MUSICFEST: 830 ON THE LAWNS… BACK AGAIN 2013
MUSICFEST PHILLIP ISLAND will be back again in 2013. With a final tally of 830 for this year’s inaugural event, including the 113 diners in the Enviromeat big marquee, we’re pleased to declare the event a BIG SUCCESS!
It was the perfect day. The eclectic mix of rootsy folk and acoustic music and the bush dance in the evening with Paradiddle (that absolutely went off!), plus perfect weather, combined to make a really fun event. Our huge thanks to all the performers who made the day such a success – and MC Gaeton who ran the main stage all day and kept the vibe nice and breezy.
We’ve started booking for next year and considering running a little longer into the evening – we’ll keep you posted (there was a large ’late shift’ who made the trip out to the concert at dusk this year - for Mike McClellan and the Bushdance with Paradiddle).
Our thanks also to all our friends and local business people who helped – to Jeff at Island Marquees, Phillip Island Skip and Toilet Hire, the Davies family (Richie and Sharon) and Enviromeat, Simon and the crew at OptimAV (for the brilliant sound), Trevor and Megan Ryan for the stage, also Rod (for all his help setting up and on the gate) and Jim Barnes from Tallangatta, Greg Price for his ‘second stage’, Dazzle signs, Miekle’s paella’s, Carole and Mary on the gate and our three French backpackers (Louis, Antona and Pierre), Cleeland Bus Lines for the shuttle service, and huge, huge thanks to our classy MC Gaeton and all the fabulous musicians.
Thanks also to Kim, Kathryn and the team at Destination Phillip Island, and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
Lastly, thanks to the cheerful staff at Phillip Island Winery for all their hard work in making the day such a success.
We’ll be back again next year, bigger and even better – you can bank on it – with another eclectic mix of brilliant ‘rootsy’ songwriters and bands.
Put a circle around Sunday March 10 2013 (Labour Day Weekend) and keep watching this site for news and for details.
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- The fabulous Lisa Miller
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- Mike McClellan… right ‘on song’
MUSICFEST… it’s on – last minute tickets available
COUNTRY. BLUES AND FOLK music stars will be shining at Phillip Island Winery this Sunday 11 March for the first annual MUSICFEST Phillip Island.
Running from 12:30pm until 10:30pm – finishing with a bush dance under the stars with Paradiddle – and featuring some of Australia’s finest roots and acoustic musicians, MUSICFEST will be a unique day of classy roots, blues and folk music.
Cleeland Bus Lines is operating a shuttle bus out of Cowes on the hour (and return).
Pick-up points -$15 return ticket ($7.50 one way):
Cowes: Coles bus stop and RSL
Ventnor: Lyall Street and Grossard Point Road
Smith’s Beach: Back Beach Road
Performance times:
Main stage:
Fine Cuts Enviromeat Luncheon ($80 ticket holders) begins 2:00pm
With acoustic legend Mike McClellan, nine-times ARIA-nominated Lisa Miller, plus the amazing indie-folksters, The Little Stevies, with ex-Redgummer Hugh McDonald, and the legendary Broderick Smith joining southern bluesmen Tabasco Tom and Doc White, among a host of other national and local performers, MUSICFEST is a not-to-missed event for Phillip Island.
Wine, food and soft-drinks available from the cellar door, plus food marquees, bring along a picnic lunch, chairs and rug to make a day of it.
Priority parking is available for ticket-holders, tickets will also be available from the gate. Entry is $40.
For tickets, call Phillip Island Winery 5956 8465, or they can be purchased directly from the website: www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au
MUSICFEST Phillip Island – A Day Of Roots, Blues and Folk Music: March 11
Mike McClellan at The Basement
- Zebra Crossing
MUSICFEST PHILLIP ISLAND, a day of folk-roots-blues acoustic music is coming to PHILLIP ISLAND WINERY on Sunday 11th March, Labour Day long-weekend.
Check the website at www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au
With a 10-hour line-up of national and local acts from an all-weather stage in our beautiful grounds, and finishing with a BUSH DANCE under the stars, this is an event not to be missed.
Ticket sales are now open; you can buy tickets at:
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www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au
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or call (03) 5956 8465
The artist LINE-UP includes:
- Country music legend MIKE McCLELLAN,
- Pop-folk sensations THE LITTLE STEVIES,
- Singer-songwriter and multi-ARIA nominated LISA MILLER,
- Australian ukulele master AJ LEONARD’S TROPICAL LOUNGE,
- Former Redgum frontman HUGH McDONALD,
- Southern bluesmen TABASCO TOM and DOC WHITE,
- The African rhythms of Zebra Crossing with VALANGA KHOZA, RAY PEREIRA and LEO DALE,
- Local powerhouse vocalist BERN CARROLL,
- Former Byron Bay singer-songwriter JACQUI STERLING,
- With more to come…
- And with PARADIDDLE BUSH BAND to finish the night with a BUSH DANCE under the stars.
