More music for Halls Gap

Halls Gap continues to generate momentum as a musical hub with another live-music event planned for later this year.

Hot on the heels of Grampians Music Festival in February, Halls Gap will present its third Folk for Refugees concert on May 27.

The event at Pioneer Cottages is designed to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and asylum seekers living in Australia. Organisers will donate all proceeds to refugee support groups.

The event is designed to be a ‘laid-back’ afternoon and evening ‘of good tunes, good food and wine, and good people’ where patrons gather to raise money and awareness.

Folk for Refugees organiser Corinne Leahy said the event had been ‘incredibly’ popular in the past two years, and had raised more than $12,000, the majority of which had been donated to Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Friends of Refugees groups based in Melbourne.

She said musicians from across the Grampians as well as Melbourne, Geelong and Bendigo were donating their time for the event.

Acts include Alister Turrill, Death of Connie Francis, Trevor Petrie and the War of Ideas, Orange Whip, Beatroute and the Nang Nangs, the Recalcitrants, and surprise acts. Ms Leahy said Rural Australians for Refugees had been involved in the past, but this year a group of dedicated individuals were organising the event.

“We’ve had fantastic support from the local community and local businesses, who have donated goods and services to help us run the event, and we’re incredibly thankful to them all,” she said.

“We are all very passionate about raising awareness of refugees and asylum seekers and we welcome anyone who wants to come along and help make the event a success again.

“We’d also love to hear from anyone who is interested in volunteering on the day, whether it’s behind the bar, on the barbecue or elsewhere.”

Folk for Refugees will be from 2pm to 9pm.

Tickets are available online at www.trybooking.com/book/ event?eid=264602.

The event is licensed with no BYO. Food will be available on site and organisers said patrons were welcome to bring their own picnic rugs.

A courtesy bus will run between Halls Gap town centre and the event site.

People seeking more information or who are keen to volunteer can call 5356 4402.