The Festival of Small Halls, renowned for bringing world-class music to regional and rural communities across Australia, is returning for its 41st tour this spring.
Ballandean Hall, on 6 October, will host this year’s lineup of Newfoundland musician Kellie Loder and the much-loved folk duo Van Dijk & McDonald.
The Spring Tour 2024: Outback Queensland, presented by veteran festival producers Woodfordia Inc., promises to be a musical journey through some of Queensland’s most picturesque and remote regions. Spanning twenty shows across four weeks, the tour will visit both new and returning communities.
Ballandean Hall, known for its rich history and strong community spirit, will serve as an intimate setting for this unique musical experience.
The hall, which has hosted numerous community events over the years, is expected to come alive with the sounds of folk and contemporary music as the Festival of Small Halls makes its way through the region.
Kellie Loder, who will be travelling to Australia for the first time, expressed her excitement about the upcoming tour.
“I am beyond excited to bring my music to Australia for the first time in my career. I’m so very grateful that I’ll be introduced to such a beautiful place through being a part of one of the greatest festivals there is,” Loder said.
Joining Loder on the tour are Van Dijk & McDonald, a folk duo known for their captivating performances and heartfelt tunes.
Reflecting on their past experiences with the festival, Jan Van Dijk shared, “It’s thrilling to be back on the road filled with such rich memories of previous tours. It’s the stories from the locals from each town that stick with you the most afterwards.
“There’s something wonderfully reciprocal in the act of travelling significant distances in order to share your music, and then when you get off stage being rewarded with such generously personal stories from audience members about themselves, the community, and the unique history of the surrounding lands.”
Conor McDonald, the other half of the duo, is eager to reconnect with regional audiences. Having had a brief taste of the tour during the Mt Mee anniversary celebrations, McDonald is looking forward to the journey ahead.
“He’s a well-initiated road dog himself and adores a good long meander across wide stretches of land. Likely to be one of the last ones up after the shows wind down, he looks forward to swapping tales into the night,” Van Dijk added.
The Festival of Small Halls Spring Tour 2024 kicks off on September 25 at Booubyjan Hall and will make its way through Outback Queensland, concluding in Mapleton on October 20.
Tickets for the Ballandean Hall concert, as well as other shows on the tour, go on sale from August 13 and can be purchased at festivalofsmallhalls.com. Don’t miss out on this chance to enjoy a night of exceptional music in a truly special setting.