Overlooking Bass Strait, on Phillip Island’s beautiful southern coastline, and only a stone’s throw from Pyramid Rock and the Penguin Parade, music begins at 12:30pm with continuous acts through the afternoon and evening, concluding at 10:00pm.
MUSICFEST PHILLIP ISLAND is a regional umbrella event under the 2012 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, concert patrons can also choose a fine-cuts enviromeat meal, three courses plus a complimentary glass of Phillip Island Winery’s finest, enjoyed from a ‘long-barbecue’ marquee right in the thick of the action.
Tickets are on sale now, numbers are limited, click on the link to BUY TICKETS.
Concert tickets: $40
Concert plus fine-cuts enviromeat meal: $80
Sculpture Culture, Food And Wine
CELESTE by John Abery. Medium: wood
COINCIDING WITH MUSICFEST, Phillip Island Winery is pleased to announce the opening of an exciting sculpture exhibition, SCULPTURE CULTURE, Food and Wine, to be staged at the winery from 4th March until 10th April (Easter Tuesday).
Featuring sculptural works by leading and emerging Victorian artists, the pieces - in ferro-cement, bronze, glass, polished aluminium, wood and steel – will be on display around Phillip Island Winery’s grounds and cellar door. With Bass Strait as a backdrop, and sweeping rural views, it is the perfect environment for these dramatic sculptural works.
Artists whose works will be featured include JOHN ABERY, SIAN ADNAM, HELEN BRISTOL, PAUL HEARNSHAW, BOB HICKMAN, NICOLA HOYLE, PAUL JESSE, ANDREW KASPER, MARTIN KEOGH, HELEN McINNES, MARGARET McPHERSON, ANGELA NEWBERRY, FATEMEH VAFAEINEJAD, and TREVOR WHEELER.
This stunning exhibition is part of a cultural feast over the month of March at Phillip Island Winery, conducted as a regional umbrella event under the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.
On days other than Sunday 11th March when the grounds will be jumping to the sounds of MusicFest Phillip Island, admission to the sculpture exhibition will be free.
All works are available for purchase. Watch this site for more details and images.
Bluesmen Rock The Cellar Door
Tom, Broderick Smith and the Doc
THE GROUNDS of the cellar door rocked on Australia Day weekend to the classy southern blues of Phillip Island Winery regulars, Tabasco Tom, Doc White and Cres Crisp.
Taking advantage of the beautiful evening and our large undercover courtyard, Tom and the Doc had more than 100 guests tapping along to the irresistible beat and tight harmonies of Louisianna blues and swing.
Tom and Doc, and joined by Australian music legend Broderick Smith, will be playing at MusicFest Phillip Island at the winery on Sunday March 11th.
For tickets, go to www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au or call us on 5956 8465.
The Little Stevies Hit ‘The Island’ This Wednesday
POP-FOLK SENSATIONS, The Little Stevies, are performing at Phillip Island Winery this coming Wednesday 11th January at 7:30pm.
With catchy pop melodies, and tight harmonies, the internationally-recognised Little Stevies have a string of ‘indie’ hits to their credit, including Accidentally, and Come to Miss You.
They were were a sensation at Port Fairy Music Festival in 2011 and have toured the US and Canada to wide acclaim, recording in LA and appearing at New York’s CMJ and Ottawa’s OCFF music conferences.
With a breezy style reflecting a long line of great Australian ‘Alt-pop acts’ such as Frente, Ben Lee and Dan Kelly, they have stunned audiences everywhere with their delicious harmonies, musicianship and catchy and accessible songs.
The Little Stevies now have a string of successful albums behind them; their latest, Attention Shoppers, was recorded in LA with producer Ethan Allen.
Cost of entry to The Little Stevies is $10. Light platter meals, delicious Phillip Island Wines and soft-drinks are available.
The Little Stevies are also a feature act at MUSICFEST Phillip Island (www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au), to be staged at Phillip Island Winery on Sunday March 11 (the long weekend).
They’ll be joined by a mighty line-up of roots and acoustic music acts like Mike McClellan, Lisa Miller, Hugh McDonald and many more – with an old time bush dance with Paradiddle to finish off the night.
Phillip Island Winery
414 Berrys Beach Road
Ventnor
ph: 5956 8465
‘Red Hot Lovers’ And ‘Little Stevies’ At Winery
IT’S A MONTH of ‘radio’ theatre and music at Phillip Island Winery.
Now into its second week and with a short five night season, Phillip Island’s Offshore Theatre is staging Neil Simon’s classic comedy, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, as a radio play at the cellar door.
Directed by Stephanie Daniel, Last of the Red Hot Lovers is a very funny set-piece from the swinging ’60s. It follows the exploits of Barney Cashman, who wants to join the sexual revolution but fails hilariously in seduction with Elaine, a sexpot, Bobbi, an actress, and his wife’s best friend, Jeanette.
