It’s all systems go for the annual 2PK Parkes Country Music Festival 2013 – the 46th consecutive annual staging of a country music event in Parkes on the October long weekend.
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Five days of activities commencing Thursday, October 3 through to Monday 7th, will include a family muster social, festival concert, street busking, footpath concert, gala presentation of awards concert, poets breakfast, and Cooke Park walk-up talent quest.
There will also be two days of Central West CM Awards talent quest, the Champion Post Australian Country Talent Seekers Quest, free entertainment in the club lounge, gospel service, last roundup breakfast with all activities centered around the Parkes Services Club, Cooke Park and Clarinda street.
The Wayne Ryder Band from Goulburn will feature and provide backing for the major events.
Artists of the ilk of Amos Morris, Kel-Anne Brandt, Grant Luhrs, Leather & Lace duo, 2012 ACTS winner Kobie Midson, John Battle, Alan Neal, Garry Hemming, Barry (Elvis) Green, Paul Seals and Cil will combine with the best of amateur and semi-professional artists for a real smorgasbord of entertainment.
Great support has once again been forthcoming from Parkes businesses and individuals, the stage is set, now all that is required is support from the community to attend the events and for entries to flow in for the various quests.
A great opportunity is provided for local aspiring performers, musicians, songwriters and poets to take part, in what is regarded as one of the most prestigious and long running festival talent quests offering substantial prizemoney and trophies.
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Selected artists to perform
As a prelude to the fast approaching festival, a concert of selected artists will take place on Saturday, August 31 to help with fundraising for the talent quest sections of the festival.
For a number of years now, such a concert has been staged by the committee with the support of various musicians and artists who give their time freely to help country music and the aspiring performers that enter the various quests.
This concert will offer a top night of country variety performance by the following seven artists: Melissa Robertson (Cowra), Jayson Patrick O’Brien (Wellington), Judy Stevens (Orange), Steve Kelleher (Parkes district), Kerry Summerfield (Young), Stephen R. Cheney (Cowra) and Parkes’ own Barry Green.
Tickets are $10 for adults and children are free with all monies raised going directly to sponsorship of talent quest sections.
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Talented newcomer arrives in Parkes
Meanwhile some fifteen walk-up performers took part in the most recent muster conducted by Parkes CMA on August 4.
To participate they came from Orange, Forbes, Cowra and local Parkes performers with surprise performers being Rick Llambias from Ingleburn and new Parkes resident, Jim Williams.
Rick is well known in country music circles and perhaps best known locally as the leader of the band Vintage Four who provide backing for the Forbes and Illabo talent quests, an accomplised musician and singer.
Jim Williams is a very recent arrival in Parkes with his performance quickly establishing his talent as a singer/songwriter and immediately drawing the full attention of the audience.
Next muster will be festival eve, September 15.
