After staging a massive Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival in 2014 (in what many pundits have described as the event’s “break out year”), our volunteer committee have hit the ground running in 2015. Of course our Festival will take place from 5-8 November, but here’s just a taste of what we’re offering in the meantime:
The Old Church on the Hill (cnr Harkness & Russell Streets Quarry Hill) will host a series of concerts, showcasing some of the magnificent singer/songwriters involved in our Festival program. Feb 28 with see Jojo Smith and Lucy Thorne return for a double-header of soul-soothing music, supported by Aaron Wales. New Zealand ukulele sensation ‘The Nukes’ will hit the Old Church stage on March 11th for a Wednesday night of fun you won’t soon forget. Brisbane’s sublime songstress Hailey Calvert will return to headline a show on April 4th (Easter Saturday) with a line-up of supports making their Old Church debut.
The Blues Tram will continue to rattle along, bringing you: Monique Shelford + Luke Watt on March 13, Emilee South + Benjamin James Caldwell on May 2, Marissa Quigley + King Maxwell on May 30, Tony J King + Alawishus Jones on July 11, as well as a bunch of brilliant acts to be announced for August 22, September 25 (and possibly some more in between)!
We’re staging 3 big Showcase/Fundraiser events this year, each featuring around a dozen acts (all donating their time and talents to help us pay for the festival itself in November). These Showcases will be held at the Rifle Brigade Hotel on Sun Feb 22, the Goldmines Hotel on Sun July 19 and a venue to be revealed later in the year [watch this space] on Sun Sept 20. These events are guaranteed to include a slew of new acts and fresh sounds and will pack a magnificent punch when it comes to value, with the low door price of only $15 per adult.
We are delighted to be part of the promotional team bringing Michael Franti & Spearhead to the Ulumbarra Theatre on April 1. Get your tickets via The Capital, before they sell out! This will be just the beginning as we move forward with this exciting new partnership. Thanks again to all our valued sponsors, partners and supporters. Most importantly though, thank YOU for taking an interest in what’s going on around you and supporting grass-roots music events – we hope to see you out amongst it soon!
Colin Thompson,
Festival Director/Founder.
