A HOST of new venues are working to create musical experiences for this year’s Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Festival director Colin Thompson said there were a lot of special offerings to please everyone.
“We have an extra five venues. We tried to keep it below 40 but unique opportunities popped up that we wanted to take advantage of and they are cool additions to program,” he said.
“The Golden Dragon Museum is hosting a couple of beautiful shows in the Chinese gardens on Friday and Saturday.”
On Friday, The Hollands and Hailey Calvert will play in the Chinese gardens from 2pm to 4pm while Run Dear City and Candice McLeod will play at the same time on Saturday.
Also joining the festival this year is chicken specialists Flight Bar.
“They have jumped in and are putting on a New Orleans vibe all weekend,” Mr Thompson said.
Flight Bar will take over Ashmans Lane near Bicknell’s Sport and feature 17 acts from 5pm Friday until 6pm Sunday. It will also serve soul food and local beers for punters.
“We have been involved every festival with different venues but this year one venue pulled out and we took up the slack,” Flight Bar owner Justin McPhail said.
“The festival is massive and doesn’t get the recognition it should for amount of people it brings in to the city.”
Returning again is the Bendigo Beer Secret Laneway gigs. The volunteer-run group is hosting surprise sets on Friday and Saturday night from 8pm.
The locations will be announced on social media just two hours before the gig starts.
To wind down on Sunday, venues outside of Bendigo are hosting acts.
Bridgeward Grove in Goornong, the Heathcote Wine Hub, Merindoc Cellar Door in Tooborac, Shiraz Republic in Cornella and Munari Wines in Ladys Pass Pass will all host acts on Sunday afternoon.
“Our Wine Down Sunday package has venues hosting music and is aimed at the market of Melbourne punters who might go home in that direction,” Mr Thompson said. “Hopefully the locals can also get kick out of those shows. The aim is to have the diversity to offer something to everyone.”
Visit www.bendigobluesandroots.com.au for more information.
Parry prepped to play festival’s first set
SHERRI Parry will strike the first chord of this year’s Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.
Parry will take to the Hargreaves Mall stage at 11am on Thursday ahead of the Graciana Holland Band, Scott Cook, The Barren Spinsters and Travis Bowlin.
It is Parry’s third time at the BBRMF and the 20-year-old songwriter is excited to kick it off.
Over the course of the festival, Parry will also play at GPO from 6pm on Thursday, the Engine Room at 4pm on Friday, the Cambrian Hotel on Friday at 7pm and the Gallery Cafe at 11.15am on Sunday.
For more details log on to www.bendigobluesandroots.com.au