Fancy High tea with Maggie Beer, a chat with Australian literary icon David Malouf, a blues session with Tim Griffin, William Barton on didgeridoo? Introducing FESTIVAL GARDEN: the (second) beating heart of the Australian Festival.
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) just got even better: announcing FESTIVAL GARDEN, the beating heart of the AFCM, which for nine days and nights will come alive in the parkland beside the Townsville Civic Theatre in a celebration of food, wine and music, and so much more!
FESTIVAL GARDEN is a new addition to the AFCM, created by Artistic Director Jack Liebeck as a place for festival goers and music lovers to gather, meet musicians, savour local food and wine, enjoy on-stage conversations with some of the country’s leading cultural identities, be entertained with a variety of concerts and presentations and soak up the sounds of paradise. In even better news, most Festival Garden events are free.
The hugely exciting addition to the AFCM will see an enchanting garden created, home to formal and informal concerts and entertaining performances and pre- and post-concert gatherings.
The full program has been released today and includes a fantastic range of experiences, including High Tea with Maggie Beer hosted by ABC Classic’s Damien Beaumont talking about her love of music and food, concerts by a range of outstanding local and national ensembles and jazz trios, Australia’s famed didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton performing with the Wulgurukaba Walkabout Dancers, Conversations with the Goldner String Quartet talking 25 years of performance and also with Australian literary icon David Malouf, jazz from one of the country’s leading masters in Mike Rivett, a screening of the Antarctica Suite, with the epic score by Nigel Westlake, and even a Little Egypt Speakeasy!!
The 31st AFCM boasts 32 events, 33 world class artists including five international and 28 Australian musicians, and three major new festival experiences including Guilty Pleasures, AFCM Illuminates and the Festival Garden. AFCM opens with three powerful world premieres over the first three days, part of a stunning line-up of over 130 works in total, to be staged from 29 July to 7 August in Townsville.
Where: Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville Civic Theatre
When: 29 July to 7 August 2022 in Townsville, North Queensland
ALL tickets at www.afcm.com.au
