The much-anticipated Black Gully Festival is back on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, in the scenic Black Gully Reserve (behind NERAM, on the south side of the creek). This free, family-friendly event is a highlight of the Armidale calendar, celebrating the vibrant community spirit as summer approaches. Expect a day full of music, art, environmental awareness, and community activities, offering something for all ages to enjoy.
Live music performances will be running from 10am to 8pm across three stages. This year there is a stellar lineup of local bands, soloists, and small groups, as well as visiting bands Bella Frankie Music, Buddy Knox and Kirstie Larkin. Festival-goers will be treated to a rich diversity of musical styles, all curated by The Musicians of Armidale and in partnership with Music NSW. The popular acoustic stage will return to the NERAM Café courtyard, where you can relax with coffee and lunch from Six Counties while enjoying the performances.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
- 10.00–4.00 — Makers and Community/Environment Markets
- 11.30 — Welcome to Country and Official Opening
- 11.30–12.00 | 12.30-1.00 | 1.30-2.00 — Museum of Printing Open
- 10.00–3.00 — NERAM Family Art Making
- 7.30–9.00 — Astronomy night with the Stars @NERAM cafe
MUSIC PROGRAM
Main Stage
- 10.00am — Ohmasoulmusic
- 10.45 — The Kelly Gang
- 11.30 — Welcome to Country / opening
- 12.00 — Tandav School of Dance
- 12.15 — Khalil Tabor All Sheikh
- 12.30 — Bella Frankie Music
- 1.15 — The Briny Sea
- 2.00 — Kirsty Larkin
- 2.45 — Southswell
- 3.30 — Buddy Knox
- 4.15 — Partyline
- 5.00 — El Adimra
- 5.45 — Nascent
- 6.30 — Skele Jay
- 7.15 — The Florin Arc
- Finish 8:15pm
Acoustic Stage (NERAM Cafe Courtyard)
- 10.00am — Maxine & Ben
- 10.45 — Barney St Band
- 11.30 — Keith & Luke
- 12.15 — Firebirds Choir
- 1.00 — Ollie Twohill (Murwillumbah)
- 1.45 — Bits of Buzz
- 2.30 — Koivu
- Finish 3.15pm
SLOW LIVING WORKSHOP PROGRAM
Clothes Swap – @UNELife tent
- 10.00–11.00 — Clothes drop
- 12.00–2.00 — Clothes swap
Workshops @ The Community Garden
- 10.00–10.45 | 1:00–1.45 — Composting made easy
- 11.00–11.45 | 2:00–2.45 — Wicking bed demo
- 12.00–12.45 — Growing mushrooms
SUSTAINABLE LIVING ARMIDALE & FRIENDS WORKSHOP PROGRAM
- 10.00–4.00 — @ the Community/Environment Markets
- Ephemeral Art
- Craft and Climate with Zonta
- Rising Tide Protestival Connection
- Tree of Life Painting
- Platypus Play and Clay with Sue Eliot
- Lots more….
- 10.30–11.30 | 12.30–1.30 — Bug Walk and Talk – Collect and Identify the Locals! Meet@Black Gully Creek Concrete Bridge
- 10:45 to 11.15 |12.30-1.00 — Beyond Halloween: Bats in the Backyard Project. Two sessions @ Biodiversity, Conservation and Science tent
- 10:45–11:30 | 2:00–2.45 — Energy-Efficient Homes: a chat about retrofitting for comfort and savings
- 1.00–1.45 — Manilla Solar – Be Part of Community Owned Renewables
- 1.30–2:30 — The Story Telling Circle
- 1.30–3.00 — Black Gully Grassland Games and Friends @ Behind the Stage
- 1.30–3.30 — Felted Soap Making Workshop
- 2:00 to 3.00 — Have you seen these threatened species? Rare wallaby, pademelon, and orchids @ Biodiversity, Conservation and Science tent
Beyond the music, a variety of activities, workshops, and a maker’s market will showcase the talent and creativity of local artisans with everything from embroidery art to macramé, candles, jewelry and preserves. Food stalls will be open throughout the day and evening, keeping attendees well-nourished should you desire a sausage sizzle, sushi or Bellingen Pasta. For the little ones, there will be fun art-making activities to keep them engaged and entertained.
The festival continues its dedication to environmental sustainability with displays from Electrify Armidale, Armidale Urban Rivercare and the New England Rakali and Platypus group. Back by popular demand is the Clothes Swap and a range of slow living workshops for people to enjoy.
“As always, the Black Gully Festival is focused on four key pillars: art, music, environment and community,” said NERAM Director Rachael Parsons, “these are all things that are vital to Armidale’s vitality and wellbeing. They are the things that make our city a great place to live, and the festival is always a wonderful community focused celebration.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring a folding chair, a reusable water bottle, a coffee cup, and don’t forget sun protection for what is sure to be a warm day.
