Near-sellout crowds expected for inaugural Mullum Roots Festival

MUSIC lovers will come together on the Northern Rivers next weekend, with the inaugural Mullum Roots Festival set to draw near-sellout crowds.

Festival director Lou Bradley said she was blown away by how warmly the community has embraced the event, which will be held on July 12 and 13.

“It’s pretty amazing,” she said. “It doesn’t quite feel real, but it will become real soon enough.”

The festival will take place across multiple venues throughout Mullumbimby, including the Civic Hall, Ex-Services Club, Courthouse Hotel and the Bowlo. “I have been likening it to an old-fashioned pub crawl,” Bradley said.

The opening night gala on Friday July 11 — featuring Mandy Nolan, Jeff Lang, the Biggest Little Town Choir and the 10-piece soul band Soul’d — has already sold out. Weekend tickets remain available but are selling fast. Lang will also perform in a Sunday set.

Other acts across the weekend include The Waifs, Robert Forster, Emily Lubitz, Shane Howard, Claire Anne Taylor, The Soul Movers (featuring Murray Cook from The Wiggles) and Reg Mombassa’s band, Dog Trumpet.

“The Waifs are proving to be very popular, and lucky for us they’re being generous enough to perform both days,” Bradley said.

“I think it’s going to be a nice, juicy line up for music lovers.”

Northern Rivers band Trombone Kellie Gang will also bring their blend of street blues, jazz swing, gospel, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll to both days of the festival.

“Being a local festival, we’ll feel right at home in this beautiful part of our world,” ‘Trombone Kellie’ Barnett said.

“We feel privileged for the opportunity to give of ourselves as artists close to home.”

Kellie said she loves how community-based festivals feel like one big, relaxed family, filled with familiar faces.

“Everyone is there to enjoy the music and atmosphere,” she said.

New Brighton musician Rod Coe — who was the longtime producer and bassist for country music legend Slim Dusty — will also perform with three acts during the festival: Lou Bradley, Hubcap Stan and the Sidewalk Stompers and Clelia Adams.

“I’m really pleased that a festival is coming back to Mullumbimby and even more pleased that I’m seriously part of it, playing with three bands,” he said.

“One of them is Lou Bradley who’s the organiser. She and I have been working together for a long time now and she’s always a joy to play with.”

For more information and tickets, visit mullumrootsfest.com