MEDIA RELEASE - Jannali Moonrise Festival: A Celebration of the Place, People and Performances
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend as Sutherland Shire Council proudly presents the inaugural Jannali Moonrise Festival, a vibrant two-day event featuring a jam-packed line-up of talented local musos, family entertainment, immersive cultural workshops, a bustling array of market-stalls and local business activations.
This Moonrise Festival is set to transform Box Road, Jannali, into a buzzing hub of live music, entertainment and culture, offering a range of cuisines and family-friendly fun, catering to people of all ages.
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Jack Boyd, shared his enthusiasm for what is shaping to be a fantastic community festival.
“The Jannali Moonrise Festival will be an extraordinary community event, showcasing local music talent, food, businesses and so much more,” Mayor Boyd said.
“This festival will not only draw in the crowds to fill the streets with excitement over the weekend but will also leave a lasting impact with Council installing new public artworks and street lighting to permanently enliven the Jannali centre.”
“Council was able to bring this new event to life thanks to a generous $150,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program. We thank the NSW government for its commitment to activating town centres across NSW, supporting local economies through exciting activations for locals and visitors to enjoy.”
Minister for Roads, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy, Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
“We’re excited to support this event in Jannali.
“Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our streets are a critical part of our public and social infrastructure. Great streets make great towns and centres and reflect the local community and culture.
“The Open Streets program is about temporarily transforming our main streets into vibrant and welcoming public event spaces.
“The colour and diversity of these 130 events celebrates the unique personality of each town or suburb. This is what our vibrancy agenda is all about, backing locals to create events and entertainment that works for their local community.”
The festivities will begin on Friday with a stunning First Nations cultural ceremony, cultural workshops, live music from acclaimed First Nations songstress Evie J and Tamworth Golden Guitar winner, Luke O’Shea, roving fire dancers, glow stilt walkers, a silent lane way disco and a variety of delicious food stalls.
The festival concept was developed in partnership with Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation, a collaboration which gave rise to the name ‘Moonrise Festival’.
“The Moonrise Festival coincides with the November new moon, not only symbolising new beginnings but other significant cultural representations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture,” Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporations Chair, Aunt Deanna Schreiber, said.
“It’s the perfect time for the community to come together, celebrate, and embrace a fresh start for Jannali.”
Saturday’s activities will include a diverse line-up of live music, dance performances from local musos, as well as a Katy Perry and Taylor Swift tribute show. Families can look forward to a dedicated kid’s zone, meet-and-greet with Bluey, a pop-up library, art experiences from Hazelhurst, reptile displays, face painting and more.
Another highlight of the festival is the permanent installation of two new murals by renowned local artist ‘Mulga’ – otherwise known as Joel Moore, adorning Box Lane and Quessy Lane West. These colourful, vibrant murals will incorporate the moonrise theme.
Local talent will be in the spotlight, with performances from country artist Craig Woodward and emerging Alt-country singer songwriter Hayden Phillis, a Jannali High School student who will perform his debut single Broken Angel at the festival, which officially releases on Friday 1 November.
“It’s an incredible feeling to perform for the local community and to familiar faces,” Hayden said.
“Growing up in Como, I’ve always been surrounded by the support of friends and family, and I’m honoured to share my music at this amazing event alongside leading local musical talent.”
Local businesses will be offering special promotions and activations including tastings from local distilleries, competitions and exclusive deals for those who attend the festivities.
When:
Friday 1 November - 4pm to 9pm,
Saturday 2 November - 9am to 5pm
For more information and the full festival program, visit Jannali Moonrise Festival.