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The number and range of festivals in central Victoria means there is something suited to every one.
Blues, rock, pop and folk music all appear on the festival calendar along side events for with writers, artists and film buffs.
From the Newstead Live festival in January through to the Bendigo Easter Festival, Groovin the Moo and the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival, central Victorians are certainly spoiled for choice throughout the whole year.
The BBRMF is a completely volunteer-run festival that has become a staple of the Bendigo event calendar.
It regularly features more than 120 performers at 30 venues over four days and is the brainchild of Colin Thompson.
More than 12 months of planning goes into each festival with fundraisers and showcases are held throughout the year, showing how much the community has embraced this festival.
"I can’t believe how big it is in hindsight," Mr Thompson said.
"We are a community festival but we punch well above our weight.
"It's a cultural venture run by volunteers. The acts we attract know that, want to work with us and be a part of it."
Like the BBRMF, the Bendigo Internation Festival of Exploratory Music has grown from humble beginnings.
Founder and BIFEM artistic director David Chisholm said a great response to a “pre-festival” got the organisers excited.
He had also seen the BBRMF growing and recognised the timing for something new was perfect.
“We knew Colin was doing great work with the blues festival and it seemed like festival gold rush,” Chisholm said.
“There was a lot happening and, more importantly, the openness of people across whole city was really refreshing.”
Chisholm is based in Footscray so has been on both sides of the glass at festival – as a punter and an organiser.
“I don’t think it is good to do stuff from outside (the city) but there is great growth,” he said.
“When you see things like Ulumbarra (opened) it inspires people to want to do things.
“We looked at the opening as a real turning point. We look at that facility and see people embracing it. When people embrace cultural hubs, they embrace (festivals).”
The passion of Bendigo performers and arts and entertainment lovers was also evident early on in BIFEM’s life.
“Bendigo really reinvented itself under cultural tourism. You only have to look around and see there are three chorales, an orchestra, brass bands, the blues and roots festival and a lot of week-to-week activities,” Chisholm said.
“It is a musical city that actively makes stuff. Even musicals that the theatres companies do are impressive. There was a whole bunch of activities, so (BIFEM) seemed a natural fit.”
In his research into Bendigo’s musical scene, Chisholm said he saw as much as he could in the region.
“The year we were up there we saw as much as we could see, we went to get a sense of vibe,” he said.
“And you don’t have to venture far to know where something is going on.
“The people play in the orchestra or sing in the choirs might be amateur but they are amateur in the very best sense of the word. They are full of passion.”
The success of BIFEM has helped put Bendigo on the map with Chisholm getting recognition internationally.
“It has been mutually beneficial. A lot of younger students now travel to Bendigo for the festival,” he said.
“What was really reassuring was when we were invited to be Australian representatives at a conference in Paris and people knew about the Bendigo festival.
“Bendigo gifted us with a strong profile. We now get emails saying people (from overseas) are interested in the festival.”
Now in its third year, Chisholm see he was delighted to see more people coming to BIFEM.
“We want people to come and see what we are about and make their own opinions,” he said.
“I’m delighted (BIFEM) has had such a good uptake. Even if it’s not for them, people don’t think it shouldn't be here.”
Outside of Bendigo, the Echuca Riverboats, Maldon Folk and Kyneton Music festivals have continued their strong growth while the biennial Castlemaine State Festival continues its impressive reputation every two years.
Last year the Castlemaine State Festival had 30,000 visitors over the 10 days it celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Festival director Martin Paten will put together his fifth festival when it returns in 2017.
“Celebrating our 40th anniversary and to be around for that long. Clearly the festival is an important part of the town,” Paten said.
“A festival that will be embraced by the town has to involved the town.
“We involve younger and older people, businesses and community groups. But more importantly, the festival really is an expression of (the town’s) culture.”
Paten said strong, traditional festivals that have been around for decades often have something really unique.
“It attracts people for a unique experience. It tells stories of itself and people,” he said.
The biennial festival takes two years to carefully plan and raise support and resources.
“It involves so many people that if we did it every year it would be asking too much of people,” Paten said.
“Also, having it every two years adds a real sense of excitement and anticipation. For us it is about having that excitement build up.”
Having been directed four festivals, Paten said he had seen Castlemaine and surrounding regions change and evolve.
“The festival is part of the changing landscape,” he said.
“We always use completely different venues as well as some that are part of the classical history (of the area and town).
“They are often venues that have never been open to the public before.”
This year’s festival saw the Castlemaine Woollen Mills used as a backdrop for many events and performances.
“That wasn’t (available) a few years ago and we are able to enliven spaces like that,” Paten said.
“There are also more and more organisations getting involved as well as all the schools in the area. We had more than 2000 students and aspiring artists as part of the festival.
“We have had people come and say ‘we want to live here’ because they know the town has a festival like this and is adventurous.”
