The 2023 Castlemaine State Festival continues this weekend with a wide array of shows, exhibitions and events to suit festival goers of all ages and interests.
Tonight, Thursday April 6, catch Vanessa Wawruszak, James Ellis and the Jealous Guys at they present ‘The Dolly Parton Experience’ under the Western Reserve Big Top from 8pm.
Ain’t nuthin’ but a knees up going on at the Big Top, courtesy of the top purveyors of honky-tonk and Americana.
Outside of this 9-5, the Jealous Guys have released two albums: It Ain’t Texas (But It Ain’t Bad) which won The Age Music Victoria Award for Best Country Album and Country Lion and Wawruszak plays prolifically in Melbourne. In the past they’ve collaborated on a Merle Haggard-themed live show and this time they celebrate country music royalty – Dolly Parton.
Who is Dolly Parton? In the 1960s, she was the Nashville “girl singer” with the big, blonde hair. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was a country-turned-pop superstar. Today, she’s a business woman, philanthropist and global icon.
Common among all these versions of Dolly Parton are her incredible gifts as singer, songwriter and musician.
Saturday April 8 local favourite Dallas Woods, a Noongar man raised in East Kimberley, known for his truth bombs and speed-rapping will feature under the big top. His track ‘Heaven of My Own’ has had a million streams and counting.
Woods’ set will be followed by a mesmerising performance by Electric Fields. People who saw their gigs or early showcase at Big Sounds simply could not stop talking about the astonishing vocals of Zaachariaha Fielding and epic electronica of producer Michael Ross. They’ve been described as “Daft Punk meets Nina Simone in the Deep Forest”.
Both these shows have been proudly supported by The Bridge Castlemaine and will be followed by an After Parties in the Big Top Foyer so you can continue the celebration after the show ends. For tickets and more festival events visit castlemainefestival.com.au
