Festival name: Sandford Bush Music Festival
Where? Sandford Village is 5km South of Casterton in South Western Victoria, about five hours drive from Melbourne and six hours drive from Adelaide
This festival showcases bush music, folk, occasional gospel, Celtic, reggae, bluegrass, and Australian country music. It is a small, relaxed, friendly event held annually at Sandford Recreation Reserve on the Victorian Labour Day Weekend in March. Performers range through professionals, semi-professionals, amateurs and hopefuls all performing in a supportive fun atmosphere.
Apart from the scheduled music performances, the festival is a hive of activity with numerous jam sessions, workshops, and walk-ups. Attendees can also indulge in bush poetry, explore country crafts, and enjoy various art exhibitions and demonstrations.
A highlight of the event is the much-anticipated Bush Dance, taking place on the Sunday evening of the festival.
Past artists have included The iconic Bushwackers, The Royal High Jinx and Kelly’s Wake all of whose 2023 performances can be enjoyed in the videos below. A good example of the quality you can expect at the gathering itself.
Getting there
By road, Sandford Village, 5km South of Casterton in South Western Victoria is about five hours drive from Melbourne and six hours from Adelaide. The Recreation Reserve is about half a kilometer out of Sandford Village. Nearby Casterton (5km – pop 1500) has 2 hotels, petrol stations, police, fire & ambulance-stations, medical clinic, hospital, pharmacy, a newsagency, supermarket, various fast food outlets and a range of other shops and businesses. Most shops are open Saturday morning but closed for the rest of the weekend.
Sandford Bush Music Festival Website
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