THE Moonbird Festival, launched in April 2023, again celebrates King Island in 2024 with music, art, food and wine. Founded by the Bowerbird Collective in collaboration with King Island Landcare, the festival features some of Australia’s finest musicians in on-island concerts.
One island, eight concerts, seven world-class musicians and five venues. The festival is named after the Short-tailed Shearwater, or Moonbird, an iconic species of great cultural and ecological significance to the Bass Strait islands.
These birds, which mate for life, are known for their annual 30,000km migration, departing from King Island at the end of April. The festival, from April 13 – 21, will include guided nature walks, local culinary delights, and world-class performances.
The Bowerbird Collective, founded by Anthony Albrecht and Simone Slattery, aims to connect audiences with nature through their award-winning, nature-themed performances.
Featured musicians include Slattery and Emily Sheppard on violin, Albrecht on cello, and Andrew Blanch on guitar.
Joining the Bowerbird Collective to perform on the island are Katie Yap (viola) and Yyan Ng (shakuhachi) along with Van Diemen’s Band Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff and the Van Diemen’s Fiddles, Emily Sheppard, and Rachel Meyers, who will be on King Island for their artist residency.
The Moonbird Festival concerts coincide with the King Island Gallery Birds exhibition and the Australian Geographic’s Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the gallery.
The Festival opening is at Marilyn and Ken Chapman’s Waterwings Gallery on April 13 from 5pm. The exhibition features local and international artists and includes a short performance by the Bowerbird Collective, whose albums have reached high rankings on the ARIA Album Charts and their work has been featured in various media outlets.
They have close relationships with major conservation organisations and aim to communicate conservation objectives through their performances. The festival schedule includes various free and ticketed concerts and events, such as the Festival & Exhibition Opening, solo performances, string quartet concerts, and more.
A free (by reservation) school holiday session will be held on April 18 with Georgina Adamson (aka Noisy Nanna) at the King Island Gallery. This is a storytelling event about care for nature – using a traditional Japanese Kamishibai or paper theatre and – is suitable for families.
Festival tickets prices vary according to the venue and catering, with festival pass avaiable that includes all concerts.
An online raffle will be run throughout the festival and will close and be drawn on April 28, supporting King Island Landcare. Prizes include two nights luxury one-bedroom accommodation at Ettrick Rocks, as well as a limited edition print by Katherine Cooper’s Ocean Dancer IV – Southern Fairy Prion, which can be viewed at King Island Gallery and concert events.
Other prizes include Sharp Airlines return airfare voucher for one and King Island Distillery selection valued at $100.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at Landcare at KIRDO 5 George St Currie, King Island Gallery at events and online at raffletix.com.au/moonbird24. Insert MOONBIRD to receive a 25 per cent discount on selected ticket types.
For more information go to moonbirdfestival.com and follow the links to book tickets.
