Festival Lights Up Bega Valley Rock'n'roll Enclave

Ann Vriend

On Saturday 13th April, make sure you make your way to Candelo in the rolling hills of the Bega Valley, NSW Australia for The Candelo Village Festival which is set to rock this little town with a big musical heart.

The Candelo Village Festival is one of the region's most delightful festivals and you can expect a formidable line‐up of artists, an enchanting opening concert and parade and entertainment for the young and young at heart.

The artist line‐up is led by International Canadian Artist Ann Vriend who'll bring an unforgettable show with her unique Aretha Franklin meets Dolly Parton vocals with an authentic Americana blend of soul and country. Don't miss out on the award‐winning hilarious cabaret act Mikelangelo and the Black SeaGentleman who've wowed audiences from Edinburgh to the Sydney Opera House and the sensational honey‐huskied rock sound of alt‐starlet Jackie Marshall and the Fat Lambs. Another artist you have to make way for at the festival is the gutsy raw blues and roots flavour of Mia Dyson whose new album The Moment is tearing it up on radios all over the country.

Mia Dyson

There are local artists a‐plenty with an electric line‐up which includes Lucie Thorne, MelanieHorsnell, Kade Brown, Michael Menager & Friends, Mike Martin, Pete Wild & the OnlyOnes, The Front Porch Pickers, The Jonathan Richman Experience, Leanne Suffern and Buddha and the Bomb lead by The Gadfly's Phil Moriarty.

Children and young people will be thrilled with what's on offer at the 2013 festival on Saturday 13th April. There's the very popular youth tent with a blistering line‐up designed just for the under 18's; colourful street theatre and an underwater film festival and for the little ones there'll be entertainment led by Mister Tim and the Fuzzy Elbows and dynamic hands‐on art workshops.

Black Sea GFentleman

One of the stand‐out events of the festival will be the Festival's Opening Concert on the evening of Friday 12th April 'Water and Life' which is free and has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. The Opening Concert will feature stunning new works by exceptional composers from our region created especially for the festival. The festival is presented by The Candelo Arts Society with support from The Mumbulla Foundation, Media Partner ABC South East, the Country Arts Support program of Regional Arts NSW and Indent.

Make sure you get to Candelo on Saturday 13th April to experience some of the Candelo magic in the town which was recently hailed by The Australian newspaper as a 'rock'n'roll enclave'. Get your ticket now for this vibrant celebration of music, arts and local culture. Buy your ticket locally at Magpie Music, Booktique Merimbula, Candelo Post Office or online at www.candelovillagefestival.org