By Olivia Condous
A massive shire-wide festival is coming to Moorabool, with a month of live entertainment for residents to enjoy over winter starting from June 25 in Blackwood.
The Hide and Seek music festival will run each weekend for a month and will feature more than 60 artists across 20 venues, each Saturday.
On Saturday June 25 at 1:30pm the festival will kick off at St Martin’s Chapel in Blackwood with a “shape note” singing work shop, with local musicians encouraging residents to come along to learn singing in harmony, no experience needed.
Following the workshop, Blackwood music duo Cat & Clint will perform at the chapel from 1:45pm, performing bluegrass tunes accompanied by banjo and fiddle.
Then, multi award-winning Scottish musicians Fiona Ross and Shane O’Mara will perform traditional songs with a contemporary flair.
The final performance in the chapel will be Victorian and National Country Music Album of the Year two-time winner the Hardrive Bluegrass Band, from 3:45pm.
To finish the first day of the festival, The Blackwood Hotel will host ‘Sing Pub Sing’, a special event where attendees will make some noise and come together to sing the songs of Crowded House, directed by local choir leaders.
The events are all-ages and free to attend, aiming to boost tourism in the region.
Moorabool mayor Tom Sullivan said the festival would provide a rare opportunity for locals and visitors to discover new music.
“This festival will create a fantastic opportunity for locals and tourists to see and hear the uniqueness the region has to offer,” Cr Sullivan said.
Details: www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/hide-and-seek/blackwood
