With a little over two weeks to go, excitement levels around this years’ top notch Rangebow Festival program are really starting to ramp up with festival volunteers in a flurry of activity ahead of the three-day community led celebration. Running across numerous event venues along the Blackall Range, the festival draws the communities of Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton together with a packed program of intriguing , joyful and creative events from Thursday August 10 through to Sunday August 13.
Festival Artistic director Skye Parker said she had found it particularly wonderful that following on from last year’s inaugural festival success; so many more people understood what the festival was really about and wanted to be involved. This year the festival team were looking to offer even more world-class experiences that would appeal to and entice more families, children, and younger people.
“People now realise we are a charity run, community-based creative festival and they embrace that we also have a social purpose that includes promoting inclusivity, diversity, sustainability, and reconciliation and that everything we do has to be part of that representation. We have a lot more support from volunteers this year coming onboard and with the festival date getting closer we are seeing even more conversation, talk and excitement in the community which is fantastic,” explained Skye.
Two new afternoon family and all ages friendly events were being premiered for 2023 at the festival’s Grand Marquee arena at Montville; the ‘Dreamland Pyjama Party’ on Friday August 11 and the ‘Plant and Party Music Festival’ on Saturday August 12.
Skye explained that the Dreamland Pyjama Party was basically a huge family event run in partnership with the award winning ‘Big Fish Little Fish’ DJ event collective that offered an all-ages friendly club and rave experience for people to enjoy alongside their children. Featuring an internationally renowned format that has been a sell-out hit around the world, the event is the real deal in the way it captures the thrill and excitement of an uplifting dance music club experience but one that allows all members of the family to come together on the dancefloor and enjoy professional DJ’s, lightshows, lasers and all the fun of an epic club experience cleverly captured in a three -hour afternoon timeslot.
“It’s not like a kids disco where you turn up and it’s going to be the Wiggles and people doing the macarena – it’s actual dance music by professional DJ’s that travel the planet but it’s for families -it’s awesome!” said Skye.
“We’ve timed the event from 3.30pm-6.30pm so people can pick their kids up from school, pop on their pj’s and come straight to the event – dance their hearts out for three hours and have lots of fun and then head home and collapse into bed at a reasonable hour ready to turnaround and come to our Plant and Party music festival the next day!”
Skye explained the ‘Plant and Party Music festival’ was also a special new drawcard which was a unique collaboration that initially evolved from conversations with Barung Landcare and discussions around reforesting the local area, and the need for a big all ages music festival here in the Hinterland that supported Queensland musicians.
“I was trying to create a big music festival and Barung were hoping to create a big tree planting event and so we decided to put the two together!” exclaimed Skye.
People are encouraged to head along to the music festival where they can enjoy an awesome musical lineup of both emerging and well-established big named bands from 10.30am-4pm and during the act changeovers, plant a tree in a specially prepared revegetation zone right next to the event Grand Marquee area.
“People can come along and plant a tree and feel good about themselves and then enjoy six hours of really kick-arse music. We’ve got some great bands and a cracking DJ playing; they’ve done the big festivals and major music events so they’ve got a great following and we are also trying to support our young emerging artists too,” said Skye.
“I love that we have Band of Frequencies, Thump and Rosa Mack all playing which all bring a big band presence with lots of artists on stage. The Hinterland does not always get the opportunity to hear this type of variety or get to experience this type of big band sound unless they travel off the hill or go to Brisbane – so we are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our community for an all-ages music festival experience right here on the Range,” said Skye.
Tickets for Plant and Party start at just $20 for students and concession card holders and to find out more or to book tickets to these or any of the events in what is a fabulously full and culturally creative festival of expression and inclusion head to https://www.therangebowfestival.org/
