Candelo Town Hall will be packed with entertainment for the Candelo Village Festival, which is on from April 26 to 28 this year.
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From the hilarity of Mic Conway and Robbie Long's circus of comedy, music and magic to conversations about writing and young people to performances by some of the country's finest Indigenous Australian singer-songwriters, the festival's town hall program promises a captivating showpiece of local and not-so-local talent.
On the morning of Saturday, April 27, from 11am festival-goers can get the blood flowing in a dance workshop with the acclaimed all-women tango ensemble, La Busca.
At 12noon, following the workshop La Busca will perform a sparkling, danceable tango show that might just have you packing your bags for Buenos Aires.
At 2pm The String Contingent will present their unique acoustic sound that confidently walks the line between folk, classical, jazz and bluegrass and will be a joyful combination of musical precision and beauty with energy and drive.
The Literature Lounge kicks off at 3pm with a thought-provoking conversation about adventure, writing and young people with Candelo-raised children's author Ailsa Wild, freelance writer, novelist and recovering teacher Gabbie Stroud and Pambula-based author, journalist and poet Kate Liston-Mills.
At 5pm, Mic Conway and and flat-picking guitar champion Robbie Long will help get rid of any remaining circles under your eyes with an array of quixotic, funny and down right dangerous songs, juggling and fire-eating that will have toes tapping, jaws dropping and sides splitting.
On Saturday evening three of the country's finest Indigenous Australian singer-songwriters will take the stage to perform songs that will move your soul, break your heart and inspire your passion for our land and people.
Nikai Stewart is a Yuin nation songstress who has had music in her souls since the day she could walk.
Chelsy Atkins is a Yamaji Widi woman from the mid-west of Western Australia whose songs and hypnotic guitar playing weave captivating stories of life and truth.
Benny Walker's songs of love, land, summer vibes and deep grooves reach deep into the soul and capture hearts.
The morning of Sunday, April 28, takes a more relaxing turn with yoga in the hall at 8.30am followed at 10am by a forum on gender equity in the music industry led by Leisha Jungalwalla and Cat Leahy of This Way North who will chat about their event Sass the Patriarchy.
It is an event where music meets an empowering discussion on strategies to continue to improve equality in the music industry.
Come Sunday lunchtime, the town hall will host Melbourne-based Mustered Courage and a bluegrass brunch with their energetic folk and roots that has wowed audiences at sellout shows around Australia and internationally.
At 2pm Benji and the Saltwater Sound System will take the stage with their blend of Pacific flavours and the raw energy of Australia's east coast that, for some, might bring back memories of the ground-breaking, barn-storming days of '70s east coast tours by bands like like Spectrum and Daddy Cool.
Later in the afternoon, Jackie Marshall makes a welcome return to Candelo. Renowned for her gutsy but tender vocal style, which she has jokingly referred to as Dolly Parton meets Patti Smith she will show us the talent that led to her being hand-picked by Missy Higgins to support Missy's sold-out Queensland leg of the On A Clear Night tour.
In addition to the town hall, there is much more to the Candelo Village Festival.
There will be music, fun and workshops at the Candelo General Store and Cafe, the Candelo Hotel, Candelo Bowling Club, in the main street and in the park.
Programs for these venues are being finalised and will be announced soon.
Festival tickets are on sale online, at Magpie Music in Bega and at the Candelo General Store and Cafe. For more information on the festival click here.