Music just wouldn’t stop

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE Music Festival brought the wonderful, exciting world of multi-cultural music to Healesville’s Queen’s Park with spectacular success.
The 10-hour festival running in parallel time with the Healesville Labyrinth Opening and Autumnfest on Saturday, 19 March, brought the valley’s dedicated music-lovers together with local families and visitors for a sun-filled day of music, circus workshops, food and dance.
Presented by the Yarra Valley Musicians Collective, the festival started with impressive performances from local school students, including a brilliant performance by Little Yarra Steiner School singer/songwriter Mikaila Hanman-Siegersma, a captivating circus showcase and Irish dancing by the Bilton Academy of Irish Dancing.
The music never stopped with Four On The Floor, Shanakee, Toby, O-Carnaval, Keshie, The April Maze, Van Walker and Ignition presenting a mix of world music, folk, rock and country.
Rapskallion’s cabaret antics enthralled the audience which didn’t need a second invitation to “come closer”. They were spectacular, surprising and the perfect lead-in to the fire-twirlers festival finale.
YVMC vice-president and local musician Ewan Cloonan estimated 1000 people had attended the free festival.
“I think the majority were family groups, which surprised me a little and indicates the need to do more of this sort of thing for families to go out and enjoy together,” he said.
“It is our second festival and we hope to build on the terrific atmosphere we had and that people will go away and tell their family and friends and book it in for next year.”