Pialba’s quaint Memorial Hall stands within the sunny locality of Hervey Bay, located 32 km north-west of Maryborough. Some 113 years old, the hall is the historical heart of Pialba, being the first settled area of the bay district and the place to gather in days gone by. Pialba was known as the regular watering place and getaway hot-spot for Maryborough residents who took up land allotments along the foreshore for holiday homes. Hervey Bay accelerated when the railway was opened in 1896, seeing farmers and timber getters flocking to the area for its rich mineral resources, tropical fruits, citrus, sugar, dairy and seafood. Nowadays the not-so-small town of 55,000 people is bustling with visitors who still, to this day, see “the Bay” as their seaside destination of choice.
A locals tip – be sure to leave time to visit the famous pie shop next door!
Festival of Small Halls rolls into Pialba on Sunday, 8th of December with Blair Dunlop (ENG) and Hat Fitz and Cara (AUS).
Festival of Small Halls Pialba will be supported by Harding’s House
Harding’s House are a family trio made up of Nicole and Robbie Harding, a sibling duo in their 20s, and Nicole’s fiancé Shane Cornish on percussion. The band formed in 2017 and since then have taken the Fraser Coast by storm, playing cover gigs at several notable venues across Hervey Bay and Maryborough, writing, performing and recording original material at their home studio, and coming runner up grand finalists in the 2019 Hervey Bay Unplugged competition. The band appeals to a wide range of audiences with smooth brother/sister vocal harmonies, creative, exciting percussion and catchy, contemporary folk blues ballads written about issues close to their hearts.
We’ve even heard the trio plan to debut new original music at the Festival of Small Halls! Some of the songs played will feature on the first EP, due to release early 2020 (date and venue TBA). The passion and love Harding’s House display for music, one another and their audiences during their performances is just one of the reasons they have developed such a following in their short careers together, and they aim to continue to captivate and entertain audiences in the Fraser Coast region and beyond.
Doors open 4.30pm for a 5pm start.
Tickets available online here