The East Pointers bring Schoonertown back to Australia for a summer of live music

There's something about Canadian folk music that seems to sit comfortably with Australian audiences.

Perhaps it's the shared appreciation for a good story, the connection to regional communities or simply the fact that both countries have a long tradition of musicians travelling enormous distances to play their songs to whoever turns up. Whatever the reason, The East Pointers have developed a particularly strong relationship with Australian music lovers over the years, and this summer they're heading back for another run of shows, bringing a deluxe edition of their latest album, Schoonertown, along for the ride.

The JUNO Award-winning Canadian outfit last toured Australian venues in 2025, continuing a connection that has grown through repeated visits and a willingness to take their music well beyond the traditional folk circuit. Their return will see them performing at Woodford Folk Festival over the New Year period before heading out for a series of intimate shows across the country in January 2027, from Eumundi and the Gold Coast to Geelong, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane.

For a band whose music thrives on the connection between musicians and audiences, it's a touring schedule that makes plenty of sense. The energy of a festival crowd is one thing, but there's something equally rewarding about seeing accomplished players in a smaller room, where you can hear the finer details of the arrangements and watch the musical conversation unfold on stage. It's a balance The East Pointers have become particularly good at, bringing the same enthusiasm and musicianship to both settings.

Their 2025 album Schoonertown marked another step in the band's continuing musical evolution, moving comfortably between traditional folk influences, alternative sounds and contemporary pop without losing the acoustic foundations that have always been part of their identity. It's a record built around strong melodies and thoughtful songwriting, with stories drawn from those years when life seems to be moving at a hundred miles an hour and every experience feels like it might change everything.

First love, nights out with friends, growing up and the complicated emotions that come with finding your place in the world all find their way into the songs. There's a sense of nostalgia running through the album, but it's not simply about looking backwards. Instead, Schoonertown explores the excitement and uncertainty of youth, when the best nights often become the stories you tell years later, and the difficult moments have a way of teaching you more than you expected.

It's familiar territory for folk music, which has always found its strength in the stories of ordinary people and the experiences that connect us. What makes The East Pointers interesting is the way they approach those traditions without feeling restricted by them. Their music draws on the instrumental interplay and melodic character of traditional folk while embracing contemporary production, rhythms and arrangements that give the songs a broader musical reach.

The deluxe edition of Schoonertown, arriving on 11 December 2026, offers another opportunity to explore that approach, introducing new material alongside an acoustic version of ‘Maritime Moonshine’. Stripping a song back to its acoustic foundations can often reveal something different about the writing, particularly with a band whose musicianship has always been such an important part of its appeal. Without the additional layers of production, the focus shifts towards the melody, the performance and the relationship between the instruments.

It's also a reminder that folk music has never been a fixed tradition. The songs and instruments might have deep historical roots, but the music has always travelled, changed and absorbed new influences along the way. The East Pointers are very much part of that continuing story, finding ways to bring traditional musical ideas into a contemporary setting while maintaining the sense of warmth and community that first attracted audiences to the genre.

That spirit makes Woodford Folk Festival a particularly fitting place for the band to begin its Australian summer. Woodford has long been a gathering point for musicians, storytellers and audiences who enjoy discovering something beyond the familiar, and The East Pointers' combination of traditional influences and modern songwriting sits naturally within that environment.

From there, the band will take the music into some of Australia's most interesting live venues, including the Imperial Hotel in Eumundi, Melbourne's Corner Hotel, Sydney's Vanguard and Brisbane's Triffid. Along the way, they'll be joined at selected shows by Eleea and fellow Canadian artist Logan Richard, adding another dimension to the tour and giving audiences the chance to discover some additional music.

There's something particularly appealing about a band that continues to evolve without losing sight of where it came from. The East Pointers have spent years developing their sound, building relationships with audiences and finding new ways to approach the music they love. *Schoonertown* reflects that journey, bringing together the energy of youth, the perspective that comes with growing older and the musical curiosity that keeps a band moving forward.

And for Australian audiences, their return is another chance to reconnect with a group that has become a familiar and welcome presence on our festival stages and in our live music venues. Whether it's a packed room at Woodford, an intimate show in Sydney or a summer evening at a country pub, The East Pointers understand that the best live music experiences are about more than simply playing the songs.

They're about the people in the room, the stories being shared and those moments when the music brings everyone together.

With new material to share and another Australian summer ahead, The East Pointers are ready to pick up that conversation right where they left off.

The East Pointers – Australian tour dates 2026–2027

29 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 – Woodford Folk Festival, Woodford QLD
2 January 2027 – Imperial Hotel, Eumundi QLD, with Eleea and Logan Richard (CAN)
3 January 2027 – Soundlounge, Gold Coast QLD, with Eleea and Logan Richard (CAN)
5 January 2027 – Geelong Arts Centre, Geelong VIC, with Logan Richard (CAN)
6 January 2027 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne VIC, with Eleea and Logan Richard (CAN)
7 January 2027 – The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide SA, with Logan Richard (CAN)
8 January 2027 – Vanguard, Sydney NSW, with Eleea
9 January 2027 – TANKS, Cairns QLD
10 January 2027 – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD, with Eleea

The deluxe edition of Schoonertown is released on 11 December 2026.