The very popular Music in the Valley is back at Main Arm Upper Public School this weekend – this event is a celebration of a vibrant and family-friendly community music festival featuring a host of homegrown and Australian talent and non-stop entertainment.
This year’s edition features Harry James Angus, The Gumboots, Greg Sheehan, the Mullumbimby All-Stars, Salve George, The Waangenga and Main Arm School dancers, Spaghetti Circus and the Main Arm School Choir.
Also on this stellar bill is local singer/songwriter Emily Lubitz, known for her delicious voice and bulls-eye-accurate lyrics. Lubitz spoke to The Echo last week about her upcoming appearance at Music in the Valley.
What is it you love about Music in the Valley?
Music in the Valley became more than just a school fair in 2019 when we turned Main Arm Primary School into the site for a mini music festival.
With Covid and floods, we haven’t been able to do another one since – until now!
Music in the Valley takes place on stunning Bundjalung country, with Mt Boogarem looking down on us, a natural landscape fit for a postcard.
There will be a wonderful musical lineup, an amazing array of foods provided by our multicultural parent community, a bar, and all the horse rides, face painting and jumping castles a kid could ask for.
We even have The Magic Bus giving rides, to bring a bit of Mullum Music Festival nostalgia.
Why are events like Music in the Valley important for small communities?
These little festivals help build the fabric of our community. They bring us together for all the right reasons. We work hard as a community to put them on, with most people volunteering their time, and then we get to enjoy the day together. Our kids get to perform with the school choir and dance troupe and see their school full of colour and music.
Also, all the money raised from this festival will go towards providing extra equipment, experiences and services for the kids throughout the year which is very much needed after the very disrupted 18 months they have had since the floods.
What other performances are you looking forward to?
All of them! But in particular, Waangenga and the Main Arm School dancers, The Gumboots, and the Harry James Angus and Greg Sheehan collaboration.
What will you be performing at the event?
I will be performing my solo stuff with my mate Matty Green joining me on guitar.
Apart from great music, the Music in the Valley event will also host a sideshow alley, jumping castles, food stalls, a craft zone, face painting, as well as barista coffee and a licensed bar.
The Magic Bus will run from town to the festival for the entire event from 12pm until 6pm.
Music in the Valley is on Sunday at the Upper Main Arm Public School and entry is FREE.