The 30th Annual SA Country Music Festival is going to start this week! It will run from May 30th to June 9th throughout the SA Riverland and is sponsored by Berri Barmera District Council, Country Arts SA, and the Government of South Australia. This festival is the biggest and most prestigious in the state. It is the most important event on the SA Country Music Circuit and a major event for Riverland. It is also known as the Friendly Festival. People come from all over, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, England, USA, and many others, to join in the fun.
Talent, new and young, is discovered each year through the Music Awards, which will be held in 12 sections during June 6th – 9th. The winners of each section will then compete for the SA Award of Excellence at the SA Sunday Spectacular along with other nationally known artists.
Many artists, with different amounts of ‘fame’ will be performing. Some of the artists are: the “Multi Golden Guitar Winner” Troy Cassar – Daley and his Band, “Golden Guitar Winner” Feral Swing Katz, “Gold Guitar Winner” Trev Warner, “Starmaker Finalists” Kristy Cox, Royden Donohue, Murray Mac and True Grit, Mark Tempany, and Alison Hams, “SA Awards – Male Vocal Winner” Darin Warner, Rick ‘Roy Orbison’ Diamond, Gary Burrows, Shane Teinaki, Peter Warner, The Sherrahs, Bob Magor, Olive Bice, Chris ‘Truckin’ Stevens, SA Festival Band, Fully Loaded, Winchester, Frank Sargent, Vic Sturgeon, Gummy Bill, Bill Bedford, and lots more
Throughout these ten days there are many venues that are held at all different types of places like cafes, parks, hotels, clubs, theatres, halls, and concert centres. Most venues are free with a gold coin donation, however, some do require a fee.
To learn more about this festival check out the website – 2008 South Australian Country Music Festival and Awards
-Natalie Boyce
