DUNROBIN is gearing up for a huge night of music and entertainment when the nationally proclaimed Festival of Small Halls hits town next Thursday night.
After seeing a story about the festival on ABC program, Landline, a Dunrobin Public Hall committee member made contact with the promoters, Woodfordia, and put the hall on the wait list.
“Just before Christmas, last year, we received a phone call asking if we were still interested and it went from there,” the hall’s Julie Robins said.
“The community is very excited and everyone has really jumped on board.
“We had a meeting after our community dinner last Monday night to plan out the finer details of the event and had a really great turnout.
“Everyone that was there put their hands up for a job and then arranged a working bee the next day to put up the display outside the hall.
“There will be another working bee tomorrow night (Thursday, March 10) at 6pm, just to make sure the hall is ship-shape for the big night.
“It’s fantastic to see our little community getting so involved and enthusiastic.”
Festival of Small Halls is a series of tours that takes the best folk and contemporary acoustic artists performing at two of Australia’s largest festivals and sends them on the road to the tiny halls in some of the smallest communities, all over the country.
The artist line-up for the festival is always at least one Australian artist and one international touring artist, who are chosen for the tour not only because of their beautiful songs and tunes, but because they have the ability to really connect with the people they play for, whether through storytelling, the ability to tell a good joke (or a truly terrible one), a wonderful warmth and a real interest in visiting places a little off the beaten track.
Each night of the tour is hosted by volunteers from the local community, so it is also a chance for a town to show off their warmest welcome and most enthusiastic audiences.
Mrs Robins said the Dunrobin hall committee was hesitant about seeking sponsorship given the pain of the last couple of years, but it became a financial necessity to cover the cost of the performance and the community had responded – generously.
“Heywood Hotel is a major sponsor as Jason loves live music, local residents, and business owners Paul and Lowanne O’Brien have also been very generous in the sponsorship, Shane and Jodie at Boonaroo, Bendigo Bank, Dergholm Hotel, Casterton Pharmacy, Nutrien Ag, Richardson’s Butchers, Foodworks, Hairwize, Sparra’s Spraying and Robyn’s Music School have all been very kind in supporting this night to go ahead,” she said.
Not just content with hosting the festival performance, the hall committee has a whole night of fun for the family planned, with gates opening from 6pm and a barbecue dinner and savoury plates available for purchase for anyone that needs a bite to eat.
“It’s BYO alcohol, but we will have some soft drinks and water available,” Mrs Robins said.
“The show kicks off at 7pm with performances by local girls Sarah Crowle and Hannah Munro.
“Both girls study with Robyn’s Music School and are looking forward to showcasing their talents.”
From the festival team, Melbourne based sister duo Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes are Charm of Finches and bring their indie folk-style music to the stage.
The girls will be joined by singer/songwriter, Jack Carty, who co-writes with the likes of Josh Pyke and Katie Noonan and has toured Australia, the UK, North America, Europe and New Zealand.
“We are very lucky to have artists of this calibre come to our little corner of the world and the whole evening will be held together by our wonderfully talented emcee, Joey McArlein, who is sure to entertain,” Mrs Robins said.
Alongside the on-stage event, the hall committee will be holding a major raffle and the artists will have merchandise for sale.
All profits from the night will go towards replacing the roof and repairs and maintenance of the hall.
Tickets for the show are $20 for adults and $10 for children over 16 and can be purchased online at festivalofsmallhalls/dunrobin-2022.
