Once heralded by Neil Murray as “my kind of gig”, Patchewollock Music Festival serves as a place for great music, entertainment and feeling part of the community, with a unique focus on the cultural exchange between visitors, locals and performers as they experience the key elements of life on the edge of vast Mallee national parks in North West Victoria.
From the humblest beginnings seven years ago, where in a local bar, one bloke said to another “we need some live entertainment in this part of the world”, the festival now sees up to 50 performances from Australia and overseas making their way to the small town of Patchewollock.
This year will see performances from the likes of Sara Storer, Davidson Brothers, Greg Champion, Cat Canteri, Rich Davies & The Low Road, Gleny Rae Virus & Her Playboys, Marco Gliori, Mick Coates & The Allnitelongers, Gary & Georgia Rose, Jeff Gibson, and all the way from the USA, Missy Raines Trio.
Based out of Nashville, TN, Missy Raines is considered to be one of the most respected, popular, and trailblazing figures in bluegrass today. A seven-time winner of the IBMA Bass player of the year award, and a member of Allison Krauss’ first all-female bluegrass band, she has backed greats such as Claire Lynch, Mac Weisman, Kenny Baker, and Peter Rowan.
Raines now leads her own innovative and genre-bending trio which is a rich, jazz-tinged combination of her bluegrass roots and thick Americana, alongside George Jackson on fiddle and banjo, and Ben Garnett on acoustic guitar. With a smoky and seductive alto, the territory this trio covers is broad and the compass is set by Raines, planted right in the center of the stage directing with her bass every bit as much as she’s playing it. Expect groovy tunes and a whole lot of dancing.
Alongside the music, audiences can expect a fun-filled program of dance, comedy, yarn spinning, bush tucker and, just to be different, sheep racing… and best of all, it’s completely free!
It all goes down in Patchewollock from October 18-20. Visit www.patchewollockmusicfestival.com.au/