Music magic hits the streets

Melbourne band, The Royal High Jinx who write, play and sing music inspired by European traditions are among a huge line-up set to perform at this year's Healesville Music Festival.

For the eighth year running, the community of Healesville will be transformed into a centre of local, national and international music for this year’s Healesville Music Festival.
The Healesville Music Festival has become a tradition of the Yarra Valley, one that began as a single-afternoon, pay-as-you-feel affair, but is now a three-day, multi-venue and all-ages event.
Across November 10, 11 and 12, magnificent music will emanate at pop-up street-side performances, as well as the town’s many cafe venues and of course at the cultural hub of the Town Hall.
Canadian troubadour Scott Cook will front the ever-growing festival line-up, which this year will also feature a variety of acts from solo singer-songwriters to full-blown orchestras complete with ukuleles.
Other performers on the bill include the brass-laden big sounds of the Northern Folk, the piercingly sweet tunes of the Frencham Smith Trio, and barnstorming locals The Humbuckin’ Pickups.
But it’s the extra, left-of-centre events that have made this volunteer-run music festival stand out from other annual events. A classic, whip-crackingly good bush dance will once again turn any shy child (or adult) into a heel ‘n’ toe aficionado, and, for the first time, the Barking Spider Visual Theatre will be workshopping their unique ‘Scratch and Trash Orchestra’.
What’s more, the town’s picturesque racecourse grounds will again accommodate campers staying for the weekend. It’s a setting that’s proved itself perfect for impromptu acoustic sessions and is only a free shuttle bus ride away from the centre of town.
The 2017 performance schedule, ticketing information and other essential details can all be found at healesvillemusicfestival.com.au