Thanks to the generous support of Armidale Regional Council, Sustainable Living Armidale, UNE Life, and other local sponsors, the Black Gully Festival remains free and accessible to all. The festival’s success is made possible by the contributions of countless volunteers and equipment loans from the community including Live Streaming by our wonderful Community Radio 2ARMFM.
For more information and updates, visit the official Black Gully Festival event page on the NERAM or SLA website or visit Black Gully Festival on Facebook and Instagram.
TALKS AND ACTIVITIES -Details
Aboriginal Cultural Keeping Place
The Aboriginal Cultural Keeping Place will be open all day from 10.00am to 4.00pm as part of the Black Gully Festival. Join live music in the pavilion with Cyril Green, Kathy Kelly and friends. There will be a sausage sizzle and opportunities to dance, take part in cultural learning in the Yarning Circle and explore the many artworks and points of culture. All are welcome. Walk across from the NERAM front grassland during the day via the side (western) entrance, follow the signs into the pavilion and surrounds.
Platypus Play and Clay and Ephemeral Art
Join Sue Eliot – Author of Young Children and the Environment.
Create with nature! Baskets of natural treasures will be available for children to explore the possibilities. Get involved in the Platypus pond and create clay creatures for the Platypus. Learn about this amazing creature. 10.00 to 4.00 at the SLA Bell tent
Dumaresq Rural Fire Brigade
Based in Armidale and one of the largest brigades in the New England District. They cover a large radius around Armidale assisting Fire Rescue and other Rural Fire Brigades. Their volunteers attend approximately 100 incidents a year ranging from grass and bush fires, structure fires, car fires, MVAs and other service and assistance calls. The also attend community events like the Black Gully Festival so they can educate the public on the dangers of bushfires and the regulations on burning during the Bushfire Danger Period. They will bring their big Fire Truck which the kids can explore. 10.00 – 4.00.
Rising Tide Protestival connection
Rising Tides Protestival event on Newcastle’s Nobby Beach will be the biggest yet — anticipating 10,000 people to turn-out over a 10-day period.
Climate Action and Sustainable Living Armidale support a New England Affinity group planning to attend. We are demanding the government immediately cancel all new fossil fuel projects, tax fossil fuel export profits at 78 per cent to fund community and industrial transition and end all coal exports from Newcastle by 2030. Come and find out about the Rising Tide Protestival and how you can participate and/or leave a handprint and message on our local banner that will be going to Newcastle. Currently the world is well on track for over three degrees of warming this century, and there has been no effective climate progress to reduce our fossil fuel industry [in Australia] this year — the hottest year on record. The time to STOP is now.
Zonta Says Now to Gender-Equal Climate Action
Come along to the Zonta Club of Armidale’s stall. Find out why girls and women across the globe are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. Talk to our club members about Zonta, and how Zonta aims to empower women and men to create a fairer future for everyone. We will be giving away handy information leaflets that can help you reduce your impact on the environment, and there will be fun activities for kids, with prizes, as well as a table full of second-hand books and craft items for sale. 10.00 to 4.00.
Armidale Regional Council
New information on waste and recycling, tips for water saving measures and how to prepare a grab and go pack if you are in bush fire danger. 10.00 to 4.00.
Armidale Live inc
Armidale Live inc was formed to support all the Arts. At present it supports High Country Theatre, Saturday Magic Theatre and Renew Armidale.
Our most important project at present is the submission of a Precinct and Partnerships grant. The aim is to create an Arts, Culture and Education precinct focusing on the Armidale Mall.
We will be applying for enough money to buy available real estate, refurbish as necessary and repurpose a percentage of the space to an art, culture or education purpose. We have a number of partners in this venture including Armidale Regional Council and a lot of supporters. For a full explanation drop by our tent for a chat and to pick up a full explanation and maybe join us in this very exciting venture. 10.00 to 4.00.
Tree of Life Painting – Save our Styx
A recent report by Forest Alliance NSW (FANSW) found that community surveys in forests were able to identify up to 10 times the number of endangered greater glider den trees, than Forestry Corporation NSW surveys. This includes in places like our local Styx River State Forest. Logging operations in the proposed Great Koala National Park (GKNP) are happening at four times the intensity than other State Forests in the state’s northeast.
Come and find out what has been going on about in our forests and make a Tree of Life Painting, sewing, drawing or writing for our Native Forest Protection quilt. 10.00 to 4.00 @ SLA and NPA.
Clothes Swap@ Black Gully
Join us for the Black Gully Festival Clothes Swap, a wonderful and environmentally friendly way to refresh your wardrobe, or you may find something special for a friend or family member. On the day bring along up to 5 quality garments, clean pressed and free from major faults.
