Stars to rock bay celebration
AUSSIE rock legend Ross Wilson will headline a stellar line-up of entertainment as Geelong celebrates the Australia Day long weekend at the Festival of Sails.
The festival, celebrating 175 years of the Melbourne to Geelong Passage Race, will see more than 300 yachts and 3000 participants take to the water in the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere.
The shores of the bay will also be buzzing with a music line-up across the three days that includes Mental as Any- thing, as well as The Voice finalist and local artist Michael Stangel.
“Mr Eagle Rock” Wilson will be performing live with The Peacenicks in the Regatta Village on January 26.
The Village will also host Stangel on Australia Day and Mental as Anything will play their greatest hits on Saturday.
Popular children’s entertainers The Mik Maks will get the kids in the festival spirit, while the Royal Australian Navy Jazz Band will perform for those looking to swing.
Festival of Sails chairman Peter Alexander says there will be something for everyone.
“We’re thrilled with the line-up and who better to help us celebrate everything Australian over the Australia Day weekend than Ross Wilson, Mental as Anything, and Michael Stangel in these huge and free shows,” Mr Alexander said.
With limited capacity in the Village, wristbands, which can be collected from the Royal Geelong Yacht Club from January 15, will be required to enter the arena after 5pm.
The Regatta Village will also have a big screen displaying live footage of the race from the perspective of the boats, GPS tracking of the race and interviews with sailors they as cross the finish line.