Fest brings party to Creswick

FROM pulsing African rhythms to Cajun-New Orlean grooves, Creswick was a town alive with sound last weekend.

The town’s fifth staging of its home-grown, award-winning annual CresFest folk and roots fiesta drew music lovers from near and far with occasional drizzly conditions doing nothing at all to dampen the party vibe.

“It’s been amazing,” festival director Stella Savy said.

“Numbers have been good after a last little surge in ticket sales.

“The vibe in town has been fantastic.

“We did sell a fair bit of camping but some looked at the forecast and changed their minds and booked other accommodation instead.”

While the skies threatened much-needed rain at time, they seemed to clear right on cue for street-based highlights.

Savy rated Saturday afternoon’s New Orleans 2nd Line Extravaganza among them.

The extravaganza brought together bands including Ballarat’s Ballahornication, Melbourne’s Hoodoo Mayhem, Creswick Brass Band, and lots of local dancing schoolchildren to ramp up the carnival vibe with a big brassy carnival sound that got many boogying in the street.

“I loved every second of it,” said Savy speaking on Sunday afternoon shortly after conducting the Creswick Chorus community singing group in one of their performances for the weekend.

The Creswick Chorus was among many local community groups relishing the chance to show what they could do alongside the program line-up of professional and headliner acts on offer.

These ranged from South African acapella ensemble Makepisi to Melbourne Uni Opera, and from Blues royalty Fiona Boyes and The Fortune Tellers to Uncle Frank Yamma and Bush Gothic.

Among the many packed-out indoor venues, the town hall hosted Friday’s opening night concert featuring renowned jazz trumpeter Eugene Ball playing alongside acclaimed vocalist Archer and Creswick Brass Band members.

“It’s just been a fantastic experience, and the band have loved it,” said Creswick Brass Band’s Dustin Vallance.