Arts

Semaphore Music Festival Returns For September Long Weekend

Bringing local South Australian live music around the heritage precincts of Semaphore and Port Adelaide for the last 14 years, Semaphore Music Festival is filled with the very best of SA. 

We cannot believe that we are already over half-way through the year. Planning for September/October is therefore entirely necessary. Luckily for us, the Semaphore Music Festival is returning over the September Long Weekend. Bringing local South Australian live music around the heritage precincts of Semaphore and Port Adelaide for the last 14 years, this event is filled with the very best of SA.

The eleven participating venues this year are Hart’s Mill Flour Shed in Port Adelaide, as well as pubs, clubs and businesses around Semaphore, Glanville and Exeter, including Semaphore Workers Club, Lickerish Kitchen & Bar, Exeter Hotel, The Fed, Cumberland Hotel, Hades Hula House, Mr V Music, Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL, The Palais Hotel and St Bede’s Church.

This is the second year that the Semaphore Music Festival hub will be located at Hart’s Mill precinct in Port Adelaide on Sunday 30 September & Monday 1 October. ‘This popular location, ‘Down by the River’ is perfect for live music and cultural events,’ says Event Organiser Debra Thorsen.

Venues will present their SMF18 program of shows from Friday 28 September through to Monday 1 October starting with the Official Opening Event at the Semaphore Workers Club presenting double headlining acts Kings & Associates and Gail Page & Friends. Country sweetheart Amber Joy Poulton will return to her hometown on Friday night appearing at Lickerish Kitchen and Bar.

The Americana Music Association of Australia will host acts appearing at the Semaphore Workers Club on Saturday 30 September with Tara Carragher presenting ‘Righteously: The Music of Lucinda Williams’ supported by Matt Ward and The Heggarties.

TARA CARRAGHER

Local pub The Exeter Hotel will transform into a Honky Tonk for the weekend featuring some of Adelaide’s best Rockabilly, Blues and Roots acts including Exeter Blues, Wanda Jackson’s guitarist Johnny Siegel, The Memphis Suns, Nobody’s Sweethearts and the Roots V Retro Record Hop.

The Cumberland will feature The Original Westenders and a program of curated shows over the weekend, whilst the Semaphore Workers Club will present favourites The Streamliners and Eric Santucci on Sunday arvo. The Semaphore/Port Adelaide RSL is hosting a very special tribute to ‘Cohen & Waits’ with Rohan Powell and Ian ‘Polly’ Politis on Sunday 30th September.

Sunday 30 September will see the return of community groups Born on Monday Choir and the Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society, followed by an amazing selection of local live music chosen from over 150 applications including Ron the Ox, Angelik, Fergus Maximus and D. Henry Fenton.

A Community Stage will host local singer songwriters and acoustic acts over the two days with Alana Jagt, Paula Standing, David Robinson, Lily & the Drum, Ben Searcy and more to be announced soon.

The APRA/AMCOS sponsored Semaphore Songs composers will present their offerings on Monday 1 October ‘Down by the River’. They are Nancy Bates, Tara Carragher, Emily Davis, Jessica Wishart, Mary Webb, Nathan May, Naomi Keyte, Luke Walters, Nick Kipridis, Ange & Stephen Portolesi who will participate in a songwriter speaks panel discussion convened by Alana Jagt. They will perform throughout the day, winding up with the Emily Davis Band presenting songs from her new album – You, Me and the Velvet Sea.

Emily Davis

The full line-up and playing times will be announced Sept 1 at www.semaphoremusicfestival.com – so be sure to check that out!

Semaphore Music Festival

When: 28 September to 1 October, 2018

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