Boolarra Memorial Hall, VIC, Gunaikurnai Country
Boolarra Memorial Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Braiakaulung People of the Gunaikurnai Nation.
You know when an online review describes your venue as a ‘lovely old hall in a gorgeous little country town’ that you’re onto a winner. The Boolarra Memorial Hall, built largely by local volunteer labour, was opened in 1962 at a cost of 20,000 pounds in memory of local men who died in service or were killed in action during World War Two and the Korean War.
It has been the social hub of Boolarra ever since, staging weddings and funerals, grand balls and concert and theatre presentations, magic shows and Primary School revues, public protest meetings and fire emergency meetings.
The people of Boolarra love their music and every year host the Boolarra Folk Festival, making it an ideal spot to stop on the Festival of Small Halls tour.
Festival of Small Halls returns to Boolarra on Wednesday, 30 March 2022 with Jack Carty and Charm of Finches.
Opening the show will be local act Penelope Swales!
Award-winning singer/songwriter Penelope Swales has been articulating the human condition for over 30 years. Her subject matter ranges from politics via the environment, through to love, sex, the profound bond between people and dogs to the impact of the Internet on our society and relationships. She has just won the 2019 Alistair Hulett Songs for Social Justice Award with her song “Cambridge Analytica” which explores the impact on democracy of disinformation spread via social media.
She first went on the road at the age of 16 as a backing vocalist for the band Dreamtime (a precursor to Kangaroo Moon). She supported herself through homelessness in her teenage years by busking for a living in the streets of Melbourne and Sydney before forming John’s Sister in 1989 and releasing her first album of original material the same year.
Penelope began playing solo in 1993 and by 1996 had become an international artist, touring England and Ireland playing at clubs and festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival and the Rose of Tralee. In 1998, she took up making musical instruments out of Gourds and formed the band Totally Gourdgeous with Mal Webb (Oxo Cubans, Formidable Vegetable Sound System), Carl Panuzzo (Checkerboard Lounge, Those Acapelicans) and Andrew Clermont (The Supper Club, BluGuru) Totally Gourdgeous has been a favourite on the festival scene for many years, winning Folk Alliance Australia’s Members Choice Award for Best Live Act in 2004.
BYO food to the show, or the Boolarra General Store serves light meals. Alcohol-free drinks will be available for purchase provided by the Boolarra Folk Festival Committee from 6:30pm (including water, juices, soft drink, tea and coffee).
Tickets are only available locally at the Boolarra Post Office until mid-March, unless sold out prior.
Full Admission – $15
Doors Open 6.30pm
Show Starts 7.00pm
Boolarra Memorial Hall has accessible entry (ramp) and has accessible bathrooms (unisex disability toilet).
This show is supported by Mirboo North and District Community Foundation.
Festival of Small Halls events take place in venues operating under an approved VIC Health Covid Safe Event Checklist, and has stringent Workplace Health and Safety requirements for all travelling artists and crew. Under the terms and conditions of all events, you must not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19.
Please do your bit to protect others and keep your community safe.