VANFEST is fast becoming an event not to be missed with the announcement that Australian artists Chet Faker and Matt Corby will be the headline acts for the first music festival in the central west.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two powerhouses of Australian music – electronica and trip-hop crooner Chet Faker and indie rock and folk songster Matt Corby - are jumping on the Van-wagon, along with an impressive, all-Australian line-up of musicians from a diverse and eclectic range of genres.
“We’re going to rev Forbes right up,” VANFEST co-organiser and owner of the Vandenberg Hotel in Forbes, Grant Clifton said.
“It’s going to blow your mind.”
Grant and his son Matt, who owns and runs Donny’s Bar in Manly, are thrilled with the line-up for the festival, to be held at Forbes Showground on Saturday, December 6.
“Dad and I are blown away that musicians of the calibre of Chet Faker and Matt Corby are getting set to come along and play in Forbes for VANFEST,” Matt said.
“I can’t wait to bring the party to Forbes, where the locals have never really been able to enjoy these kinds of musical acts so close to home.”
Another exciting edition to the star-studded line-up are Australian dance icons Sneaky Sound System, who will join Bag Raiders and Van She, who have already been announced.
“Sneaky Sound System is going to pump everyone up… they’ll send us straight into Christmas,” Grant said.
Forbes’ very own Celia Pavey will be making a grand homecoming by joining the stellar line-up, which is perfect timing after the release of her latest EP Bodies.
Matt Clifton said Celia is an excellent addition to the line-up.
“It was always going to be a line-up supporting locals and this is a great opportunity for her [Celia] to come home,” he said.
Other acts announced today are rapper Allday, whose debut album recently landed the number three spot on the ARIA Albums chart and hot band of the minute OXBLVD, who will be bringing their unique style of swamp rock and foot-stomping Delta blues.
Melbourne-based garage rockers and festival regulars, British India are another popular act to be joining the VANFEST line-up, fresh from their national tour with rock legends, The Rolling Stones.
House DJs will also be joining the artists, creating the biggest party ever seen in the central west.
Matt Clifton said the aim for the very first VANFEST was to keep the style of artists broad to appeal to a wide demographic.
“When you’re designing a line-up you know what you want to get to create a buzz,” he said.
“We’re not trying to hit a niche – there’s a little bit of something here for everyone.”
Matt said all of the acts are very keen to come to Forbes for the event.
“Everyone’s excited to come out to the west,” he said.
“There’s not many chances for them to come out this way and it’s a great opportunity for them.”
While the line-up is enough to appeal to the masses, Matt said VANFEST is not just about the music.
“There’ll be plenty of other entertainment for families, such as art installations - it’s not just revolving around music,” he said.
“It’s open to all ages – there’s plenty of 16 to 18-year-olds who are right into these acts, so if we don’t include them, we’d be cutting out a very large demographic.”
The Cliftons estimate that VANFEST will draw crowds in the thousands, with about 8000 to 10,000 people expected.
Matt referenced other events in the central west such as the Triple J One Night Stand, which draws crowds of between 15,000 to 27,000, Keith Urban sold 12,500 tickets in Narrabri in 2014, Shannon Noll sold 8500 tickets in Condobolin in 2004, Parkes Elvis Festival brings over 20,000 people each year and the Forbes Rodeo drew 5500 people earlier this year.
With the nine top Australian artists announced in this line-up, VANFEST could well top some of these figures.