Roo Fest

A new monthly folk and roots event in Maldon

Goldfields Folk and Roots: Roo Fest is the new monthly music event taking over the Kangaroo Hotel in Maldon this year.

The gold rush town is 15 minutes from Castlemaine and it’s the perfect spot to showcase local and touring artists. Presented by Mandy Connell and Graeme Fletcher, the mini-fest has fostered an audience under the bunting and grapevines of the lovely Kangaroo Hotel.

The lineup for the upcoming April 22 event includes Kerryn Fields (2022 Music Victoria Best Folk Work and finalist for Best Solo Artist), Corn Nut Creek, Kimberley Wheeler, Liz Frencham and Kelsey Jean. Frencham, Fields & Tanya Bradley (Corn Nut Creek) recently stole the show at Newstead Live Music Festival and floored audiences at Port Fairy.

First up though on Saturday, March 18, Australian legend Mick Coates with the Tibooburra Three, Featherhead, the Badcock Brothers, and Phil and Trudy Edgeley will take to the Roo Fest stage.

A local legend, Coates is something of a catalyst among players in Victoria. Famous for his rich baritone voice (think Johnny Cash) his songs about the Aussie landscape go with him on the Mutawintji trail to Broken Hill. Rising star Charlotte LeLievre utterly entranced a full house in January when she joined Roo Fest after premiering ‘Barrier Line’ on Double J with Henry Wagons. Roo Fest favourites Mick Coates’ Shallow Gravediggers included Le Lievre and ‘Barrier Line’ at their 2022 Roo Fest album launch.

Phil’s British Delta blues and Trudy’s Islander stories from Far North Queensland inspired Mark Lucas to say “…from dust-blown work songs to gospel-tinged country blues… universal experience at the same time deeply rooted in their own cultural understanding…” Their anglo and First Nations stories offset the comedic post-punk shenanigans of the Badcock Brothers (Aaron Allen and Leif Helland) and blues-country veterans Featherhead.

Roo Fest tickets are limited so head over to Eventbrite to book. The Kangaroo offers excellent meals; bookings are recommended for dining inside. There will be a Roo Fest menu for patrons in the beer garden.

Tickets for Roo Fest are on sale now. Head to the Facebook events (Goldfields Folk & Roots April, and March) for all the latest information.