CRESFEST 2023, March 31 – 2 April 2
Creswick, Victoria
By Chris Lambie
When major events grow too big and busy for some, smaller community-led gatherings provide an affordable user-friendly alternative. The CresFest folk & roots festival is one such affair in the Central Victorian goldfields town of Creswick. In just its second year, CresFest offered talent and treats aplenty. The autumn sun was shining, the locals welcoming and cheerful. A true sense of community spread across the township.
CresFest’s 15 stages presented local, national and international artists. Venues included halls, pubs, the courthouse and outdoor stages. There were also workshops, market stalls, kids’ activities, conversations, heritage walks and buskers. Beautifully painted canvas backdrops brought images of the Dja Dja Wurrung bushland to the stages.
My plans to attend all three days went awry. But a brilliant Sunday program made up for what I’d missed. Among the line-up across the weekend: Archer, Charm of Finches, Bush Gothic, Fred Smith, Greg Champion, Kavisha Mazzella, Kutcha Edwards, Lucy Wise, Monique Clare, Melbourne Scottish Fidlers, Martha Spencer, Ruth Hazelton and The Weeping Willows.
Sunday highlights included alt-folk, Celtic, roots and global elements. In partnership with The Boite, World Music was represented by Misagh Zamani (Iran), Vinod Kumar Prasanna & Leo Dale (India), Sanacori(Italy) With further influences from around the planet were Vikaye, Yi-Lynn, Tenzin Choegyal and Valanga Khoza.
The latter led a community choir with festival-goers invited to attend rehearsals and join in Sunday’s performance. An uplifting and joyous tonic. Instrumental ensemble Gusto Gusto hail from West Preston. The coming together of brass, woodwind, strings, rhythm section and accordion got punters dancing. The young musicians clearly relish sharing their vibrant mix of funky fusion with hints of Klezmer and jazz. Skyscraper Stan, appeared in solo format. In his distinctive evocative baritone, Stan delivered fan favourites including ‘Man Misunderstood’ and ‘I Fell Over’.
The sublime songcraft of Melbourne’s Cat Canteri ideally suited the nostalgic parlour vibe in an upstairs pub room. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has a natural way of letting her audiences feel ‘at home’. Upbeat songs inspire the warm-fuzzies and tapping feet. So too, in the history-filled room, she shared darker tales of personal struggles and troubled souls she has known. Her intimate, accessible stories always leave the listener with something to think about. Canteri’s guitar playing was seamless and emotive. Her trademark understated vocals divine. The sound in the room was outstanding, showing off her voice superbly. She gave a shout out to her mate at the desk. Kudos from me too!
Daughter of renowned Irish musician John, Maggie Carty fronted her own Australia-based band of fine players. From four generations of musicians, the banjo player and singer was accompanied by flute, guitar, double bass and percussion with Rhys Crimmin on harmonica and didgeridoo. The tradition of Irish reels was tweaked into twisted folk for the 21st century. I was disappointed to see the ‘Full House’ sign out at the courthouse for Fred Smith’s ‘Sparrows of Kabul’ concert. The same happened for Valanga Khoza’s workshop with the choir – although latecomers could still listen outside with coffee and bao buns in hand.
The Jawa Pitu Band infused their killer Sunday set with infectious rhythm and joy. With two beaming women sharing lead vocals and dance moves, they blended old with new, east with west. The array of instruments and unique fusion encompassed contemporary soul with dangdut music influences (Indonesian gamelan, Hindustani, Malay and Arabic). The bass player’s hand-carved instrument was a fitting thing of beauty.
The streets of Creswick were indeed alive with the sound of music, laughter, applause, keen volunteers and the occasional outbreak of Morris dancing. Organisers have managed to nail a winning formula in record time.