Foodbowl Music Festival
Numurkah October 17-19, 2008
Numurkah isn’t just the centre of Victoria’s Foodbowl – where 30% of the state’s agricultural goods are produced.
It’s also the hub of a vibrant musical scene – a community where decades-old choral societies and brass bands thrive alongside pub rock bands, bush bands, acoustic groups, instrumental ensembles, and even the odd heavy metal band.
From October 17 to 19, the heart of Victoria’s Foodbowl will put on a festival that will have music lovers – regardless of their musical leaning - licking their lips and tapping their toes in delight.
Whether they come from just down the road, or from the state’s capital, musical groups will gather in Numurkah, in the spirit of friendship, mutual appreciation and support for one of the state’s most drought-affected communities, to perform at the best venues the Foodbowl has to offer.
Throughout the weekend, festival goers will not only have the opportunity to take in a variety of genres of music, performed by some of the most talented musicians the state has to offer, but will also gain an understanding of the important food production activities that are performed in the Foodbowl district.
2008 is the first year the Foodbowl Music Festival will be run. It was an idea conceived by members of the Numurkah community, and has been enthusiastically taken up as an annual project by the Numurkah and District Tourism Association, an incorporated, non-profit organisation.
Schedule
The festival program of events can be downloaded here.
Festival Passes
- Day pass (entitling the holder to entrance to festival performances on Saturday OR Sunday) $10
- Weekend pass (entitling the holder to entry to festival performances on Saturday AND Sunday) $15
Festival passes will only be available for purchase from the Numurkah Visitor Information Centre from October 13, and throughout the festival weekend. Cash purchases only.
Who's coming this year
Click here to see a list of bands that are coming this year. Watch this space as we are continually adding new bands!
Venues
Numurkah is home to a charming array of venues, which will host musicians and bands throughout the Foodbowl Music Festival. These include:
- Numurkah Senior Citizens clubrooms (corner of Knox and McCaskill Street)
- Numurkah Town Band Hall (McCaskill Street)
- Telegraph Hotel (Melville Street)
- Numurkah Hotel (corner of Melville and Quinn Street)
- Shamrock Hotel (corner of Melville and Saxton Street)
- Newman Square (town square, Melville Street)
(Please refer to the map on the Numurkah and District Tourism Association.)
Accommodation
Numurkah and the surrounding district boasts a host of accommodation available to visitors of all budgets and tastes, with bed and breakfasts, caravan parks, motels, hotels and resort-style lodging on offer. Accommodation is available in neighbouring towns, many of which can be reached in five to 15 minutes by car. These towns include Strathmerton, Nathalia, Katunga, Wunghnu and Katamatite. Accommodation can also be found in the regional city of Shepparton, which is a 20-minute drive from Numurkah
For specific accommodation information, see the Accommodation page of the Numurkah and District Tourism Association website.
Finding your way
Numurkah is located approximately two and a half hours north of Melbourne, 20 minutes north of the regional city of Shepparton.
The town of Numurkah provides the perfect setting for the Foodbowl Music Festival, with all venues situated in very close proximity to each other in the town centre.
Visitors can easily walk about the town, or take advantage of the town’s free car parking spaces.
The Numurkah Visitor Information Centre, located on the corner of Melville Street (the main street) and Knox Street is both easy to spot, and ideally located to assist visitors with all enquiries. The information centre will be open all festival weekend.
What about food?
YOU’RE IN LUCK! You’re coming to the Foodbowl!
Dining and local produce sampling options are abundant in the region. Not only can visitors can find a host of great eateries in the town centre, with each of the pubs offering lunch and dinner, as well as the golf club bistro, several cafes and fish and chip shops, the surrounding district is home to a number of food producers and farm gate businesses.
Whether you are interested in tasting local wine, cheese, fruit, meat products, nuts, olives and olive oil, you’re sure to find something to please the palate. Visit the Numurkah Visitor Information Centre, or check out the Numurkah and District Tourism Association website to find out more!
Want to perform?
Foodbowl Music Festival performer registration information
Performers will be allocated 45-minute sets in a range of venues throughout the town, and will be offered meals and free festival passes in exchange for their performances. (Please note the festival committee will not pay musicians to perform.)
To register as a Foodbowl Music Festival performer, please email foodbowlmusicfestival@gmail.com, or call Lauren on 0400 260 114 to get a registration form. This form can be returned by email, or mailed to “Foodbowl Music Festival”, 1 Jubilee Street, Numurkah, VIC 3636. Registrations must be received by August 8, 2008, and will be
For those performers seeking assistance with accommodation, there is the potential for the Numurkah and District Tourism Association to organise billet-style lodging with a local family. However, these opportunities are only available on a “first in, best dressed” basis. Please email foodbowlmusicfestival@gmail.com or call Lauren on 0400 260 114 to find out whether billet accommodation is still available.