This September Dallas Frasca, Jeff Curran and Sharon Brooks will set up camp at Mary Valley in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland for three days of rock, blues and culinary delights. We chat to James Budgen, Mitchell Creek Rock and Blues Festival's Event Coordinator about how the event came to fruition, why offering free camping and tagging it BYO has only added to their success, and what uninitiated punters can look forward to.
It’s commonly known that Australia’s festival market is saturated, why did you launch the Mitchell Creek Rock and Blues Festival last year?
A few reasons, one being we believe the current festival market is overpriced and out of a lot of people’s reach so we wanted to offer patrons something they can afford
How did the Rock and Blues Festival come about?
Some very talented local music artists had their original venue demolished due to safety reasons so it was decided to offer this unique private 100-acre property to host an event. After which, due to popular demand we had many requests to keep the festival going on a yearly basis.
What is it about a regional festival that attracted you in the first place?
We wanted to do this for many years to host a country event where the patrons come to enjoy and relax, and forget about everyday life in a very unique private setting.
What should uninitiated punters know about the ethos behind Rock and Blues?
We promise that the particular character and power of this music will influence the listener's emotions, behaviors, and even morals to create a memory never to forget.
The past two years have been challenging for festival promoters in Australia, yet you've extended the length to three days and added an extra stage, how do you offset the risks associated with putting on an event such as Rock and Blues?
We simply have made the event affordable to patrons and we are gaining patrons support and trust for doing so. [Regional newspaper] The Bush Telegraph is an amazing thing, based on current ticket sales the festival has national support from Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Bryon, Birdsville, the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and everywhere between.
Does a flooded marketplace make it easier or more difficult for you as a newcomer?
We have been actively involved with festivals over the years so we are offering something no one else does: affordable entry, free camping, BYO and beautiful food in an inspirational setting.
A BYO festival with free camping is a rarity in Australia, what else sets you apart from the masses?
The Patrons are treated as VIP guests and we have on offer quality, tasty food; we are catering affordable meals with a focus on quality, supported by the local farmers produce and country bake delights at a very affordable price. Let us cook and clean up for you and enjoy the weekend!
The festival is set in a unique, beautiful private valley. It’s your home for the long weekend and you can explore the majestic mountains and meandering creek below.
Mitchell Creek Rock and Blues Festival takes place from September 20-22 this year.
