SANDFORD’S annual bush music festival draws musicians and artisans – as well as big crowds – from right across the country, but this year organisers are inviting locals to come and join the party.
Festival director, Chris Langman said organisers were offering free admission to opening night to Casterton News readers, as well as a free bus to get them to and from the event.
“We felt probably, that locals just were not coming out because of the location,” Mr Langman said.
“It’s not like the campers, who can just walk to and from the grounds; the locals from Casterton have to drive out here, so if it’s a late night or they want to do the right thing and not drink and drive, then it’s a bit out of the way.
“This year, we have put a voucher in the Casterton News (see the classies page), which locals can cut out and trade for a single entry to opening night, where all of our big acts for the weekend will be opening the event.
“The tickets have to be original – so no copies – and if you do not want to go by yourself, buy two newspapers – it’s a very cheap ticket!
“And we have got free buses running regularly to and from Casterton all weekend, including Friday night, so if they want to do the right thing, they do not have to worry about appointing or finding a designated driver to take them home.”
The annual Sandford Festival runs from Friday to Sunday, with a big line-up of talent from all corners of the country to entertain the crowds with bluegrass, rockabilly, country, swing and folk tunes all thrown into the mix.
The weekend also features a line-up of workshops, catering for everyone from learner musicians, who want to figure out how to get the best out of their instruments, to those who want to learn the craft of repairing or tuning their instrument.
The Sandford Rec Reserve will also be packed with foodstalls and wares by purveyors of ‘lost crafts’.
“There’ll be guitar stalls, whip crackers, a blacksmith … those lost trades that we do not really see anymore but are fascinating to watch and produce really beautiful items,” Mr Langman said.
And with finances tight for many similar events across the country, this year’s Sandford Festival has attracted a stellar line-up to fill the two main stages for the weekend.
“A lot of festivals are not showing up this year, I guess with financial pressures, rising insurance costs and just the general cost of living, they’re finding it harder to function, each year and we have done better with some really good alliances with folk people around the country,” Mr Langman said.
“We have got The Royal Hi Jinx back – they have become a really popular and regular feature with our guests over recent years and they love coming back here.
“One of the new acts is Johnny Cannot Dance, which is a zydeco-style band, Cajun music, dance music with a Louisianna sound with accordion, washboard and the usual guitar line-up, we have got Cartwheels, which is a swing-type band and Ragged Company, which is a country-rock style.
“They’re all fantastic acts and they’re all going to be there on the Friday night, as well as the Saturday and Sunday, so it’ll be great for the locals to take advantage of those tickets and the buses and have a big night out with us.”
For more information, visit the Festival’s Facebook page or website.
