Located 90 minutes from Melbourne, right near Castlemaine, is the quaint and historic town of Newstead; home to the Newstead Live! Music Festival running from January 22-25 this year.
The festival has been running for 16 years (originally in Chewton before moving to Newstead) and welcomes international and Australian artists to perform intimate shows in the town. The performers will play across six stages and various more unexpected locations around Newstead. Great care has been taken to ensure there will be no sound spillage between venues, ensuring the best experience possible for the audience.
Playing this year is Cat Canteri, a Melbourne country rock singer whose music crosses multiple genres and is a familiar face in Forte territory, the John Flanagan Trio bringing a fresh Americana/bluegrass sound and with honest lyrics, Suzannah Espie the founder of all-girl country band Git and is now a leading country folk singer-songwriter herself. They are just three musicians from an incredible line up (which you can check out below).
As well as music, Newstead offers up quality local food, ample drinking and entertainment venues, a swimming pool, camping facilities and various other events like a yoga class, a spoken word variety show, instrument workshops and much more.
For those making the trip from Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, camping is available at minimal cost at either the Newstead Football Oval or Newstead Racecourse.
Last year the Food Garden packed veggie boxes to be picked up for $25 helping to give you a healthy diet unlike the burgers and fries seen usually at festivals (though if that’s what you’re after, it will still be on offer in the town). In 2015 the boxes included berries from Yandoit, Maldon cherries, Castlemaine stone fruit, the crispiest vegetable salad from Ballarat and Gippsland. You can even request bio-dynamic juice, local sourdough breads, muesli and jams for breakfast. There’s even the possibility to create your own box, which can be done if you jump on the website: www.foodgarden.com.au.
Tickets and more information can be found on the website: http://www.newsteadlive.com/.
international …
Vin Garbutt
Scott Cook
The Beez
Beth Patterson
Tenzin Choegyal
Australian …
Suzannah Espie
Paul Wookey &
Philomena Carroll
Martin Pearson
Jo Jo Smith
Greg Champion
Joe Dolce
The Ugly Uncles
Nick Charles
Kate Burke
& Ruth Hazleton
Jugularity
Brent Parlane Band
Cat Canteri
Alison Ferrier
The John Flanagan Trio
Lucy Wise
& Stephen Taberner
Danny Spooner, Peter
Daffy & Louisa Wise
Bill Jackson
& Peter Fidler
Michael Waugh
The Janes
Rebecca Wright
& Donald McKay
The Le Blanc Bros.Band
Mike & Thom Jackson
and a approx 50 others of various ages, shapes and styles!
