Festival of Sails 2013 - Fantastic entertainment awaits in Geelong

by Lisa Ratcliff on 10 Jan 2013 The Festival of Sails will make sure that the latest staging of the biggest keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere will be something to be remembered for a long time with engaging activities and concerts taking place over the four-day event.

The 2013 Festival of Sails will be stepping up the wow factor with fantastic entertainment over the four-day event, January 24-28, complementing the historic sailing regatta taking place off Geelong’s Corio Bay.

Launching with a party for the sailors on Friday 25th to welcome the arrival of the Melbourne to Geelong passage race fleet and for competitors in the Audi IRC Australian Championship midway through their series, Oz Made will kick-off the Festival with a tribute to classic Aussie Rock.

Featuring members of Geisha, Icehouse and Models, and playing renditions of classic numbers from acts such as Cold Chisel, Dragon, Daddy Cool, Hunters and Collectors and many others, we can guarantee Oz Made will entertain young and old!

On Saturday 26, Australia Day, the main Steampacket Gardens and Fairnie Park stages open with the City of Greater Geelong welcoming a number of new Australians as they conduct their Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony followed by a celebration of local music with a selection of artists, new and old, from all around Victoria.

High energy Victorian Indie Pop band Red Ink, on the rise folktronica songwriter Hayden Calnin and summer psych duo Manor are a few of the artists that will grace the Festival of the Sails on Australia day.

The all-girl, all-sister, all-rocking, Stonefield, who have been described as, 'the female equivalents of Deep Purple' are sure to keep the crowds rocking up to the BayFM Australia Day Fireworks Spectacular at sunset. After playing on stages across the globe, including the world renowned festival Glastonbury, Stonefield will be sure to close out Australia Day at Festival of the Sails in rocking style.

For those whose feet want to keep movin’, next door, the Royal Geelong Yacht Club stage will feature pop and soul diva, Jade MacRae, with her band belting out pop and soul classics well into the night.

Sunday will mark the close of racing for the expected 300 boats and 3,000 sailors, and while they are vying for final points in their respective championships and series, their supporters and other visitors to Geelong, who (thanks to the entertainment of the night before) may need a more gentle Sunday, can enjoy the day wandering through the food and craft stalls, watching the Chaparral Water-ski Stunt hows and visiting the Club Marine Boating and Lifestyle Exhibition.

On Sunday night the Steampacket stage will again be jam packed with entertainment. ’The Voice’ singing sensation Fatai, 6-piece alt-country rock and rollers The Hello Morning, surf-psych local upstarts Atolls and omnichord wielding songstress Ali Barter are just some of the artists keeping the crowds captivated across the two stages.

Closing out the night and celebrating the conclusion of sailing, will be the incredible Diesel, an Aussie legend making his Festival of Sails debut in 2013. Having sold over 800,000 records, his unique brand of blues guitar and dynamic vocals have kept him a festival mainstay for over 20 years!

On the yacht club stage, world renowned local Geelong high school band The Sweethearts will blow the crowd away and keep them dancing well into the night.

Monday is family day on the Steampacket stage with performances from Bob the Builder, the Melbourne Rebels players , balloon making, face painting and pirates, followed by some more fantastic local artists.

With over 60 free performances including an extensive array of roaming entertainment across the entire Australia Day weekend, the Festival of Sails 2013 will offer something for all visitors to the Geelong Waterfront and Royal Geelong Yacht Festival of Sails 2013