Mullum Music Festival | 15–18 November
Every two years new artists step up to the plate to be the patron of everyone’s favourite little festival: Mullum Music.
This year Husky Gawenda and Gideon Preiss of Husky have thrown their hat into the ring to create artist-led unique programming and grassroots musical engagement.
For Husky Gawenda it’s all about having a chance to give something back to a festival where the band got their start.
‘We have been playing there since the beginning of our career,’ says Husky of Mullum Music Festival. ‘It was important for us in the early years as an emerging band and it remains important for us as an established band. I am looking forward to giving something back.
‘I am hoping we can do some of that work and bring some of our ideas and different projects that we have been working on together and individually, to bring together some unique collaborations.’
One such project will be the two intimate solo shows that Husky Gawenda will be playing at the Drill Hall.
‘This is a chance for Gideon and me to do stuff we wouldn’t normally do and may never do again. It will be unique to the festival. I am doing some really, really intimate shows. I will be singing songs I have been working on slowly over the last year in my downtime. It will be just me and my guitar. They were songs that were written with no intention. It’s about performing in a solitary and private place. I am really trying to take the intention out of it. The songs exist in this vacuum and I want to see what happens in the vacuum without external forces or influences. Who knows I might eventually put them down on an album, but maybe the Drill Hall will be the only time they are heard… at Mullum Music Festival.’
Gideon Priess, a trained pianist, will be programming and performing at the Piano Bar, a cool honky-tonk hang upstairs at the Village Vanguard.
‘All the shows I have seen at the Piano Bar have been super intimate and super interesting,’ says Husky. ‘You get to see stuff you wouldn’t see anywhere else. One of the things this opportunity gives us is to enable us to do some things that will play to our strengths but things we wouldn’t normally do. I haven’t played solo shows for many years. And Gideon: he’s such a great piano player and he has this knack for bringing great musicians together.’
Both Husky and Gideon will also act as mentors to young emerging artists via the festival’s long-running Youth Mentorship Program and, of course, lead the annual street parade.
The street parade is something Gawenda is really looking forward to.
‘Leading the parade is the highlight of the festival. It really shows it is a festival for everyone. It’s such a good time. Everyone joins in. All the patrons get to be part of it. It epitomises what it’s all about – that you are part of this unique community in the hills where everyone listens and plays. It’s like the audience is part of the show. There is no separation in the street parade!
‘We’re honoured to be this year’s patrons of Mullum and thrilled to be chosen to play a part in what is always a magical weekend of music and song. We have been going to Mullum for almost a decade and we’re always blown away by the beautiful Mullum community, the warm and electrifying atmosphere of the festival, and the amazing calibre of the music each and every year. As well as playing as HUSKY, there will be lots of amazing collaborations and we have some brand-new side projects to present for the first time at Mullum. Can’t wait to see you there!’
Mullum Music Festival, 15–18 November 2018.
Tix and program on mullummusicfestival.com.
