Kick up your Heales

HEALESVILLE is getting ready for a day of family fun and live music.
A group of experienced musical artists, representing the past 30 years of music, have worked hard to develop the inaugural Healesville Music Festival, which is to be held on Saturday 29 May at the Queens Park Sound Shell.
The free eight hour concert will feature Healesville’s finest contemporary musicians along with some favourites from the Melbourne pub and festival scene.
The event will be family-friendly with a licensed area for adults and juggling/circus skills workshops all day to keep the kids entertained.
The music kicks off at 11am with local blues and roots artist Richie Langford.
He’ll be followed by recent arrivals to the town TK and Rose, then father-son combination Jeary with longstanding Healesville muso Richie Youngberry, Maldon songwriting award-winner Ewan Cloonan with his Union, popular country duo the Hannafords, Symbiosis founder Micka Etheridge and the Dukes of Despair.
The climax will come at dusk with Mick Thomas and Michael Barclay from Weddings Parties Anything and then Triple J Unearthed favourites Tinpan Orange.
Music styles will range from folk and country to reggae and jazz, all with an original thrust and a semi-acoustic feel.
Many of the local businesses are getting in on the action by holding a variety of food stalls and activities like hair wrapping and face painting.
The concert will be the first of a series of Healesville Music Festivals that will further cement the Yarra Valley’s reputation as a must-visit centre for live music.
Residents and visitors alike are invited to get there early, throw down a picnic rug, kick up their heels and enjoy the best little festival this side of the Black Spur.
For more information, contact David Johnston on 0419 002 797 or visit www.healesvillemusicfestival.com.au.