Our Story
The Water Runners – Biography
The Water Runners are an award-winning contemporary Australian folk band from Kiama and Gerringong on the South Coast of New South Wales (Dharawal Country). Known for their bluegrass-infused sound, strong songwriting, and engaging live shows, they craft music that celebrates Australian stories, people, and landscapes.
Awards & Recognition
The Water Runners have received widespread recognition for their songwriting and performances, including:
🏆 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Country Blues Award for “Viking” (2026 Tamworth Country Music Festival)
🏆 Capital Country Music Association National Songwriter of the Year for “Last Train from Central” (2026)
🏆 Australian Bush Balladeers Association – Music Excellence Award for their video “Shelter”, filmed at Jamberoo Pub and surrounds (2026)
🏆 Runners-Up, People’s Choice Award – Australian Folk Alliance / Folk Alliance Australia (2025)
🏆 Best Band & Runner-Up (Open Category) – Australian National Busking Championships, (2020)
Their song “Turn Down The Heat” was also selected by UNICEF to promote the State of the World’s Children Report, highlighting their impact beyond the stage.
Band Members & Story
John Littrich (guitar, vocals, harmonica) and Neil McCann (banjo, mandolin, backing vocals) have been writing and performing together for over 25 years. John has been playing music since forming his first band in Sydney at age 17, while Neil’s deep roots in traditional and bluegrass music include performing with Australian folk legends Wongawilli and being a founding member of the Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society of Australia. Along with their good friend Paul McGee, they’ve collected multiple top awards from the Australian Songwriters Association. A career highlight came when UNICEF selected their song “Turn Down The Heat” to promote the State of the World’s Children report.
Dom Littrich (Pacific Avenue / Big Twisty/ The Inspired Unemployed) played percussion and vocals on the band’s first three albums and now joins for rare special performances, bringing energy and humour to the live show.
Danita Harris joined in 2017 on violin and vocals. She has performed with folk and roots bands including Strung6teen, and has also played with the Garth Brooks Tribute Show. Her versatility, warm tone, and dynamic stage presence bring a distinctive voice and instrumental depth to The Water Runners’ sound.
Clayton Condon was the band’s talented young double bassist until mid-2019, when he left to join the Army. James Turk, Gerringong’s own double-bass legend, then stepped in, continuing the band’s dynamic live sound.
Albums
The Water Runners have released four albums:
Heading South (2017) – self-produced debut, establishing their signature storytelling sound
The Point of No Return (2019) – produced by John Kane (Flying Emus)
Further Down the Road (2021) – produced by Matt Fell (ABC’s The Recording Studio)
Shelter (2025) – produced by Syd Green (ex-19Twenty, now drummer with Kasey Chambers)
🎵 The Water Runners – Awards & Achievements Timeline
2026
🏆 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Country Blues Award, “Viking”
🏆 CCMA (Capital Country Music Association) – National Songwriter of the Year, “Last Train from Central”
🏆 Australian Bush Balladeers Association Inc. – Music Excellence Award, Video “Shelter”
🏆 Capital Country Radio – Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards ✨
Top 5 Finalist for:
• Best Album – Shelter
• Best Song – Shelter
• Best Group/Duo – The Water Runners
• Best Video Clip – Shelter
2025
🎖 Folk Alliance Australia – Runners-Up, People’s Choice Award
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Featured band & songwriting workshop presenters
2024
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – Top 10 (No.6), Australian Category, “Murrumbidgee”
2023
🎖 Judith Crossley Memorial Songwriting Award, Fleurieu Folk Festival, SA – “The Emily Smith”
🎖 Regional Arts Australia / NSW Funding – Attended and performed at Cygnet Folk Festival
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Semi-finalists, “Murrumbidgee” & “Light at the End of the Road”
2022
🎖 Capital Country Radio-Australian Country Music People’s Choice –Finalist, Best Song, “Stand On Your Own Two Feet”
🎖 Renaissance Artists & Writers Association (International) – Finalist, Songs for Social Change, “Water From The Well”
2021
