SEVENTEEN country music artists will make their debut at this year's Mildura Country Music Festival.
Now in its 32nd year, the festival, from September 28-October 7, draws thousands of country music fans in the state's north-west.
One of the big three country music festivals alongside Tamworth and Gympie, Mildura's major point of difference is that it is Australia's biggest showcase of independent entertainers.
And with an ever-changing line-up of performers and plenty of activities to do on the side there's a reason people start booking their Mildura getaway early to coincide with this popular springtime festival.
Drawing on some of Australia's best country stars not signed to major record label deals, the event will be held over 10 days at 26 venues in Mildura and nearby towns including Wentworth, Merbein, Red Cliffs, Coomealla, Irymple, Buronga and Gol Gol.
More than 90 musicians will perform.
This year there will be shows every day at Mildura Airport and Mildura Holden Motor Museum. A new venue will be the Garden of Hope at Cabarita on the final Sunday of the festival.
The outdoor agenda will feature 10 days of entertainment in the Mildura City Mall and nine days at Country on the Darling on the Darling River at Wentworth.
The highlight of the festival will be the live concert and radio presentation of Southern Stars - The Australian Independent Country Music Awards, which recognise the achievements of Australian independent recording artists.
It will be held on Saturday October 8.
- For festival details, prices and accommodation suggestions (from camping and motels, to hotels and apartments) go to milduracountrymusic.com.au, 1800-039-043.
If you go...
OTHER things to do in Mildura:
- Mildura Arts Centre. Feed your creative spirit at this regional gallery, performing arts venue, historic house and sculpture park all rolled into one fabulous setting.
- Kings Billabong Nature Walk. Wander through this wildlife reserve and trace the beginnings of the vast irrigation system that turned Mildura into an oasis on the Murray.
- The Chaffey Trail. Trace the rich irrigation history and find out how the town became an irrigated oasis in the middle of an arid land and Australia's first irrigation colony. The Chaffey Trail is a self-guided tour of key heritage sites and buildings of the region.
- Connect with the Murray River's pioneering heritage aboard a historic paddlesteamer. Alternatively, captain your own houseboat to experience river life.
- Explore the sand hills of Mungo National Park, an ancient environment containing some of Australia's most significant Indigenous sites. It's here that remains of the earliest known humans to inhabit the Australian subcontinent have been found, dating back to nearly 40,000 years ago.
Getting there...
By road Mildura is about six hours from Melbourne, 11 hours from Sydney, four and a half from Adelaide and nine hours from Canberra. QantasLink, Virgin Australia and Regional Express operate daily return flights between Melbourne and Mildura. There are also daily direct flights from Sydney, Broken Hill and Adelaide.
