Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery helped promote the Honk! Oz street music festival on Friday, ahead of next January’s event.
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The Con Artists jazz band were also on hand at the official launch in Wollongong’s Crown Street Mall, giving the public a taste of what’s to come.
The free festival will feature big bands, workshops, international musicians and a street parade from January 8 to 12. Venues will include the Arts Precinct, Wollongong Town Hall, Conservatorium and the mall.
Spokesman Garry Hoban believes Wollongong is the only Australian city to run such a community festival, which he said would not happen without volunteers and community participation.
“This is about getting the music onto the streets and out of the concert hall,” Hoban said.
“If people want to be in the bands – there are workshops for adults and kids.”
This will be the fifth year for Honk! Oz which is modeled on similar festivals held in the US and South America.
It was originally the brainchild of Lotte Latukefu in 2014 who wanted to celebrate Wollongong’s public spaces while blurring the lines between audience members and participation.
For more information regarding the program and workshops visit: www.honkfest.org.au