🎖 Sounds Australia / Folk Alliance International – Selected Australian Artist, Folk Unlocked Iso-Laid Online Festival
🎖 Folk Alliance Australia – Finalists, People’s Choice Award
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Semi-finalists in multiple categories:
Bluegrass: “Fire in the Stone”, “Stand On Your Own Two Feet”
Traditional Country: “Woodhill Mountain”, “Take Me Home”
Alternate Country: “Eureka”
Gospel: “Further Down The Road”
🎖 NSW South West Regional Music Conservatorium – Commissioned performances at Blighty Hall & Borroorban Hall
2020
🏆 Australian National Busking Championships – Winner, Best Band; 2nd Place, Open Category
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Semi-finalist, Bush Ballad Section, “The Braidwood Mail” & “Gospel Lay That Burden Down”
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Finalist, Bluegrass Song of the Year, “The Point Of No Return”
2018
🎖 Illawarra Folk Festival Songwriting Competition – 2nd Place, “Pemulwuy”
🎖 Kiama Council Cultural Grant
2017
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association – Semi-finalist, Alt Country/Roots/Bluegrass, “Kate Kelly's Dream”
🎖 Illawarra Folk Festival Songwriting Competition – 2nd Place, “Too Young To Be This Old”
2016
🎖 Tamworth Songwriters Association Award – Semi-finalist, Anzac Song of the Year, “Mothers Arms”
2014
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 5th Place, Australian Category, “John Simpson Kirkpatrick”
2012
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 2nd Place, Songs for Children Category, “Father’s Day”
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 10th Place, Spiritual Category, “Five Thousand People”
2011
🎖 UNICEF State of the World’s Children Report – Song “Turn Down The Heat” selected to promote report
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 8th Place, Australian Category, “Australia Remembers”
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 9th Place, Songs for Children Category, “Happy Mother’s Day”
2010
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 6th Place, Australian Category, “Lest We Forget”
🎖 Australian Songwriters Association – 8th Place, Songs for Children Category, “Rockalot”
🎖 Commissioned to write an album of songs for Illawarra Children’s Services – Blast Off
🎵 Festival Performances – The Water Runners
2026
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW
2025
Woodford Folk Festival, QLD
Majors Creek Music Festival, NSW
Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, NSW
Folk By The Sea, Kiama, NSW
Hats Off To Country & Songwriting Workshop, Tamworth, NSW
Milton Folk, Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
Old Canberra Inn Bluegrass and Country Festival, ACT
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
2024
Cygnet Folk Festival, TAS
St Alban’s Folk Festival, NSW
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
2023
Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Majors Creek Folk Festival, NSW
Yackandandah Folk Festival, VIC
Folk by the Sea, Kiama, NSW
Fleurieu Folk Festival, SA
Bundanoon Folk Festival, NSW
Peak Festival, Perisher, NSW
2022
National Folk Festival, ACT
Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW
Cobargo Folk Festival, NSW
Peak Festival, Perisher, NSW
Sydney Folk Festival, NSW
Folk by the Sea, Kiama, NSW
Uranquinty Folk Festival, NSW
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
2021
Isol-Aid Folk Unlocked Online Festival, Folk Alliance ,Global
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
Tilba Festival, NSW
2020
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
2019
Kiss Arts Festival, Kiama, NSW
Peak Festival, Perisher, NSW
Jamberoo Music Festival, NSW
Sydney Folk Festival, NSW
Irish & Celtic Festival, Yass, NSW
Folk by the Sea, Kiama, NSW
Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, NSW
Majors Creek Folk Festival, NSW
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Folk in the Frost, Bulli, NSW
2018
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Jamberoo Music Festival, NSW
Folk by the Sea, Kiama, NSW
Peak Festival, Perisher, NSW
2017
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival, NSW
Folk by the Sea, Kiama, NSW
Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, NSW
2016
Folk by The Sea, Kiama, NSW
Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, NSW
Viva La Gong, Wollongong, NSW
Illawarra Folk Festival, NSW
First Place in the Judith Crossley Song Writing Award, Fleurieu Folk Festival