A huge music lineup will greet revellers at the Augusta River Festival this weekend, as the town unveils new displays of colour and art ready for the annual celebration.
Headlined by indie surf rockers Caravana Sun and Bobby Alu, the festival will also see Matt Gresham, Jack Davies and the Bush Chooks lead the WA muso charge.
Festival Organisers have pulled out all the stops this year twith a variety of new inclusions and a focus on emerging youth artists at the recently-introduced Rivermouth stage.
A program featuring young performers will include an open Q&A session with Matt Gresham hosted by talented local and WAM award nominee Mike Goodwin.
An assortment of over 80 market stalls will line the foreshore with plenty of retail therapy, community information and education, while a large range of food options will be on offer.
The festival fun commences with the annual kids Float Your Boat competition at 9 am and at high noon The Anchormen rise from the deep singing rollicking sea shanties to build anticipation for the mighty Blackwood Regatta.
The Lions park will turn into a Kids Zone featuring well-known artists Rebecca Cool, Tania Davey and Heather Lowe Sims engaging visitors with intergenerational art under a myriad of handmade lanterns strung in the overhead trees.
This year's Festival makes an ecofriendly event commitment by implementing waste reduction measures. Innovative organisation Go2Cup will introduce reuse serve ware through food and drink vendors. Water refill stations will be available, and people are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and keep cups.
Just in time for the festival, the Water Corporation's Splash of Colour program has seen a row of Water Corporation grey electrical cabinets along Albany Terrace transformed into public art.
Artist Rebecca Cool developed the artistic design based on the town's connection to water and the natural environment surrounding the area.
Water Corporation South West Regional Manager John Janssen said the Splash of Colour program aimed to create community identity and enhance the liveability and vibrancy of local neighbourhoods.
"It's great to see functional and highly visible assets transformed into both striking and meaningful pieces of public art for the whole community to enjoy," Mr Janssen said.
"I am pleased Rebecca incorporated the local marine life and lighthouse as this resonates with the town's fishing and tourism history."
The local community will have the opportunity get involved with art, with Cool running a children's art workshop at the river festival.
So far, more than 40 pump stations and electrical cabinets across WA have been transformed through the Splash of Colour Community Art program.
Cool will later produce a water themed children's book based on the designs created at the workshop.
The 25th anniversary of the Augusta River Festival will take place along the Blackwood River foreshore on Sunday 1 March from 9 am, concluding with fireworks at 8pm. Entry is $5.
This is a smoke free event. No dogs, no BYO, no bikes, scooters or skateboards. For more info visit www.augustariverfestival.com.au
