A decade! That’s how long the Mullum Music Festival has been holding street parades, mentoring young musicians and filling the town’s venues and streets with vibrant music and happy punters.
The festival will again take place November 16 till 19.
‘When we started, I booked the festival I wanted to go to’, Glenn Wright told The Echo.
‘Ten years on and it’s still very enjoyable,’ he says. ‘I’m very grateful – a large part of my life is programming and dealing with musicians and the arts – it’s been a great journey. Ten years ago, it seemed there was more generic entertainment locally; it was aimed more at a transient audience – there seems much more diversity and depth now, and I believe that the festival has contributed to that.’
Just a few of Glenn’s picks for the festival include John Cleary (US), Lindi Ortega (Can), Z-Star Delta (UK) and Gabriel Garzón-Montano (US). Newcomers to the area, Harry Angus (Cat Empire etc) and Emily Lubitz (Tinpan Orange) are also a big part of the festival.
Locals also feature prominently – Jo Jo Smith will celebrate 50 years in the business, while highly regarded local performers Sara Tindley, Rebecca Ireland and trumpet legend John Hoffman will also take part.
Will the festival continue to grow bigger? ‘No’, says Glenn. ‘We had some sold out shows in previous years, but I think it’s good to limit the numbers in town so it doesn’t get overwhelming.’ The festival’s expansion, he says, is creating a similar festival in Bellingen, which has now established itself over the past three years. ‘Both staff and acts work at both festivals’, he says, which he believes is a better sustainable model.
For more info see centre Echo pages or visit www.mullummusicfestival.com.
