A first-ever children’s program, a record number of workshops, expanded jamming opportunities and a new wind-down community barbecue are the highlights of the 8th Girgarre Moosic Muster, coming up on January 11-13, 2013.
Free concerts and open mike sessions and more than 25 free workshops are on offer from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, along with free instrument loan.
The muster, where the only costs are for camping and food, offers bluegrass, folk, country, pop, gospel and contemporary acoustic music.
Girgarre is a small Victorian farming community located between the major centres of Echuca and Shepparton, 35km from each.
Now a fixture on the Victorian acoustic music scene, the muster last year achieved a 46 per cent growth rate, with 500 people attending workshops and greatly increased numbers staying over in tents and caravans.
- Primary-aged children this time will be able to enjoy guitar, ukulele, singing, dancing, poetry and instrument making with experienced leaders at their own venue at Girgarre Community Cottage on Saturday.
- Workshops – still being finalised – will cover guitar, banjo, mandolin, double bass, ukulele and violin, different playing styles, singing, traditional dancing and musical theory.
- Extra gathering places will be provided for the informal jamming that is regarded as one of the muster’s most enjoyable aspects.
- Yet another addition is a Sunday night wind-down community barbecue for both players and the public.
- Well-known bands and other expert players from the district, regional Victoria and Melbourne donate their time each year to teach and perform at the muster. Hundreds of people have been taught to play through the muster and its associated jamming events.
- Muster venue: The air-conditioned Girgarre hall and recreation reserve in Winter Road, and adjacent buildings.
- Food and hot and cold drinks will be available.
- Campers and caravanners can stay at the adjacent campground for only $50 per person or $20 per child under 14, which includes the site, a sausage sizzle, one dinner and breakfast per person and hot showers. The only booking needed is for a camp site (all unpowered).
To offset costs, a raffle will be held with quality instruments among the prizes. Another bonus is the Sunday morning Girgarre farmers’ market, where you can pick up the freshest of produce and the most delightful of country wares, right at the festival site.
The full program will be posted as soon as it is finalised on this website
The muster aids the Girgarre community, which has been hit by poor economic conditions and the recent Heinz factory closure.
Contact Details – to send a message or go to Contact Page Click Here.