The aptly-named Rochella — a salute to California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival — will be held on Saturday, October 14, and the line-up for the festival has now been unveiled.
Rochella, like its US equivalent, will be an epic day of live music, food, family fun and more, all in the name of recovery and resilience.
Backed by the Victorian Government’s Live Music Flood Recovery program, the festival will be headlined by award-winning Victorian bands Cash Savage and the Last Drinks and The Black Sorrows and will also feature musicians from the district and around the state.
The line-up includes Bones and Jones from Geelong, dance-pop collective Empress, Echuca band Stumbling North, family-friendly act The Burnt Sausages and Australian Idol artist Anya Alchemy.
District students will take a star turn with the premiere of a song they wrote in collaboration with Golden Guitar winner Josh Arnold for his Small Town Culture music project.
An all-in community affair, taking place at the Rochester Recreation Reserve, Rochella has been organised by Rochester Community House with support from sporting clubs and committees of the region.
The event is an opportunity for Rochester residents to come together and take some time out following the floods of 2022. Alongside live music, Rochella will feature fun family activities and local food stalls.
Delivered by Music Victoria on behalf of the government, the Live Music Flood Recovery program supports flood-affected towns and villages in regional and rural Victoria to host live music events. More than 40 events are being staged throughout 2023.
Tickets go on sale from Friday, August 25, and are $10 for residents of postcode 3561, $30 for visitors and free for kids under 12. They can be purchased from the Rochester Newsagency oronline at www.rochellarochester.com.au
Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Rochester Community Access Flood Relief Fund.
For more information about Rochella and the Live Music for Flood Recovery Program, visit musicvictoria.com.au
Creative Industries Minister Steve Dimopoulos said he was proud to back Rochella as part of the government support for flood impacted communities.
“This is a celebration of this strong, vibrant community featuring some of Victoria’s outstanding music talent,” he said.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes congratulated the whole Rochella team which programmed a festival that reflected the incredible community spirit of Rochester and would bring all ages together for an event to remember.
Music Victoria chief executive officer Simone Schinkel said recovery could take a long time.
“To sustain, communities like Rochester need days like this to acknowledge how far they’ve come and to let live music, good food and community lift spirits up,” she said.
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