AusMusic Festival Review

Warrnambool October 30-November 1
People can say what they like about the music scene in regional towns, but the Aus Music Festival held in Warrnambool on the last weekend of October certainly proved the sceptics wrong. The inaugural event was made possible through the vision of festival director Russ Goodear several years ago. With the help of an army of volunteers and committee members, the festival came together and enabled the town to celebrate the local and Australian musical talent and industry knowledge on offer.
Musical highlights include Archie Roach as part of the Tarerer Showcase Concert alongside Andy Alberts and the Walkabouts, Tex Perkins and Charlie Owens in the Back to the Bay Concert and performances from the Germein Sisters, Georgia Spain and more. Attendees also had the chance to get an insight into aspects of the music industry with several forums touching each corner of what’s involved. Presented by Music Victoria the forums covered ‘Local Legends’, ‘Guitar Battle Royale’ with guitarists Robbie Bostock and Lee Sonnyboy Morgan, an insight to touring with ‘Highway to Hell or the Road to the Holy Grail?’ and lastly the ‘Meet the Press’ forum, in which I was also lucky to be a panellist. Sharing the mic with Andrew Mast (Group Managing Editor of the Music), Matt Neal (journalist at the Warrnambool Standard), James Goodear (music contributor) and Kate McCabe (publicist at Remote Control) it was a session where some serious topics were raised by the audience and MC Patrick Donovan (Music Victoria).
For such an ambitious spread across several days, the festival was a success and remarked on its high standard by attendees. The Aus Music Festival will be back for another year, so start planning for your trip to Warrnambool next year. My hint; visit the local fish and chip store near the Lighthouse Theatre, there’s a reason why the locals love it too.
 
Reviewed by Amanda Sherring