THREE days of music, food and fun have been planned for Bendigo this Spring.<\/p>\n
Almost Summer, part of the State Government\u2019s Always Live music initiative, is a new festival set to take place at the rear of the Capital Theatre.<\/p>\n
Headlined by all-women band Kardajala Kirridarra, electronic group Black Cap, psychedelic rock group Bananagun and indie outfit Cool Sounds, the event has been put together to cater for all music lovers.<\/p>\n
Festival director Lior Alpeck-Ripka said it will be a unique experience, providing \u201ca sense of community in a relaxed atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really boutique, intimate live music audience experience,\u201d she said. \u201cTickets are capped at 500 a day\u2026 seeing music in that kind of atmosphere; it\u2019s what I\u2019d want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Alpeck-Ripka is the founder of Hear Them Holler, and recently hosted the Burning Love concert series at the Engine Room for touring artists, to perform and pay homage to Elvis Presley.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Elvis exhibition was obviously huge in Bendigo,\u201d she said. \u201cWe had a lot to lean on but there was a clear appetite that there is a real opportunity for live music and for contemporary touring musicians to play in Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s just about putting the pieces of the puzzle together, having affordable ticket pieces, having the right venue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung singer songwriter Carissa Nyalu, now based on the Mornington Peninsula, said she\u2019s excited to be a part of the line-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always great to be invited back to country; It\u2019s really special to perform on country,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She also said it\u2019s great to see the State Government giving musicians more opportunities to perform, especially in regional areas.<\/p>\n
The festival takes place with the stage door and loading bay of the Capital Theatre as the centre stage, with food vans and a pop-up Bendigo Vinyl shop set up outdoors for patrons to browse.<\/p>\n
Bendigo Venues and Events manager Julie Amos said the festival shows Bendigo\u2019s music scene has made significant progress in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n