A decade on for local festival

The Dukes of Despair hard at rehearsal.

By Jed Lanyon

The Healesville Music Festival is gearing up to take over the Yarra Valley once more when it celebrates its 10th anniversary this November.

Featuring the incredible talent of local, interstate and international artists, the 2019 Festival line-up includes Mick Thomas and The Roving Commission, Grim Fawkner, The Royal High Jinx, This Way North, Great Aunt, Scott Cook, Rich Davies and The Low Road and many more.

Local favourites the Dukes of Despair will be re-uniting for a one-off show to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival.

Lead singer and guitarist Jeff Jenkins said that the Dukes of Despair played at the first festival.

“There was a great deal of excitement and a great deal of energy. These things really bring the community together,” he said.

Mr Jenkins said he’s looking forward to bringing the band back together after playing their last show in Yarra Glen in 2016.

“It’s just going to bring a fair amount of joy to a lot of people. We had a good following for a while so they’ll get a real kick out of it, as will we.

“We’ve only had a few rehearsals and the muscle memory just kicked in, it was so good.

“It’s all there, it’s all coming back to us really quickly and easily,” Mr Jenkins said.

A festival will be a celebration of community in the Yarra Valley and will feature delicious food and wine from the region, glamping, morning yoga, festival tent for kids as well as free entry to pop up artistic performances across the town.

Healesville Music Festival is an all-ages, all-access, cross-cultural event that kicks off on Friday 15 November until Sunday 17 November at Healesville Racecourse.

For more information and for tickets, visit https://www.healesvillemusicfestival.com.au/.