Acoustic excellence on offer this month

Three day Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering has something for everyone

Everything is locked and loaded for the 2023 Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering with 17 headline acts confirmed for the three day event, along with a plethora of workshops, a community market and jam sessions.

There is also a strong focus on developing young performers and local talent as the three day event, running from March 17-19, unveils a jam packed program.

Featured artists include Melbourne-based Blues singer Fiona Boyes (below right) and Scottish born, Adelaide based folk singer Eric Bogle (below left), as the 17 acts share three stages to keep attendees entertained from go to whoa of the gathering.

Around 150 school students are already locked in for the Friday youth mentoring program – a critical part of the gathering since its inception in 2021.

“We want to encourage younger people into playing music,” committee secretary Leigh Miller said. “There is not a huge amount of opportunity for emerging performers in this type of music.”

The gathering also has a strong focus on local talent, showcasing the likes of Anne Fraser (pictured right), who will be performing fresh from an acclaimed turn at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.

“One of our objectives is to encourage local musicians, local talent,” Leigh said. Workshops range from banjo lessons to song writing, from harmonica skills to guitar for beginners, while there will be an allocated area for jam sessions.

And all that music making and entertainment makes for hungry and thirsty work and the gathering has secured 11 food vans, while Blok Estate, supports of the Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering since its inception, will have a wine bar set up for patrons.

Sunday’s market will run from 10.30am to 3pm and is free entry.

The gathering is made possible courtesy of the support from the Stand Like Stone Foundation, Wattle Range Council and Bendigo Bank.

“Fourteen local wineries have also been very supportive of what we’re trying to do and other local businesses as well,” Leigh said. “It is shaping up to be a great event.

There is no other event like this in the Limestone Coast – an event that focuses on acoustic music and original music.”

Anne and Leigh Miller, who had only been in Penola less than 18 months when inspiration struck, have been the driving force behind the newly established Penola Coonawarra Acoustic Music Gathering – the first event was held in March 2021.

A long time devotee of the now defunct Frances Folk Gathering, which wound up after two decades in 2018, when Anne first laid eyes on McCorquindale Park she saw it as the perfect venue for a similar event.

“It is a nod to Frances and that tradition but basically focussing on acoustic music,” Anne said.

“Basically anything that sounds good and we have placed an emphasis on original music and song writing.”

Ahead of the inaugural gathering, Anne had high hopes it would become a regular on the folk festival calendar – hence the time of the year she chose for the Penola Coonawarra event.

“A lot of people our age put these kind of events in their calendar and we want this event to be one of those that people never want to miss,” Anne said, who carefully chose the March date to almost piggyback off the Sandford Bush Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival that are traditionally on the March Long Weekend.