Country music, utes, good grub and affordable drinks, if this sounds like your kind of good time, then Kilmore Country Music Festival is definitely worth your time. The festival are putting on one of its biggest events yet with an even better line up, I caught up with organiser Helen Stewart about what can be expected this year.
The 2015 head liners, Jetty Road, returned to Australia from Canada just before Christmas where they had been recording their latest album, they then headed off to Tamworth to celebrate their 10th anniversary with a sold out show.
“Jetty Road have been going for 10 years now and are still very popular, they have won numerous awards and have their new album out very shortly as well, so we are very happy to have them along,” she says.
Roo Arcus from NSW is also having great success with his new album Cowboy and Sunsets. The album is in the ARIA Top 20 Australian Artist Country Albums Chart, this week coming in at #11 and hopefully will continue to climb.
Melbourne band Ruckus picked up eight awards for their new album at the Canberra Country Music Festival Awards in November and their latest single release ‘Love This Country ‘ is currently at #26 in the Country Top 40. Sandra Humphries from MT Gambier won Best Country Music Artist in South Australia and will make her second appearance at the festival – last time was in 2010 at Wandong.
Kilmore local Tim Farren is a crowd favourite and is always in demand for autographs and photos. He has won most popular vocalist at the Country Music Guild of Australasia for the past three years. Kaitlyn Thomas will open the festival and at just 14 years old is a must see.
Pete Denahy will provide a bit of comedy relief and bluegrass in his set, and may look familiar to some as he was a contestant on Australia’s Got Talent and had the judges in fits of laughter with his original ‘The Teenage Song’. Pete has also played fiddle with James Blundell, toured with Slim Dusty, Sarah Storer, Lee Kernaghan and Troy Cassar-Daley and worked with comedians Akmal Saleh, Elliot Goblet and Flacco.
Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes won a Golden Guitar in Tamworth in 2014 for Best Alternate Country Album and finally, The Mason Boys will finish the day off with an energetic set.
While the music is great the festival will also host its infamous ute competition, “It’s very popular because people enjoy looking at all the utes, but we also have an award that is People’s Choice – so everyone is able to vote for their favourite. There’s 10 categories that can be won so long as they meet that criteria,” Helen says.
The event is strictly no BYO, but market stalls and food and drink vendors will also be available for a great selection of food and drink.
“Kilmore Football Club will run a bar, Little Athletics will have their canteen open and Wallan Scouts will be cooking the BBQ. Wandong Primary School will have cupcakes for sale and face painting. It is great to have so many different groups able to participate in the day and raise funds for their clubs,” she says.
Punters can save money on tickets by booking online before the festival.
When&Where: JJ Clancy Reserve, Kilmore – March 1
By Abbey King