Australia’s First Notable Town, Maldon, is gearing up for a 17-day explosion of all the creativity that lies at the heart of Victoria’s goldfields as part of ‘Maldon In Winter 2022’.
Maldon Inc president Clif Edwards said the festival, from June 24 – July 10, coincided with the winter solstice and was a celebration of darkness and of winter’s light with candlelit recitals, a community bonfire and fairy-lit shop windows.
There’ll also be music and theatre, poetry and markets.
“Visitors can arrive in true goldfields style on the steam train from Castlemaine or catch a coach drawn by great Clydesdale horses,” he said.
“The centrepiece is the Goldfields Gothic Festival of Dark Ideas, with its Gothic and Victorian Picnic, performance by the legendary dark alternative band IKON, electronic rock and deep and dark poetry, and the Phoenix Burlesque troupe to bring life out of the darkness of deep winter,” Edwards said.
The entertainment covers all bases. Award-winning classical guitarist, Clancy McLeod, opens the festival with Bach and beyond.
“Rising star classical guitar virtuoso, Clancy McLeod, is an international prizewinning artist who has demonstrated himself to be a guitarist of the highest calibre and a captivating, expressive and very musical performer,” he said.
There will also be nostalgia with a Neil Diamond tribute and all the hits of the ‘60s, as well as Goldfield Gothic’s focus on contemporary culture.
“The well-named Edge Gallery – a centre for leading-edge photographic artists – will also host a spine-tingling exhibition titled, simply, Shroud,” Edwards said.
There’ll be dark fashion, a hint of SteamPunk, and live rock ‘n’ roll to dance away the closing night.
“The log fires will be blazing in all the cafes and the B&Bs are snug. Come and join us,” Edwards said.
Discover the whole 17-day program at www.maldon.org.au/maldon-in-winter
