The 2019 Four Winds Easter Festival is fast approaching. There is an incredible amount of activity happening in and around Bermagui, in addition to the celebrated Easter Saturday and Sunday Sound Shell events taking place at the Four Winds Festival site ‘Nature’s Concert Hall’
Enjoy music from morning to late afternoon in the Sound Shell complemented by stunning recitals in the Windsong Pavilion. The program in the Sound Shell encompasses world music, jazz and classical music – sometimes together! Musicians from Australia and overseas will be performing in small ensembles as well as coming together to form an orchestra as part of Sunday’s ‘Beethoven in the Bush’ gala performance. It’s truly impressive that Four Winds brings international artists such as Viennese pianist Stefan Vladar to perform at the Festival – for his only performances in Australia in 2019.
James Crabb, Artistic Director says ‘the program for the Festival is certainly more diverse this year and I am particularly pleased that we have so many events happening in Bermagui and surrounds, reaching from Tilba to Tanja!’
It’s true that there is more opportunity than ever to hear some great music this Easter. Following House Concerts in Wapengo and Tanja, as well as a world music gig in Tilba, large-scale events at the Festival kick-off on Easter Friday with a free event on the Dickinson Oval, which is taking its inspiration from Lady Jane…a disused Bermagui Fishing Boat. It will feature original music by celebrated singer-songwriter and composer Eliza Hull, who will also be performing live. You will hear stories from the Yuin Community and see the Gulaga Dancers perform at the opening of the event. Many musicians who are in Bermagui for the Festival will join the performance, which will also feature local dancers who are creating work especially for this event, led by Tathra based choreographer Lee Pemberton.
Other innovations include a Children’s Concert in the Community Centre on Easter Friday morning inspired by Banjo Patterson's book Mulga Bill’s Bicycle. It promises to be vibrant, madcap musical reinterpretation of this much loved children’s picture book. The performance is aimed at primary school aged children but will apparently appeal to anyone connected with their inner child…
After Dark events bring the Festival to the Surf Club on Easter Saturday and Sunday evenings. Sitar master ‘Sarangan‘ provides the focus for a world-music inspired collaboration on Saturday, whilst Narooma folk band ‘Malumba’ perform on Sunday evening before hosting a folk session for anyone who wants to bring their instrument and play along. There will be a bar as well as food available at these gigs, provided by the wonderful Kelly Eastwood. The Surf Club is also hosting two early morning yoga sessions which features the sublime sounds of the Japanese Bamboo flute – the perfect way to get into a day of music.
6 free pop-up performances in locations around town happen throughout the weekend; everything from a choir to a solo percussionist, from a singer-songwriter at the hotel to piano duets. The Festival promises to take its audiences on a voyage of discovery…there’s no doubt that in 2019 there are plenty of opportunities to join the adventure!
Four Winds 2019 Easter Festival
Discover | Music In Nature
Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 April 2019
Bermagui and surrounds, Far South Coast, NSW
