There's the

      St Albans FolkFest

http://www.snalbans.iwarp.com/

starting on 24th and going over the weekend. It's about an hour or so's drive from Sydney, although I don't know how accessible it is by public transport. It's a lovely little festival (although getting bigger every year) and a beautiful country area.

Lots of Sydney folkies go to it, so there could be the possibility of arranging a lift there with one of them.

      NSW Folk Federation has lists of folk venues and festivals

http://www.newsouthfolk.com/ffnsw/

Canberra is in the state called ACT (Australian Capital Territory) which is smack bang inside the state of NSW (New South Wales) so the NSW info would most likely include Canberra info.

I'm in Newcastle, NSW which is 100 miles north of Sydney, and I am planning to be at St Albans this year.

Helen