FOR its 11th event, the Sale Music Festival, also known as ‘Picnic on the Green’, had to change venues from the Sale Botanic Gardens to the Port of Sale.
The free event that took place on Sunday, March 12 2023 saw thousands of people sit back with their families on lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy live music.
There was plenty of food and drink options. Patrons could grab a milkshake from Gippsland Jersey; a kebab from Grill-Em; or a hamburger with the lot from Girl Guides Australia. And then check out the stalls from the Rotary Club of Sale, Bundalaguah Country Women’s Association and the Bug Blitz, where you could hold a friendly spider.
Other entertainment for families and children included Teddy Bear’s Picnic Storytime, making musical instruments, and riding the Rubeena.
Opening the festival at 11am were locals Harry Hook and Friends. The frontman brought his acoustic guitar and his friends backed up on bass and violin.
After that first act, more friends from the festival hit the stage. TRFM’s Mat Cummings was the festival’s MC and introduced Wellington Shire Mayor Ian Bye to the stage, who had a speech for the crowd.
“The Sale Music Festival has been a mainstay in Wellington for over a decade now,” Cr Bye said.
“With so much going on in our shire, it’s great to be out again, enjoying live music and large-scale community events like this throughout Wellington.
“I’m sure you will agree, events in The Middle of Everywhere are some of the best in Gippsland.”
Cr Bye finished his speech by paying tribute to the local businesses and community.
“There is no doubt that without your support, local events such as these just wouldn’t happen,” he said.
Matt Peter Fry performed two sets. In between his sets were SweetLIP from the Latrobe Valley, performing a number of covers. The crowd and the band danced together during their closing song ‘Uptown Funk’.
SweetLIP lead singer Jess Westney said it was the first time the band played in Sale.
“We’ve had a great day. We’ve been asked a few years in a row to play the festival but we’ve been unable to. But today went well and I’m super happy with it. I wish we could have played for longer,” she said.
“We’ll be back for sure… let’s keep the live music pumping in Gippsland.”
After Matt Peter Fry finished his second set, the Davidson Bros took the stage at 2pm, followed by Danny Spencer at 3.15pm, and Todd Cook Band at 4.30pm. By about 5pm, most of the stalls had already packed up for the day, but there was one more act scheduled for 5.45pm.
Cara Schaefer and the John Gibson Band headlined the Sale Music Festival, and children were dancing and doing cartwheels right in front of the stage. It was a great finish for the festival.
Sale Music Festival Committee chair David Harrington, who is also the drummer of the John Gibson Band, said they had to change venues due to the presence of the grey-headed flying foxes at the Sale Botanic Gardens.
“They’re a protected species. We weren’t sure how long they were going to be there,” Mr Harrington said.
“They sleep during the day and nine hours of music would bother them. And they would be flying around screeching and annoying the audience. We couldn’t move them, but we could move us.”
Despite the change of the usual venue, Mr Harrington said he was very pleased with the festival’s turn-out, and had received positive feedback to the Port of Sale hosting.
“It cost a bit more to run it this year because of the logistics to have it at the Port of Sale… I think we will have a committee discussion about whether we will continue to run it here,” Mr Harrington said.
“We’ve been delighted about this year’s performers, the crowd and the sponsors.”
