February 7th, 2025Scottish duo returning to CresFest

Celebrated Scottish duo Chris Stout and Catriona McKay are returning to CesFest this April, bringing their “emotional music of stark beauty and driving energy” to multiple festival stages across the town.

Chris and Catriona take the most traditional of Scottish instruments, fiddle and harp, and create glorious soundscapes and music of breathtaking simplicity.

Voted best instrumental duo at the BBC Folk Awards 2018, they have delighted audiences all over the world with their unique sound.

Ahead of the upcoming April 4-6 festival organisers say their new programming strategy means festival-goers will get five chances to see them in action.

Releasing the full festival program grid over the past weekend, festival co-director Judy Turner says an aim for this year’s festial is to feature more stages.

“We’re resolving to bring you more stages, more comedy (like Tuckshop Ladies) more crowd participation, more street and kids stuff, more Big Things to finish the festival and more food,” Ms Turner said.

Alongside the many featured, visiting and headliner acts, the festival team is encouraging talented locals to enter the annual festival busking competition.

“Once again the generous folk at Creswick IGA have sponsored our busking competition and we are seeking talented players who are not on the main bill, but who reckon they’e got something pretty special to offer,” Ms Turner says.

“This year (will be) convened and judged by a team led by Jen Hawley (the brilliant guitarist from The Royal High Jinx).

“We are offering three prizes and the chance to perform on Rosie the Caravan Stage, with the ultimate winner doing a cameo at the Town Hall on Sunday at 3pm, supporting the multi-award winnning act The Maes.”

Full festival details, including the new program grid can be found on the festival website https://cresfest.com.au/.

Words: Eve Lamb. Image: Supplied