AFTER a hugely successful night out in 2022, Dunrobin Public Hall is one of 18 regional venues across the state for this year’s Festival of Small Halls Tour:  Port Fairy Folk Festival to Lake Gkula.

Folk Bitch Trio and Scott Cook feature in this year’s Autumn tour, which began at the folkie, travelling across the state before ducking into New South Wales and South Australia for a couple of shows and ending up at Woodfordia for Lake Gkula Camping. 

Halls of all shapes and sizes will throw open their doors, from the rolling hills of the West Gippsland region to the rocky escarpments of the Grampians, from gold fields to vineyards and the 33rd instalment of this big-hearted tour is set to be another inspiring and galvanizing experience for the regions it will touch. 

Famous for their larger-than-life folk festivals over the last two decades, Woodfordia Inc presents a program to be loved by their core base and new fans alike with the heavenly harmonic Folk Bitch Trio and acclaimed Canadian songwriter Scott Cook.

Folk Bitch Trio blends the voices of Melbourne-based artists Heide Peverelle, Jeanie Pilkington and Gracie Sinclair into lush three-part harmony, with a style which draws influence from contemporary and traditional folk, alt-rock and country. Folk Bitch Trio will pull at your heart strings, delivering raw and honest song writing with warmth and emotion. 

The trio was itching to get on the road and excited to be part of this year’s lineup.

“We feel very fortunate to be bringing our music out on the road and sharing it with new people. We can’t wait to sing in some beautiful rooms, and for the new songs that we may write along the way,” the girls said.

Scott Cook is no stranger to the touring circuit.

In 2007, the Alberta, Canada native songwriter quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan and moved into a minivan.

He’s made his living as a troubadour ever since, touring almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year.

His latest collection of songs, Tangle of Souls, comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations, equal parts introspection and insurrection and he’s all aboard to bring these stories and more, to festival venues.

“I've fallen deeply in love with Australia – and especially rural Victoria – over many years camping out, touring and even making an album there,” he said.

“After way too long away, I'm thrilled to return in the good company of the Small Halls crew.”

Initially planned as a social event to bring the community back together after the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, last year’s festival event evolved into a massive fundraiser for the community hall, contributing to the completion of the building’s roof revival project.

With contributions from businesses across the district for raffle prizes and to help with minor costs, more than 80 residents turned out for a successful night of entertainment, socialising and fundraising.

The hall committee’s Julie Robins said the Dunrobin community was overwhelmed with the district’s support leading up to the event and the enthusiasm of the crowd, with residents from across the district, including Casterton, Strathdownie and Wando Vale, turning out in support.

“Halls are the central meeting place and point of contact for communities like ours, like Strathdownie, Henty, Wando Vale and to have events like this come and visit, just adds to that sense of community.

Festival of Small Halls heads to the Dunrobin hall next Thursday, 30 March.

The gates will open at 6pm, with a barbecue and share plates available for everyone to have dinner, before the main event begins at 7pm.

Guests are asked to ‘BYO drinks’ and there will be a wood raffle and auction of a locally handmade quilt at the interval.

Tickets are available from All Sorts of Casterton or online at festivalofsmallhalls/Dunrobin-2023.