Following a difficult couple of years in an industry brought to its knees by the effects of COVID-19, the folks behind beloved festival A Hitch to The Sticks have unveiled their latest effort, with 2022 festival As the Cocky Flies being announced today.
Having been unable to hold a 2022 edition of A Hitch to The Sticks next year, organisers have now announced the new festival will take place in March of 2022. Dubbed “Hitch’s baby sister”, the new addition is planned to serve as a “regional blues & roots travelling circus”, fusing together live music and performance beneath a big top circus tent.
Held across consecutive weekends in March and covering terrain in regional Victoria’s Mount Beauty and Moyhu, As the Cocky Flies provides a massive lineup full of eclectic talent for gig-goers of all ages keen to immerse themselves in the stunning event.
With Barry Morgan heading up each day of the event as Ringmaster, the festival will boast a lineup that features the likes of ARIA-nominated soul-rhythm explosion Emma Donovan & The PutBacks, iconic songwriter and performer Neil Murray (Warumpi Band), and sovereign of Victoria’s blues & roots scene and regional arts patriot Dallas Frasca, just to name a few.
Meanwhile, the event will also feature exhilarating circus troupes as it mixes music with the visual arts, adding theatrics back to the festival scene following an 18 months in which it has been sadly lacking.
“There’s something magical about the atmosphere of a circus and live music coming to town,” organisers explain. “The Ringmaster’s voice booming above the buzz of the crowd, the circus performers death-defying feats, the smell of carnie food, the looming decisions of which show bag to take home, local beers and wine and of course, there’s nothing better than dancing the night away.
“Add some of Victoria’s most beloved musicians into the mix and you’ve got an utterly satisfying cross-pollination of art forms, and something brand new for families and regional communities to enjoy and celebrate.”
As the Cocky Flies will be held each Saturday across the weekends of March 5th and 12th at Mount Beauty and Moyhu, respectively, in regional Victoria. Full lineup and ticketing details are available below.
As the Cocky Flies
Saturday, March 5th, 2022
Mount Beauty/Dhuduroa Country, VIC
With Ringmaster Barry Morgan and Circus performers
Emma Donovan & The PutBacks
Dallas Frasca
Rich Davies & Low Road
With local performers to be announced
Tickets: Eventbrite
Saturday, March 12th, 2022
Moyhu/Bpangerang Country, VIC
With Ringmaster Barry Morgan and Circus performers
Neil Murray
Dallas Frasca
With local performers to be announced
Tickets: Eventbrite