PREPARATIONS for the Grampians Music Festival have almost been finalised before the inaugural event’s first day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Northern Grampians Shire Cr Jason Hosemans said workers had started to set up the venue before Friday.
“We are down to the exciting time now, it looks like the weather will be good which is always a concern, particularly for outdoor music festivals,” he said.
“We started setting up the site on Friday and it is finally all coming together well, all the bands are booked and raring to go.”
Cr Hosemans said around 450 people had already bought tickets to the festival.
“We are hoping for a last minute ticket surge which will hopefully add to the numbers,” he said.
“This is only the first year of the festival so we hope to build on the numbers for upcoming years.
“It is a great boost to the area, many of the region’s businesses and towns will benefit from the influx in tourist and visitor numbers, it will definitely put Halls Gap and the Grampians on the map.”
Festival organisers also announced ‘You asked, we listened’ one-day ticket sales for the Saturday or Sunday, which was priced at $99.
The offer was available for the final week in the lead up to the event and was in response to requests from people who could only attend Halls Gap for one day.
Festival volunteer and ticket holder Angela Turrell said she could not wait to experience the buzz of the region’s inaugural event.
“I love the fact it is a revamped format and I cannot wait to be involved and have a fantastic time, enjoy a nice mix of old and new jazz, it will just be really energising,” she said.
“There are so many amazing bands playing and I cannot wait to see people’s reactions on the weekend.
“It is also in a new location, just in the valley, it is just wonderful and so serene.”
The location is off Valley Drive, which festival organisers have called the Field of Dreams, a privately owned paddock on the valley floor, just behind Main Street, which runs through Halls Gap.
“Events in Halls Gap are mainly held on Main Street or the main football oval, but the valley area is a new part of halls gap people do not know a lot about,” Ms Turrell said.
“It is just a perfect theatre for music.”
The final program for the festival was also released and can be found www.grampiansmusicfestival.com