Sunbury BackRoad Music Festival 2010

Welcome...

Sunbury BackRoad Festival 2010 | Added on November 30th, 2009

Welcome to the BackRoad music festival - planning is well underway to make the April 10, 2010 festival a corker! 12 bands over 12 hours, food, alcohol and free parking all ready to bring rock & roll back to Sunbury. Watch this space as the awesome lineup is announced along with news of other festival goodies such as food and entertainment. Info on how to buy tickets and how to get to the festival will also appear as the details are confirmed.

Asylum TV

Promoting & Supporting Local music | Added on January 29th, 2010

Asylum TV is running a feature program on the Sunbury BackRoad Music Festival. Asylum have compiled some historical footage, interviews, background information and insights into what will make this festival that bit different.

Tune into C31 on Tuesday 2 Feb @11pm and if you can not catch this slot repeats are on Thursday @10.00pm & Saturday @ 11.30pm of the same week.

C31 goes digital in 2010 For a all their programs go to http://www.c31.org.au/

BackRoad festival film shoot

Asylum TV on location | Added on January 24th, 2010

Friday 15 Jan 2010 was a momentous day with many of the bands performing at the Sunbury BackRoad Festival making it out to the farm. The clock was still before 8am and the crew from Asylum TV had arrived at shearing shed for a bacon sandwich and hot coffee. While working through the ideas and getting the shed and surrounds in perspective the bands started rolling in. Soon the place had people everywhere and some drifted outside to practice while others got the style right for the interview & filming and others chatted with coffee and bickies.

Asylum TV with many years of experience took this all in their stride. Systematically they worked through the bands; putting them in the right place, the right light and getting the bands to speak freely on the festival, the day and everything else.

Unbeknown to all one Mike Rudd of Spectrum fame was operating in cohorts with his long time collaborator Bill Putt in taking some photo’s and notes of their own. No so much in secret but with a touch of covertness they managed enough information to put their own report of the day out. Check it out at:

http://www.mikeruddbillputt.com/home/Stop_Press.htm

Stay tuned to Asylum TV on C31 as in the next few weeks this will all go to air. A taste of what is to come on April 10.

Sunbury Art Society to have Exhibition at BackRoad Festival

Art exhibition confirmed | Added on January 24th, 2010

The Sunbury Art Society has found the opportunity to hold an exhibition in a working shearing shed too good an offer to turn down.

There are very few shearing sheds in the region let alone one that is still working Art Society president Ed Morrissey said. While the venue is not the usual environment of the standard art gallery, it does have a great atmosphere. You can see and feel “Shearing the Rams” as you walk into this shed. It will provide a few challenges in designing the displays. These are not problems but opportunities in using the space, light and existing fixtures to get the best display and provide the public with a very unusual art experience.

The music festival is pleased to have on board the Sunbury Art Society promoter Mr Bernard Lakey stated. Music and art have much in common and are seen frequently through out history side by side, so having them at the festival is a natural fit. The diverse styles presented by the Society members will certainly provide visitors to the exhibit a broad spectrum of the current art domain, with some fantastic works on display.

The shearing shed is 5 minutes walk from the arena and patrons can come an go through out the day to get a second view of the painting that has caught their eye.

The art exhibition will be open from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 10 April. Entry is included in the festival ticket.

Event Schedule

Band Lineup and Event Schedule | Added on January 12th, 2010

Heres the final band lineup and event schedule -

Sunbury Divas 12:00-12:30 (first)

Tempting Fate 12:45-13:15

The RedJane Show 13:30-14:00

Rick Steele 14:15-14:55

BenziNe 15:10-15:50

Falloe 16:05-16:50

Jan Preston 17:05-17:50

Jarrah Thompson 18:05-18:50

Bronnie Gordon 19:05-19:50

Spectrum 20:05-21:05

Madder Lake 21:20-22:20

Chain 22:35-23:35 (last)

Call for pride of plaque in Diggers Rest

Possibly Diggers Rest best-kept secret? | Added on January 12th, 2010

A plaque honouring music great Billy Thorpe was installed late 2007 at the end of Duncans Lane in the Holden Flaura Reserve which falls in Hume shire, but its unveiling passed with little fanfare.

Few residents and even fewer music fans are aware of its existence.

A plaque honouring music great Billy Thorpe was installed late 2007 at the end of Duncans Lane in the Holden Flaura Reserve which falls in Hume shire, but its unveiling passed with little fanfare.

Few residents and even fewer music fans are aware of its existence.

Thorpe was acknowledged as the king of Australian rock ‘n’ roll in the wake of his Sunbury Festival performances, regarded as Australia’s Woodstock.

But George Duncan, whose Diggers Rest farm hosted the four festivals, said the Hume Council commissioned plaque had been a waste of time and money as the site was virtually unpromoted.

“The council doesn’t support it apart from a small amount of information in a self-drive tour booklet, there are no signs to say you are there or information boards to explain the significance of Billy Thorpe to Diggers Rest,” Mr Duncan e said.

“There is an etching of his face and dates of when he was born and when he died but there no mention he was at the festival.”

Hume councillors pushed for a plaque following the death of Thorpe in February 2007.

He said he often saw people going up and down his road trying to find the plaque.

Hume Mayor Jack Ogilvie said he could not recall when the plaque was officially opened but remembers Thorpe’s mother was present.

