Creswick tuning up for fifth folk and roots fest

THE town of Creswick is in pre-party mode ahead of staging its fifth CresFest folk and roots music festival.

Over three days from 10-12 April, audiences will get to soak up three days of dance and music featuring a huge variety of performers.

Acts range from international stars to talented local musos and newcomers, with up to 18 different venues running at once.

Festival founder and president Judy Turner said that alongside the ticketed program there’ll be plenty of free community entertainment on offer with the Saturday set to feature a free street extravaganza with a New Orleans brass theme.

“We will take over the centre of town with New Orleans style brass bands and a host of Creswick School children supported by adult community musicians from the district,” Turner said.

“There’s as much free as there is ticketed, and we’ve got a great project happening with Ballarat Symphony and a lot of fab community involvement with professional musicians.”

Festival-goers will also be able to participate in a densely-packed program of workshops across singing, dancing and playing.

Budding performers have the opportunity to get noticed and enter the IGA Busking Competition or sign up for open mic spots.

Festival director Stella Savy said the program is impressive, and half of it is free.

“We’ve got Fiona Boyes, Uncle frank Yamma, Makepisi which is an exciting acapella ensemble singing South African songs, the Queen of Hearts mariachi band,” said Savy providing just a small sample of the variety on offer.

“Definitely come and see The New Orleans Second Line Extravaganza. That’s lots of brass and very dancey.”

“We’ve put together an awesome array of brass players including Hoodoo Mayhem from Melbourne, Ballahornication from Ballarat and the Creswick Brass Band to bring the streets of Creswick alive with a New Orleans style Second Line brass parade on Saturday arvo.

“We’ve got a New Orleans dancer coming to work with the kids and teach them about the dancing and the history of New Orleans Second Line in the lead-up to the festival.

“It’s going to be awesome. Come and support live music.”

The full program and a wide range of different ticketing options are through the festival website at cresfest.com.au.