With summer now sadly in our rearview mirror, live music lovers of Australia need something to look forward to in the colder months, and although there’s one reason to live, Splendour in the Grass, there also another music festival that’ll melt away your winter blues – the inaugural Bello Winter Music festival who just dropped its lineup.

The unique festival set to take over the northern New South Wales town of Bellingen from July 2 – 5 will see Grammy-nominated guitar and vocal harmony duo The Milk Carton Kids (US) headline a superb, diverse line-up that includes roots and blues legend Ash Grunwald with his star studded band, indie songstress Ainslie Wills and angel voiced troubadour Marlon Williams & the Yarra Benders.

In addition to this, new gospel/hip hop outfit Jones Jr (DJ Morgs from Thundamentals + Ev Jones from Rumpunch), folk pop darlings Tinpin Orange, soul diva Emma Donovan with her funk band The Putbacks, exotic rhythms from Bobby Singh’s internationally acclaimed trio Rasa Duende and red hot flamenco from Arte Kanela who will join over 60 other international, national and local acts that will light up the pubs, halls and street corners of the beautiful, picturesque town of Bellingen.

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Bello Winter Music will take place throughout the many delightful venues of Bellingen including the Memorial Hall, Diggers Tavern, Federal Hotel, No 5 Church St, Little Red Kitchen, Bellingen Golf Club and two church halls. The festival will spill out into the streets and cafes for a family-friendly and affordable weekend of music, celebration and community.

As well as the music, the weekend-long party will be alive with street theatre, workshops, free events and walking tours. Mullum Music Festival’s hugely popular psychedelic Magic Bus will be making a trip especially for the inaugural event to ferry festival-goers around the town, as well as transporting Mullumbimby and Byron Bay locals to Bello Winter Music in a kind of reverse Aquarius Magical Mystery Tour down the coast.

Situated roughly half way between Brisbane and Sydney and 30 minutes from Coffs Harbour, Bellingen sits in spectacular countryside on the banks of the Bellinger River.  Small cottages line the river, and a host of bed and breakfast guesthouses can be found close to the town as well as eco huts and farmstay accommodation options. Camping is also available at the nearby Bellingen Showgrounds for the duration of the festival – bookings can be made through the festival office.

Check out www.bellowintermusic.com for tickets and additional information.

Bello Winter Music 2015 Lineup

The Milk Carton Kids (US)
Ash Grunwald,
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Tinpan Orange
Dubmarine
Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders
Ainslie Wills
Bullhorn
Arte Kanela Flamenco
Rasa Duende
Fourplay String Quartet
The Wilson Pickers
Lucie Thorne & Hamish Stuart
Perch Creek
Jack Carty
Sketch The Rhyme
Jones Jnr
The Seven Ups
Captain Dreamboat
Gabriel & Cecilia
Karl S Williams
Yeshe
Greg Sheehan
Kym Pitman with Chris Judd
*Comedians: Mandy Nolan, Ryan Coffey, Paul McMahon, Nick Penn, Greg Sullivan & Ellen Briggs*
The Mid North
The Button Collective
Starboard Cannons
Sara Tindley
Oh Pep!
The Ninth Chapter
Ebb n Flo
Golden Zephyr
Bunya
Jealous Wolfe
Mr Pip
Horns On Helium
DidJital
Tim Stokes
Honey & Knives
Shanteya & Jo
Tegan Wiseman
Yhan Leal
Fish on Fire
The Bollywood Sisters
The Cassettes
Sohum Women’s Choir
Voices From The Vacant Lot

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