part 1)” says City of Fremantle’s Director of Creative Arts Pete Stone, “Sunday Music is everything that’s great about Freo – Sunny arvos under the trees at Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre, with a diverse range of the best new and established acts you’ll find anywhere in the country. And this year the café will be open again, hooray! Jump on your bike and head down, its free, it’s just for you and it’s the perfect end to a Freo weekend.

Debra Rule, Chair of Fremantle Community Bank, added “Sunday Music heralds the start of summer in Fremantle. It’s a wonderful family friendly event, supporting local artists, and the perfect place to be on a Sunday afternoon.  We at the Fremantle Community Bank (part of the Bendigo Bank) are delighted to support this iconic program.”

Performing in Australia for the first time this October is Los Angeles six-piece Swimming Bell bringing their signature lush Californian alt-folk. Compared to a folk-era Sharon Van Etten, Meg Baird and Rosali, Swimming Bell is the musical project of Katie Schottland, a Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter whose ethereal melodies and intricate harmonies create a dreamlike sonic landscape.

Little Guilt arrive as a cocktail of honeyed vocals later in the month, hypnotic synths and wistful lyricism brought forth with driving guitars. Since their formation in early 2021, the indie outfit (comprised of Ella Melton, Lachlan Thomson, Joe Knowles, Brady Kiernan and Bevyn Tarboton) have unwittingly captured the hearts of music lovers in both the digital realm and on stage through sold-out venues around the country.

Mahamudo Selimane is a renowned singer/guitarist from Mozambique who has toured around the world with his band Eyuphuro (one of Peter Gabriel’s ‘Real World’ label’s first releases) ‘Zukhuta’ includes Mahamudo’s long-time collaborator John Wilson, drummer Hardy Perrine, saxophonist Marc Osborne and Grammy-winning Lucky Oceans who pioneers the use of pedal steel guitar in African music.  For this show, the band expands to include vibrant front man Quentin (Queency) Thony.

In November, the month kicks off with acclaimed first nations artist Bumpy, a magnetic force in Australian music having wowed audiences at the London Jazz Festival and played festivals around the country. Her sound is a shimmering mosaic of contemporary soul laced with folk, funk, and jazz. She performs alongside firm Sunday Music favourite Boox Kid with his signature dreamy electropop.

A special show on 30 November has been programmed in response to the upcoming Theo Koning retrospective hosted at WFAC. Echo – Motion – Memory features artists Jamie Oehlers

Jess Carlton, Ben Vanderwal, Karl Florisson and Harry Mitchell celebrating Theo’s love of jazz, particularly Keith Jarrett’s music. They will perform performing Jarret’s music as well as new compositions created for the day.

16 November presents Nicholas Allbrook, also known as the frontman of Pond, who has created his own programming in response to Theo Koning’s exhibition at WFAC.  Allbrook will be performing and inviting his friends who share the instinctive spirit of the Fremantle based artist for this super special Sunday Music session.

December sees the remarkable Stella Cain joined on stage by members of the Watkins Street Choir and two additional local choirs run by her Aunty, Anna Wallwork. The collaboration is a powerful extension of the choral elements in RODDY, her debut EP, evoking the communal warmth and connection that defines her work.

Fremantle Arts Centre’s Sunday Music summer concert series is on every Sunday from 2-4pm until March 29th 2026.

December 7th, 21st and 28th will not feature programming.

More acts to be announced soon, please visit fac.org.au for more info.

ENDS

Media contact:

Ella Boekeman | Fremantle Arts Centre | ellabo@fremantle.wa.gov.au

Sunday Music Summer Series Lineup

  • 5 Oct 2025 – Kankawa Nagarra & Iconyx

  • 12 Oct 2025 – Little Guilt & Brodie Loves

  • 19 Oct 2025 – Swimming Bell & Clove

  • 26 Oct 2025 – Zukhuta & Howie Smallman and David Milroy

  • 2 Nov 2025 – Bumpy & Boox Kid

  • 9 Nov 2025 – Cassis & Phantom Island

  • 16 Nov 2025 – Nick Allbrook with friends

  • 23 Nov 2025 – Kombi a Train

  • 30 Nov 2025 – Echo – Motion – Memory featuring Jamie Oehlers, Jess Carlton, Ben Vanderwal, Karl Florisson and Harry Mitchell

  • 14 Dec 2025 – Stella Cain (joined by Watkins Street Choir and more) & Have a Good Da