Prepare for a weekend of revitalising musical encounters in the forested gold rush town of Creswick, between Daylesford and Ballarat.
With just under a month to go, CresFest Folk and Roots Music Festival have now released its full program jam-packed with artist bios and a grid schedule so you can plan your personalised CresFest weekend.
The program this year features three days of 300-plus artists across 15 stages: from local treasures to national stars to international legends of the folk and roots scene. Open up our program to read all the bios and performance times of your favourite artists and new discoveries. Swipe through the pages to see details on the 21 workshops ticket-holders can access. Read up on special projects like the light displays that will illuminate Creswick thanks to the Community Bank Lights Up Creswick or the free concerts and whip-cracking demonstrations on at the Creswick Woollen Mills. Handy info on the shuttle bus, transport and drinking and dining options can also be found in the program.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Alongside the program, CresFest has also released single-day tickets for keen festival-goers who can only stay for a day, check out the pricing below. Weekend tickets are still available – but hurry as we’re nearing the end of our Earlybird pricing allocation and prices are set to rise.
Friday Adult Ticket – $45 l Friday Youth Day Ticket – $30
Saturday Adult Ticket – $120 l Saturday Youth Ticket $90
Sunday Adult Day Ticket – $80 l Sunday Youth Day Ticket – $40
*booking fees apply
Regional music festival CresFest expands 2023 lineup with more glorious acts
If all that wasn’t enough, CresFest have also announced another new initiative – Courthouse Conversations – and the team at CresFest are delighted to announce the wonderful guest speakers and topics for 2023.
“Need a little respite from the wild dancing and bar sessions of the CresFest weekend? Come and make yourself at home at the Courthouse for another kind of ‘session’: conversations with artists which are inspiring, candid and full of the joys of music, the power of lyrics and the connections that bring us all together,” says Cate Kennedy, Curator.
“Courthouse Conversations is a new initiative for CresFest featuring a range of wonderful performers and artists. Join us!”
Courthouse Conversations
SATURDAY 1 APRIL
10-11am Kavisha Mazella & Arnold Zable ‘The Joy of Creativity’
11.45-12.30pm Lucy Wise & Monique Clare ‘Your Voice Your Truth’
1-2pm James Fremantle interviews Cate Kennedy about ‘Return’
2.30-3.45pm Cate Kennedy & Casey Bennetto & surprise celebrity guest ‘We Happy Fools’
SUNDAY 2 APRIL
10 – 11am Chloe & Jason, Archer & Neil Adam w Host Ruth Hazelton ‘Bowerbirds in the Archives’
11.30-12.30pm Charlie Mgee w James Fremantle ‘Music as Activism – playing for a greener world’
1-2pm Corn Nut Creek ‘Can you really have it all? Mothers in the music industry’
With an incredible lineup locked in, the three-day multi-generational celebration of music, arts and culture is an exciting addition to the regional festival circuit, now returning for its second year. The festival sees the whole town throw open its doors and arms, with contemporary folk and roots artist performances from some of the best local, national and international artists hosted across a variety of locations – from gold-rush era buildings and local pubs to cafes and outdoor venues.
Across the entire town and beyond, punters can sit back and enjoy the performances in several unique spaces, sample local wine and produce, explore the history of the town, and take advantage of premium accommodation options. There will also be a family bush dance, busking festival, youth stage, music and dance workshops for all ages, locals talent quest, and more!
Just 90 minutes’ drive from Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo, Creswick is nestled between Daylesford and Ballarat, easily accessible by road or public transport (both train and bus), and is the perfect place to spend a lazy weekend – or longer – with numerous accomodation and dining options nearby to suit most tastes and budgets. Supported by most of the local businesses, a crucial CresFest partnership is with the RACV Goldfields Resort, with its lush grounds and golfing facility making a special weekend for all.
CresFest takes place from March 31 2023 to April 2 2023. Head here for more info.