The clothes drop off will take place between 10 and 11 am, at the Slow Living and UNE Life tents located at the Tennis Wall near the Community Garden. For each garment you bring you will receive a token which you will then be able to exchange for a garment at the clothes swap event, taking place from 12pm to 2pm. Any remaining clothes will be sold at the end of the day with all proceeds going to a local charity.
Bug Walk and Talk – Collect and Identify the Locals!
Water bugs are great indicators of stream health. Join resident Freshwater Ecologists from the Aquatic Ecology Lab at UNE on a walk along Black Gully to collect and identify (water bugs). Find out who live there and what they can tell us about the condition of their watery home. Everyone is welcome and feel free to pick the Scientist’s brains while you pick out water bugs! Two sessions 10.30-11.30 | 12.30-1.30. Meet @ Black Gully creek concrete ramp bridge.
Beyond Halloween: Bats in Backyards
Learn about the amazing world of insect eating bats and be part of a citizen science project recording the crazy ultrasonic calls of these tiny pest controllers in your own backyard. Senior Threatened Species Officer and confirmed bat nerd, Alicia Scanlon from the Saving our Species program will talk about the diversity of insect eating bats found around the Armidale region, what makes them such special creatures, what threatens their survival, how we study them and how you can help conserve them. Two Sessions 10:45 – 11:15 | 12.30 – 1.00. – @Biodiversity, Conservation and Science tent
Energy-Efficient Homes: a chat about retrofitting for comfort and savings
Join us for a practical discussion on improving energy efficiency and reducing electricity costs in your home. Explore solutions for different types of houses, from quick retrofitting tips to long-term investments, and discover incentives for boosting comfort and savings. Share ideas and learn from Michelle Campione-van Zetten (Environmental Planner, GeoLINK), Trevor Brown (Convenor, Electrify Armidale), and Matt Peterson (Founder, Automised Energy). All home energy questions welcome and resource connections provided.Two sessions10:45-11:30 | 2:00-2.45 @Electrify Armidale tent
Manilla Solar – Be Part of Community Owned Renewables
The Manilla Solar Project is a community-led 4.6 MW solar + battery project to be located 2 km to the south of the Manilla substation. What is the talk about? Project directors Emma Stilts and Gerald Arends are inviting people to come along + have their questions answered about the project, operations and investment. This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Manilla Community Renewable Energy Inc. under the Regional Community Energy Fund. 1.00 -1.45 @Electrify Armidale.
Story telling Circle
Time to chill out on shady cushions and listen to your favourite story books being read by story telling friends especially for the little ones with Julie (Jules) Collins and friends. 1.30 to 2:30 @the Bell tent
Felted Soap Making Workshop
Felting is an ancient craft that was used prior to loofahs or washcloths for bathing and improving the condition of the skin. Using felted soap it is possible to get a creamy lather whilst conserving the bar of soap so it lasts longer. The felted wool is exfoliating and has antimicrobial properties. The felted layer shrinks with the soap and can be used for other purposes or composted after use. The felt makes gripping the bar or soap much easier, saving on chasing the bar around the bathroom and, in between uses, the felt dries out saving on cleaning residues left by the sink. For adults and children of all ages be running from 1:30pm to 3:30pm @SLA
Black Gully Grassland Games and Friends
Fun for all the family and peoples of all ages – Games games games. Meet new friends and join in the fun, potato sack and three legged races, aMazeing obstacle course, Giant Tug of War, many more old favourites and new 1.30-3.00 @ ANTaR Hand in Hand Peace tent @ the Tennis Wall near the Community Garden.
Have you Seen these Threatened Species of the Northern Tablelands?
Hear about a few of the most rarely seen threatened plant and animal species found on the northern tablelands, the tiny Parma wallaby and Red-legged pademelon, the Small Snake Orchid, the Ebor Goat Orchid and Metcalfe’s Greenhood. Have you seen them? Do you know what habitats they like? Do you know why they are threatened with extinction? 2:00 – 2:30@Biodiversity, Conservation and Science tent
Astronomy Night with the Stars
Discover the wonders of the night sky with the UNE and Northern Tablelands Astronomical Society (UNENTAS) at this year’s Black Gully Festival! Their mission is to inspire a love for astronomy within both the university community and the broader Northern Tablelands region. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a curious beginner, they aim to spark your interest and deepen your knowledge of the cosmos. UNENTAS organizes engaging events, from research and educational meetings to recreational star-gazing nights, all designed to bring the universe a little closer. They also proudly support the Physics Department in its public astronomy outreach and help maintain the equipment that lets us explore the skies. Join then at the Black Gully Festival as they explore the stars and beyond! From 7:30pm to 9.00 outside the NERAM Cafe.