We began the radio-play series last summer with Noel Coward’s comedy, Blithe Spirit. It was huge fun. It’s like the old days of the ABC when audiences would flock to Gordon Street to see actors playing their parts into a microphone.
It is now sold out for all nights, but we are looking at a return season at the end of the month. If we can arrange it with the actors, tickets will again be $30, which includes a light platter meal.
Splitting the play dates, pop-folk sensations The Little Stevies are performing at the winery this Wednesday 11th January at 7:30pm.
With catchy pop melodies, and tight harmonies, the internationally-recognised Little Stevies have a string of ‘indie’ hits to their credit, including Accidentally, and Come to Miss You. Cost of entry to The Little Stevies is $10.
Tribute To ‘The Great McGonagall’ – the worst poet in English literature
PHILLIP ISLAND POET and balladeer, Mike Cleeland, is heading a night of ballads, songs and tortured rhyme at Phillip Island Winery this Saturday evening (October 8) in a tribute to Scot poet ‘The Great McGonagall’.
Willam Topaz McGonagall of Dundee, was widely celebrated during his lifetime as a writer of awful verse and terrible rhymes – “the worst poet in the English language”.
McGonagall, a sketch by Pip Cleeland
He died in 1902; the tribute night at the winery is a week shy of the 109th anniversary of his death.
His straight-faced performances of his verse made him a celebrated performer at music-halls in 19th-Century Victorian England, and his reputation has endured. His most famous piece is his doggeral account of the Scot tragedy, The Tay Bridge Disaster.
Mike Cleeland, whose amusing book of poetry and bush verse, Sheep Dip, illustrated by his wife Pip, is now on many Phillip Island bookshelves, will be joined by musician Paul Madigan from French Island, local musician Gary Marr, and visiting bard, playwright, and former member of Paradiddle Bush Band, Mark Leehy.
Admission is free, light platter meals are available.
Music and ballads begin at 7:00pm; come along in your tartan to add some fun and character to the night.
Bookings available, call us on 5956 8465.
‘A Cappella’ Sounds of VIVACE Fill Cellar Door
VIVACE, Phillip Island’s own ‘a cappella’ madrigal group, lifted the roof at the Phillip Island Winery’s cellar door in the third of our springtime Twilight Concerts.
Under the direction of arranger Ross Fairhurst, VIVACE performed a magical mix of medieval and modern classics.
The 16th century Latin ’Gaudete’ bookended a three-set performance of madrigal standards, some ribald ‘Chaucerian-style’ English and Scot folk-songs, a Gaelic blessing, and some latter day classics that even included Redgum’s rousing ‘Poor Ned Kelly’ (written by Trevor Lucas).
With a full house, and then some, the surreal colours of a stormy sky over a twilight sea provided the perfect ‘other-world’ backdrop for VIVACE’s swelling choral harmonies and tight professional performance.
We’re constantly surprised by the depth of talent and by the diverse music and creative arts we find on Phillip Island.
We’re also very pleased to have the opportunity to showcase local performers like VIVACE alongside the eclectic mix of visiting artists we bring to the winery.
Our thanks to Ross and VIVACE for a memorable evening of music.
Watch out for our next Twilight Concert series.
We’ve got a night of balladeers with Mike Cleeland coming up – a tribute to The Great McGonagall; acclaimed as the worst poet in British history.
On September 30 and October 1, two nights or repertory featuring three well-known professional actors (one an ‘Islander’), and also bluesmen Tabasco Tom and Doc White returning soon.
If you’d like to know more about William McGonagall, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McGonagall
Magical Madrigals At Phillip Island Winery
THE COSY CELLAR DOOR of Phillip Island Winery will be humming to the sounds of local ‘a cappella’ group, VIVACE, this Saturday evening, 10th September, 5:30pm-8:30pm.
The third in the Phillip Island Winery’s Twilight Concert series, VIVACE will be presenting a repertoire of film classics with a mix of medieval and madrigal standards. Lead by Ross Fairhurst, VIVACE brings a completely different style of performance to the winery.
This is a musical performance you will never see in a hotel or typical music venue (that’s why we like to put on events like this).
Last Saturday, more than 80 patrons crammed into the cellar door to enjoy the classy southern-blues sounds of Tabasco Tom and Doc White.
They were backed up by Steve Williams on sax and harmonica (Steve has been a member of the John Farnham band since 1990), and also by Tom’s astonishing 16 year-old daughter Kaitlin on fiddle and vocal harmonies. It was a memorable night, one ‘out of the box’. (Tabasco Tom and Doc White are returning to the winery soon, watch the site for details and dates.)
Light dinners are available including a Ploughman’s platter of fresh-sliced meats, local cheeses and crusty breads, plus the usual delicious fare of cheese platters, dips, fresh salads and smoked trout.
Admission free; bookings accepted. Phone: 5956 8465.
Come and see us and relax with VIVACE - or join in if you like. Don’t forget we also have LIVE ACOUSTIC music on every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.