September 9th, 2023CresFest 2023 named finalist in Australian Folk Music Awards

Creswick is celebrating after its comparatively new home-grown folk music festival CresFest was announced as a finalist in the prestigious Australian Folk Music Awards.

The annual festival has been announced among the 2023 finalists in the category Community/Cultural Project of the Year.

The finalists were announced on Friday 1 September and Judy Turner, Director of CresFest said that the news is “a wonderful way to welcome in spring”.

“The whole CresFest team is so excited to learn of our inclusion in this year’s awards. We are certainly up against some excellent competition and are proud to be counted amongst other great contenders.”

CresFest 2023 showcased over 300 musicians over three days from 31 March – 2 April. With upwards of 2000 ticket holders who enjoyed 150 paid and free performances of folk and roots music, Creswick was alive with enthusiastic performers, volunteers, locals and, of course, visitors.

CresFest 2023 introduced new initiatives to complement the vocal and instrumental performances. They included Light Up Creswick, in partnership with the Bendigo Bank, where performance electrician Gary Miles lit up the historic buildings; at the Courthouse in depth conversations with writers, musicians and artists; workshops and fun events at the Creswick Woollen Mills, University of Melbourne and the Creswick IGA.

“It’s interesting to note that many of the finalists in other categories all performed at CresFest 2023. This clearly demonstrates that CresFest is hitting the right mark with its line-up of amazing musicians. And CresFest 2024 is going to be just as exciting,” Ms Turner said.

A panel of judges from around Australia selected the entries and the announcement of the nine winners from all categories will be made On Wednesday 25 October in Melbourne.