AMERICAN singer-songwriter Kurt Vile and the Violators will headline the inaugural Bendigo Autumn Music festival.
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Festival organisers Red Square Music this morning announced 31 local and international acts in the April event’s line-up.
Post-punk Cretan folk duo Xylouris White, Melbourne band Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, and the UK’s Z-Star Delta will play in Bendigo’s arts precinct during the four-day festival.
Harry James Angus, of The Cat Empire, will present his gospel production ‘Struggle With Glory’, and critically acclaimed Melbourne artist Grand Salvo will bring his new album to The Capital theatre for an ensemble performance. Totally Mild’s Elizabeth will also be performing her new solo project.
Several ARIA award-winning acts feature in the line-up, including guitarist Jeff Lang and Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier.
Festival director Glenn Wright said the line-up aimed to give attendees a bit of everything and incorporated a variety of musical styles.
“It’s great to be able to shine a light on Melbourne’s incredibly vibrant and diverse music scene at the same time as showcasing some of the great acts from the region,” Mr Wright said.
They include the folk-turned-pop singer Laura Jean, psychedelic folk four-piece Tiny Ruins from New Zealand, sub-tropical boogie poet Dan Kelly, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emily Wurramara, indie-folk singer-songwriter Emma Russack, party favourites Saskwatch, Zimbabwean-born R&B soul diva Thando, rock’n'roll party starters Jazz Party, Melbourne funk band The Seven-Ups, dream-pop artist Merpire, New Zealand’s electric-blue witch-hop artist Estere, Americana alt-rockers Madeline Leman and the Desert Swells, Alice Skye, mid-century crooner Ryan Downey, Freya Josephine Hollick, and Perch Creek.
The line-up captures musical talents from around the world, including Lamine Sonko and the African Intelligence, from Senegal; Moussa Diakite and Wassado, from Mali; and Arte Kanela Flamenco.
Central Victorian acts include Bendigo indie band Fountaineer, Castlemaine troubadour storyteller Archer and folk-pop outfit Felicity Cripps Band.
Mr Wright said there would be more acts to come, with a further announcement expected in November.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the first Bendigo Autumn Music festival, which is a predominantly ticketed event.
Mr Wright said pre-early bird tickets for the event from April 25-28 had already sold out. Early bird tickets are now on sale.
He said Bendigo and its arts precinct were part of the event’s appeal, both to the acts and to attendees.
“I was aiming, definitely, at making it accessible to as many people as I could, but at the same time making it relevant to locals and also Melbournites we hope to make such a trip,” Mr Wright said.
“There’s something about Bendigo that everyone’s really up for.
“Bendigo has got a really good cultural arts offering. It’s also a really good place to visit.
“The fact it’s only two hours away from a major city was really important.”
He was excited to see the acts performing in the city’s venues, describing the structures themselves as key to creating a beautiful musical experience.
Mr Wright flagged Kurt Vile and the Violators’ performance at Ulumbarra Theatre on April 26 as a highlight.
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