Sounds of fest to celebrate Creswick

CRESWICK is set to overflow with music, performance, and dancing in April.

The blues and roots-centric CresFest 2022 will be held from Friday, 1 to Sunday, 3 April, inviting music-lovers from across the region to enjoy a weekend of live tunes in iconic venues across the town.

Convenor Judy Turner is a local musician of the blues and roots genre. She’s launched the festival to nurture community music, to champion her beloved Creswick, and to support the performing arts industry which has been “hurting” over the last 18 months.

“My husband and I have been here for 10 years, and just love the town of Creswick, but we feel like it and its great buildings are a bit underused,” she said.

“Creswick is ripe for a festival like this. We’re going to use all the wonderful buildings in the town, like the town hall, the masonic lodge, Creswick courthouse, the Lindsay Room of the American Hotel, and the old post office.

“It’s a modest festival with a great line-up of artists, and lots of chances to take part. We’ll showcase a lot of local talent, bring in talent from around Victoria, and some from South Australia if COVID restrictions allow.”

Performers already locked in include Emma Donovan, the Eric Bogle Trio, 13-piece funky blues band Fools, D’Arcy Spiller, the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers, Creswick Children’s Choir, and Creswick Swingalong Ukestra.

A busking competition will be held outside the IGA supermarket, the primary school will host a bush dance, and the Neighbourhood House will be the setting for Saturday’s open-air concerts, and a flowing festival finale, which will begin at the main street’s rotunda.

Community Bank Creswick & District has given money to the festival for the programming of a youth stage for performers between 15 and 25 years old.

“We just want people to enjoy hearing and playing live music at close quarters,” Turner said.

“Building music in the community is what really motivates me. We’ve got a lot of opportunities for Creswick and Ballarat people to get involved and play music in a way that they’ve never done before.”

A program of workshops will also run, sharing dance and instrumental skills.

Visit cresfest.com.au to secure tickets early, or to express interest in volunteering, busking or being a youth performer.