One week to chamber music festival

THE countdown is almost over for one of Townsville’s iconic cultural events, with the Australian Festival of Chamber Music just one week away.

Festival executive director Justin Ankus said ticket sales and estimated visitor numbers were looking strong ahead of opening night on July 28.

“People of Townsville have responded really well, and so have our visitors that are coming from down south,” he said. “We’ve already got seven events … sold out and a couple more that are getting close.”

The AFCM attracts thousands of chamber music lovers to the city each year, , and Mr Ankus said it looked like e an upward trend would continue in 2017.

“Anecdotally it’s looking like visitor numbers might be slightly higher this year, but overall the numbers seem to be trending up,” he said. “We usually get a lot of sales in the last week, , especially from local people … but it’s certainly looking as solid as last year.”

The festival includes the Currajong House Garden Party on July 29, where audiences are encouraged to take a trip back in time and dress in periodp costume. . It is held at the Townsville Heritageg Centre, , where cellist Rike Wolf ( picturedp d) tuned up with a 1936 Morgan Roadster yesterday.

The nine- day festival includes 30 events featuring more than 40 of the world’s finest musicians. A full AFCM program will be available inside tomorrow’s Townsville Bulletin.