Cr Ogilvie welcomed any moves to make the public more aware of the history of the site and encouraged Mr Duncan to put his proposals to council.

Mr Duncan said he hoped the Back Road Festival, which started in Sunbury last year and is scheduled to run this April, would replicate the success of the Sunbury Festival.

Promoter Bernard Lakey had his permit to hold this year’s festival approved by Hume Council after neighbours raised concerns about noise and alcohol.

“I agree there should be music festivals for young people but all you confront sometimes are knockers,” Mr Duncan said.

Sunbury Divas will open the Festival

Sunbury Divas to set the scene at the BackRoad Festival | Added on December 30th, 2009

The Sunbury Divas have knocked the competition over and secured the prestigious position of opening the Sunbury BackRoad Festival on April 10. With a huge repertoire and bubbling with enthusiasm they will set the tone for the remainder of the festival.

Adam Przewlocki, Musical Director and Founder of the Sunbury Divas, Sons of Sunbury & Sunbury Sound stated, “This is a great opportunity for the Divas to perform on a big stage”. It is marvellous to get this festival before competing in the World Choir Games in China in July. It will really give them the opportunity to fine tune their performance.

The Choir has been working very hard in finalising some new material and I can state that while there will be some favourites on the day there will also be some pretty exciting new material and the BackRoad Festival may well be it’s first public performance.

The Sunbury Divas & Son’s of Sunbury are such strong ambassadors for the region that I am very pleased to have them on the bill. Mr Lakey went on to say that the Choir would add a touch of spice to the festival. They deserve their reputation as superb entertainers and they don’t rest on their laurels either.

Festival gets a touch of magic

Fairy Caitlin joins the festival | Added on December 30th, 2009

Caitlin, or Fairy Caitlin as she is better known has joined the BackRoad Music Festival in the children’s tent. Caitlin and her band of merry guys & gal’s bring their own world of entertainment to children from 5 to 12.

We are extremely pleased to have Caitlin join the festival organiser Bernard Lakey said. Caitlin has been involved in a quite a few festivals and has a great repertoire including storytelling, face painting and magic. Caitlin will always structured her performance for the age group so what she does is always challenging and fun for the children.

Being on a real farm is such a good location to work at Caitlin said. There is so much natural material in this environment that we can bounce off in creating fun for the children, there is just so much space. It will be so much fun being out there with a group of kids, just wanting to enjoy themselves.

What will we do. Well that depends on the day and how the kids turn up but with sorcery, fairies, tales to tell, the night sky, face painting and wide spaces it is a huge canvas to work with. I don’t know what it will be exactly but I do know that whatever it is it will be fun afternoon.

Caitlin will be joined by Fly 4 Fun bungy trampoline in the children’s area. Between them they are guaranteed to provide heaps of entertainment, activity and fun for kids of all ages.

Festival boosts local business

Sunbury Businesses gets further injection with festival | Added on December 18th, 2009

Sunbury BackRoad Festival has secured the services of Dome Security for the Festival. Dome has a great reputation with existing festivals including the annual Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island held over the New Year period that has over 14,000 people attending and camping.

Dome Security is well known Sunbury security firm, operated by Fred Reinking who was a local Policeman at Sunbury for some twenty-four years before leaving to commence this security firm. Some of you may remember him as Senior Constable Fred involved in the Police in Schools Program and Blue Light Discos. Apart from music festivals the company provides security at all events run at Calder Raceway for Bob Jane, Phillip Island for major events such as the World-Superbikes, Watergardens shopping centres, private functions and special occasions including the iconic Melbourne Moomba Festival.

BackRoad Festival organiser Bernard Lakey stated that he was very pleased to have been able to get Dome Security on board. “I am lucky that Sunbury has at it’s disposal such an experienced outfit as Dome, who are now working with me on the BackRoad festival. They have been thorough and detailed, providing specialist input and with so much experience they have been able to provide some very practical and effective solutions.

Fred Reinking director of Dome security is excited at the possibility of Sunbury developing its own distinctive music festival. Bernard is an energetic person with a great view of what may develop. To be involved at the start of a festival is an opportunity that does not happen that often and being able to work with the promoter at such an early stage allows both parties to build a good solid security plan and business relationship.

Mr Reinking stated that this event really will provide a positive for the district. Just for this one-day event I will have around 50 staff working, many of whom are locals. Events like these always impact on local businesses really providing benefits well beyond the day itself.

Rock & Roll returns to Sunbury

Chain, Madder Lake & Spectrum head the bill | Added on December 5th, 2009

In a fantastic turn of events these bands will again perform at the one festival. Last seen together back in the 70’s these talented musicians will light up the night sky when they hit the stage at the Sunbury BackRoad festival.

It has been an exciting time working with these legends of Australian Rock, organiser Bernard Lakey said. These guys are some of the most experienced musicians in the country and all have a string of original hits. The opportunity to see them live at the BackRoad Festival is something not to be missed.

The impressive line up also includes the queen of boogie woogie piano, Jan Preston who will have everyone dancing, Rick Steele with his unique “blues fused with country” and the powerful soul voice of Bronnie Gordon.

Fresh to the festival stage are two up and coming local bands, The RedJane Show and Tempting Fate. These bands have some great material and just because they come on early don’t miss them as they really are exciting to see and hear.

Across the day there will be 12 bands performing to keep the sounds happening and along with plenty of space, food and free parking this will be a fantastic day out.