Australian ‘rock royal’ Mark Seymour will headline this year’s Whittlesea Country Music Festival.
The Hunters and Collectors frontman and songwriter, best known for his sporting anthem Holy Grail, will perform on the second day as part of the event’s twilight concert.
The Mornington Peninsular resident’s first performance at Whittlesea will be somewhat nostalgic. Seymour is a former Banyule High School student and used to play against Whittlesea High School during interschool soccer competitions.
He will perform original material with the backing of his four-piece band. The 58-year-old told Star Weekly he never tires of performing.
“I just love playing. I have a bit of red-eye occasionally, but the community events are fantastic, you’re not playing to any specific age group and it’s just really refreshing.
Local outfit The Screamin’ Eagles will also take to the stage. Whittlesea resident and frontman Stephan Dundon said the seven-piece band often rides up on stage on Harley Davidson motorcyles.
The band’s name references a high-performance part-maker for Harley Davidsons. “We also play quite a few Eagles songs,” Dundon said.
Whittlesea Country Music Festival committee member Dave Watson says the event has moved away from the traditional country music genre. “It’s moved from country western-style and into the pop-rock, contemporary country genre,” Watson said. “Country musicians are no longer banjo-strumming but playing Bon Jovi. It’s more of a broad church now.”
The festival caters for locals, visitors and music fans of any age.
The confirmed list of performers includes Tanya Self, Victoria Edwards, the Brook Chivell Band, Don Costa and Katrina Burns.
The festival will kick off with a free opening party at the Whittlesea Bowls Club on February 6, when Whittlesea locals and former X-Factor band Flaxxon and Ruckus will perform. The main event is on Saturday, February 7, at Whittlesea Cricket Club’s ground.
Festival highlights
• Free performances by Flaxxon and Ruckus on 6 February at the Whittlesea Bowling Club, Church Street, Whittlesea (booking essential for this event Ph.9716 1966).
• 7 February free street party, kicking off at 10am in the grounds of Whittlesea Secondary College, Whittlesea. Here you will find trader’s stalls, both local and from surrounding areas, an animal nursery, face painting, boot scooting and other fun activities for kids.
• Two stages will run from 10am to 4pm showcasing quality country artists, local musicians performing in a range of musical genres, a talent search and a busker’s competition.
• Free “Twilight with the Stars” concert at the Whittlesea Cricket Ground (The Walker Reserve cnr. Forest and Laurel Streets) an open air concert running from 5pm until 9.30pm.
• Fireworks display, at 9pm to conclude the festival.
