Folkie Fridays return to Creswick

FOKIE Fridays are back at Odessa at Leaver’s Hotel in Creswick.

Run by the team behind folk and world music festival CresFest, this is the second year of the musical evenings which will take place once a month with different singers from near and far.

“It is an idea that we came up with last year where every month from August to December we had a monthly opportunity for people to enjoy the kind of music we bring to CresFest, but during the year.” Said CresFest convenor Judy Turner.

“It’s about keeping the music going and bringing great players to town and showcase our magnificent venue Leavers.”

Dinner will be served from 6pm with the music on stage from 7.30pm.

For the first Friday, Stella Savy, who’s music is informed by her Seychelle Island heritage, will play at 8pm following a local supporting act.

Geoffrey Williams, who has had a celebrated career with five albums on labels such as Atlantic Records and EMI, will close the evening.

It is designed to provide an opportunity for the town to come together and participate in music.

“People coming to town and moving to Creswick love to know that there’s a wine bar with live music in a little tiny town, it’s so great,” said Ms Turner.

“It also gives an opportunity for the local players to be supporting acts.”

The event will work to support CresFest’s goal of supporting a lively local music scene in the town.

“The whole goal behind CresFest is to build a culture of watching and participating in music,” said Ms Turner.

“We want to grow music from the ground up in the community and have concerts year-round which culminates in the festival.”

Support from Regional Arts Victoria with three small regional presenters’ grants has allowed the CresFest teams to pay artists.

Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Turner said it is important events like this return year-on-year.

“It’s really hard in the post COVID era to keep things going but we’ve got to keep offering up the music to people,” she said.

“Post COVID people have actually moved to regional towns, and they need to find a way to connect with their local community.”

The first Folkie Friday will take place on Friday, 2 June. More information can be found at facebook.com/cresfestaus.