Stages set for February festival

AN INTIMATE, single-day music festival is coming to Castlemaine in February.

As part of the State Government’s state-wide On The Road Again series, 16 artists will spread out over four stages at The Bridge Hotel, Boomtown Winery and Shedshaker Brewery for Town Folk Festival.

Event organiser and owner of The Bridge Hotel, Jeremy Furze, said while the capacity is only 300 people, it will be a day out to remember.

“It’s going to feel like a very special event, I feel it’s going to be a very boutique, unique experience,” he said.

“There’ll be two artists playing at any given time so there’s a bit of choice to make. It’s going to be really quite special for those who come.”

Mr Furze said the line-up features up and coming artists that deserve more attention.

“This line-up is a group of artists I’ve enjoyed listening to through the pandemic and I lament that some of these artists don’t get the recognition they deserve,” he said.

“The pandemic might’ve played a role in that, but also the fact they make music that’s quite frankly not getting played on Triple J, which means it doesn’t get the exposure some other artists get.

“The music’s slower, quieter, more delicate than perhaps other genres so it doesn’t fit that format for Triple J, but it’s very exciting music and it’s music that has a strong young audience and all of these performers are quite young as well.”

He said artists to watch out for are pop singer-songwriter Maple Glider and folk sister-duo Charm of Finches.

“Charm of Finches recorded their latest album in their bedroom in lockdown and then released it,” he said. “It’s a really beautiful album and I’ve absolutely loved listening to that one.

“Maple Glider’s album this year is a stunning piece of art. I really do feel like some of these albums have maybe flown under the radar and really deserve to get more attention and the artists deserve to play more shows.

“I think the punters are really keen to make up for lost time in terms of going to gigs, as well as artists making up for lost time and money from playing gigs.”