2023 festival line-up revealed! | Midland Express

Mayor Rosie Annar, Board Chair Dennis Goldner, Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards, and Festival Director Glyn Roberts are proudly pictured with the 2023 program following Saturday’s launch.

A massive crowd filled The Goods Shed on Saturday morning for the start of the impressive 2023 season line-up for the highly anticipated 24th biannual Castlemaine State Festival.

Diverse curation of the best local and international arts talent and events will put Castlemaine center stage, spotlighting the region’s arts culture and drawing visitors from across Australia and overseas to experience this renowned family-friendly, fun and accessible 17-day event , which takes place from March 24 to April 9, 2023.

The crowd was greeted by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson in the country and then greeted by Castlemaine State Festival Board Chairman Dennis Goldner, who provided a brief overview of the incredible history of the event, which will celebrate its 47th anniversary in 2023.

Mr Goldner said the Australian festival’s flagship event was born from the imagination and determination of founder Berek Segan AM OBE and that once the planned refurbishment of the goods shed is complete, the Segan name will be given to the new community arts space in honor of the family’s contribution to the would be a long festival.

Mayor Rosie Annar shared memories of attending the festival as a child, teenager, young adult and more recently as a parent and said she was honored to represent the council in a festival year.

Cr Anear said the Council is proud to support the 2023 event with $100,000 in grants, in kind and office hours support to help make the festival a success.

“Let’s dream big! This could be the best festival yet!” said Cr Anear.

Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards was also in attendance and spoke of the state government’s long-standing support for the festival, including a pledge of $100,000 for this year’s festival in the recent election and $6 million for Phase 2 of the Refurbishment of The Goods Shed and furnishing of flex spaces for performing and visual arts.

“I must congratulate festival director Glyn Roberts and his team on putting together another incredible program in 2023. I can’t wait to bring Castlemaine to life throughout the 17 day event,” said Ms. Edwards.

Festival Director Glyn Roberts then officially launched the program with an overview of some of the incredible offerings audiences can expect to find at this year’s festival.

Roberts said this year’s captivating musical line-up includes a free opening night performance of Frente under the festival’s big top at the Western Reserve, as well as appearances from Vika and Linda Bull, the Southern River Band, Jaguar Jonze, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Castlemaines own Kian, Killing Heidi’s Ella Hooper and Jem Cassar-Daley, The Gesualdo Six, Electric Fields, Dallas Woods and Alter Boy to name a few.

There will also be various after parties and collaborations with the Castlemaine Fringe Festival.

There will also be delicate music from the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, the Australian National Academy of Music; an intimate salon series in Buda and a chance to celebrate the music of country artist Dolly Parton.

Mr Roberts said the popular Dialogues program is also returning with thought-provoking talks from some of the country’s top thinkers.

Theatrical and performance highlights include Gravity and Other Myths – A Simple Space, Maloya Moshpit, Night Walks with Teenagers, Dirty Laundry, Brat Kids Carnival, I Am Woman, 27 Club: The Music that Never Died, Macbeth and many more .

Visual arts are represented with exhibitions including For the Love of Song: David Frazer; David Rosetzky: Air to the Atmosphere; Damon Kowarsky; Essays on Earth – Brodie Ellis in collaboration with John Wolseley & Paul Kane: On Land; more than 70 Open Studios and a curated group exhibition of the Open Studios in the Market Building.

Get your free program in today’s Express. Tickets are available live now at: castlemainefestival.com.au. Follow the festival on Instagram and Facebook for updates.