Thanks for taking an interest in Bendigo’s burgeoning music scene. There’s a lot of news to be shared, so let’s get into it:
The Blues Tram – Artists have been booked for the remaining Blues Tram rides this year (up to Festival weekend). The roster is an even split of familiar faces and new talent. Saturday 11 July sees Alawishus Jones’s return, this time with his rhythm section The Outright Lies in tow. Tony J King also makes a welcome return for the July Tram. Saturday 22 August sees the remarkable CASS (Cassie Ward & Bianca Maes) paired up with Luke Watt, a well-travelled troubadour now based in Castlemaine. On Friday 25 September we host a special Blues Tram/Underground Banquet event, in partnership with one of Bendigo’s finest restaurants, ROCKS on Rosalind. Rocking you through this ride and dinner will be a pair of one-man whirlwinds: Festival favourite Rattlin’ Bones Blackwood and Mr Black & Blues himself Michael Pollitt. Tickets can be purchased from Bendigo Visitor Centre (1800 813 513) or via Bendigo Tourism’s website, as they can for the Saturday Blues Tram events.
Our big winter Showcase event, ‘Ewes, Brews, Stews & Blues’ returns to the Goldmines Hotel on Sunday 19 July. We have an incredible line-up, including artists who haven’t performed at our Showcases before: Josh Cashman, William Alexander and Luke Watt. Exciting return artists include: Josh Owen, Alister Turrill, Sleepy West, DIGG, Talisa Jobe, Luke Harrington and Andy Garlick. We’ll also see the second heat of this year’s Lazenby Young Blues Guitarist Award which showcased some remarkable young talent in 2014. 2015 looks equally exciting.
Our Spring Showcase on Sunday 20 September will be at the Golden Vine – thanks to new manager and long-time muso Mick Coates. With Mick’s support a stellar line-up of Blues & Roots artists will take the Vine stage. A few of the acts already locked in: Lily & King, Jojo Smith, Dave Diprose, Tony J King and The Swamp Monsters, with many more to be announced. Put that one in your diary!
New Host Venues – With ever-increasing numbers of music lovers attending our Festival each year, so too has the list of host venues. In 2015 we will welcome the following venues for the first time: Old Boundary Hotel; Lakeview Hotel; Boardwalk Cafe; Axedale Tavern; Bendigo Art Gallery; and of course the exciting new 953 seater: Ulumbarra Theatre! And there are still more to be announced.
Want to Support our not-for-profit, volunteer-run Festival? Visit our website to find out about the benefits of becoming a Friend of the Festival. And don’t forget to keep an eye and an ear out for what’s going on musically around you on a week-to-week basis. There are more brilliant discoveries to be made in more local venues than you probably realise!
