About
Amaidí started at trad sessions around Brisbane, where the band's members first met over shared tunes. That turned into a few pub gigs, then the first festival, and things kept building from there. These days the band plays right across Australia and did a run of shows through Europe in 2026.
The lineup is accordion, fiddle, guitar and banjo, mixing Celtic tradition with the Australian sounds the band grew up around.
The band is currently on a hiatus, with a new album and a run of shows planned for March 2027. Stay tuned.
The Band
Lachlan Baldwin
Lachlan is a guitarist and singer-songwriter originally from Gladstone, Queensland, now based in Brisbane. His sound draws on Australian bush music, Celtic tradition, rock and jazz, a mix shaped in part by his mother's Irish roots, which first drew him into the tradition. He writes original material while staying rooted in folk tradition, and has toured both nationally and internationally.
Before Amaidí, Lachlan played in Brisbane bands The Jar and Gone Molly. Alongside guitar and vocals, he's also the one behind the camera, bringing his videography skills to the band.
Jack Meimaris
Originally from Brisbane, Jack started on classical piano before Irish dancing throughout his childhood drew him into the tradition. At sixteen he swapped piano for the piano accordion, moving into Irish dance competitions and from there into the trad session scene, where he started gigging in earnest.
Jack went on to study a Bachelor of Music, specialising in Creative Music Technology, at Queensland Conservatorium. That grounding led him into recording, mixing and production, where he has since produced Amaidí's own material, Austral's most recent album, and work for ABC Kids. He also holds a Master of Teaching.
Jack is currently based in Oban, Scotland, which is behind Amaidí's current hiatus. When he's not being thoroughly cold and working his way through the local fish and chips, he's playing gigs and producing music for Amaidí and other bands, while travelling and performing throughout Scotland and Ireland.
Sam De Santi
Originally from Wollongong, Sam started playing traditional folk music as early as age four alongside his family. Growing up Sam completed his AMEB Certificate of Performance for Classical Violin at age 17 and had played at every major Australian folk festival.
Sam moved to the UK in 2016 to study Sound Engineering and be further integrated into the traditional and folk music scenes of the UK. Whilst there, he recevied multiple accolades both individually and with multiple groups. Since his return from the UK in 2020, Sam has resided in Australia and been involved with over 6 major musical projects with Amaidi being at the forefront of his folkloric work since mid-2023.
Alongside his musical commitments, Sam has previously and currently been involved with both festivals and organisations of folk music within Australia: Illawarra Folk Festival (2010-2014, 2016); Folk Alliance Australia as a member of the Board of Directors (2022 - Current). By profession, Sam is an Acoustic Design Engineer, being an accredited Member of the Acoustical Society of Australia.