Utribe festival hits the Sunshine Coast Hinterland

6 August 2009 by Lisa Mora

If you're a muso trying to make it in the industry you probably kinow how challenging it can be at first to land yourself that all important first live gig. Maybe you've been basking for a while, and had a few pub gigs, but how do you get that all-important big break? Who will offer you the opportunity to reach the thousands of fans you are sure you could make if they could just hear you play?

The answer lies in the festival scene. Here big names mingle with newcomers and those who have come to see the headliners will finally have the chance to see you play live too. This year sees the birth of a brand new festival for the Sunshine Coast Hinterland; Utribe Festival. Taking place just down the road from the former Maleny Folk Festival which in 1994 outgrew the town, moved to Woodford and became the Woodford Folk Festival, the creation of this festival has been eagerly welcomed by hinterland businesses, residents and especially local musicians.

One of the aims of the Utribe Festival is to open doors for up and coming Sunshine Coast musos by creating an opportunity to play to a receptive crowd in a festival setting. The call out for local acts has been enthusiastically received by the newly established Music Association of the Sunshine Coast (MASC) who will have a stage at the festival and the line-up is now completely full.  If you are a musician who would like to be a part of the Utribe Festival in future years, organisers would encourage you to grab your instrument, buy a ticket and come along anyway. There will be jamming opportunities every day and performing acts have been encouraged to get in and play with the lesser known acts. You might even have the chance to jam alongside Ash Grunwald, the Toothfaeries, Red Eyes or Tijuana Cartel.

With an emphasis on unity, united intentions and unified consciousness, the Utribe Festival is about sharing our gifts and talents with each other to create one unified tribe - Utribe.

The festival takes place on the weekend of September 25-27th at Green Park, Conondale which is ten minutes down the road from Maleny in the gorgeous Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Aside from the spectacular scenery and aweosme msuic line-up there will be three stages, a chai tent, market stalls, workshops and healing sessions, food stalls and on-site camping.

Organisers are especialy keen to emphasise that this is a family-friendly festival and will feature a special children's festival area with planty of fun activities and a jumping castle to keep the littlies well and truly entertained.

Tickets are available at the website www.utribe.org for $150+b/f  for three days with camping or $330 for a family pass for two adults and any number of kids under 18. Day passes are also available - check the website for details.

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