Oakleigh Music Festival comes to town
A SUBURBAN CARNIVAL OF MUSIC COMES TO OAKLEIGH
The City of Monash is proud to present the inaugural Oakleigh Music Festival, a vibrant ten-day celebration of the city’s lively cultural, arts and culinary scenes.
Running from 10 to 20 March, the Festival showcases the very best Oakleigh has to offer with live music, energetic performances, fun for the kids and adventurous cuisine from around the world.
Jam-packed with a spirited music scene, great food and rich culture, Oakleigh is fast becoming a thriving hub of artistic activity. The Festival aims to highlight this shift to the suburbs with a diverse program packed with events and workshops that celebrate the city of Monash and its people. Spreading over ten days the Festival features the Carnival of Suburbia, and culminates in the Flavours of Oakleigh Festival, two events highlighting the city’s main attractions, its soulful music and its mouth-watering food.
As part of the Oakleigh Music Festival, the Caravan Music Club presents a series of live music performances from some of Australia’s best-loved musicians. The Carnival of Suburbia features headline acts My Friend the Chocolate Cake, The Blackeyed Susans, Tinpan Orange, Tim Rogers & The Temperance Union, The Darling Downs as well as variety evenings with a difference including Rebecca Barnard’s sing-along and Triple R’s Jon Von Goes’ and his ensemble of Melbourne romantics in a sentimental red rattler journey through the suburban heartland in an evening titled Stopping all stations except East Richmond. Other ‘don’t miss’ events are the Big Gospel Breakfast and the Great Southern BBQ for a hit of home-style cooking and the sounds of country and gospel.
On Tuesday 15 March, Oakleigh Library will host a songwriting workshop led by talented musician Andrea Khoza.
On Saturday 19 March, Monash City Council proudly presents Cinema in the Park, a special screening of family-fun movie Hairspray supported by Melbourne Open Air Cinema. This one-off event is set in Oakleigh’s enchanting Warrawee Park and is open to all ages. Bring a comfy blanket and a stocked picnic basket and warm up your singing voice to rock along to the film version of smash Broadway hit!
Oakleigh Music Festival will close with a bang on Sunday 20 March with a free all-day event at Warrawee Park where two stages run across the day. The Caravan Music Stage showcases quality talent as the perfect soundtrack to the Carnival of Suburbia featuring performances from Vika & Linda Bull, Bobby Flynn, Mick Thomas, Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Eagle & The Worm, Amber Lamps and the Oakleigh City Band and is hosted by MC Rebecca Barnard. The Flavours of Monash Community Stage will feature a feast of traditional foods from around the world. With residents hailing from over 30 countries, Monash is a melting pot of cultural cuisine. The Flavours of Monash Community Stage will showcase the city’s diversity with cooking demonstrations, music and dance, buskers, produce stalls and a Kid’s Zone with face painting, jumping castle and a chair-o-plane. Beatboxer Kata will be performing his “mouth music” as part of the Eaton Mall busker’s program from 4pm.
The Sunday festival will also feature a ‘Workshop Marquee’ with something to delight kids and adults alike. Start with a cupcake decorating workshop run by Oakleigh’s famous Quality Cakes, roll out the icing, style a masterpiece and eat your own work of art. Melbourne artist and puppeteer Asphyxia from The Grimstones adds a twist to learning sign language with an AUSLAN Signing Workshop in the afternoon. Later on the Marquee will showcase beautiful costumes, exotic sounds and a few new moves to wow your friends as Belly Dance Inspiration hold a belly dancing workshop to get you moving.
As well as workshops and music there will be fun-filled activities running all day. Henna artist Neeta Patel will be applying her art to patrons. The Recycled Art Workshop will present their visual arts creations and Animal Tracks will showcase all that slithers and slides in their reptile display.
With everything to treat your senses and tempt your taste buds the festival is a visual, aural and taste sensation for all ages.
“This Festival will highlight Oakleigh’s unique and authentic multicultural feel … Oakleigh is continuing to grow and thrive and is certainly becoming a true cultural hub for the Monash community,” said Monash Mayor Cr Greg Male.
For more information about the Oakleigh Festival, please call 9518 3636, email events@monash.vic.gov.au or visit www.monash.vic.gov.au/macd.
For online Bookings for music events, visit: www.caravanmusic.com.au.
