Canadian folk duo Quote the Raven are one of the featured acts at the Festival of Small Halls tour in Cooktown. Photo: Supplied.
A new live music festival showcasing the heart and soul of acoustic music is making its way to Cooktown.
The Festival of Small Halls brings local and international folk and contemporary acts to tiny halls across Australia, creating an opportunity for remote community music lovers to experience raw artists from home and abroad.
With this year’s tour, Cooktown is set to become the northernmost community in Australia where the festival has been held.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to host such a unique event in our community for the first time,” Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said.
“It’s exciting to be able to showcase the historic and much-loved Cooktown Shire Hall with the high calibre of international and local talent that comes with the Festival of Small Halls tour.”
Mayor Holmes said live music events were an integral part of Cooktown’s vibrant culture, adding if the event was a success, she hoped it could become a regular feature on the community events calendar.
“Our community loves live music; we know this through the success of local events including the Wallaby Creek Festival, Cooktown Discovery Festival, and Black Mountain Unplugged,” she said.
“Live music events foster a sense of togetherness and cultural enrichment that is invaluable to our residents.
“Events like the Festival of Small Halls can also boost local morale and offer a welcome break from the everyday routine, making our community a more vibrant, engaged and dynamic place to live.”
Tour producer Isobel Bartlett introduced the two acts to be featured on the coastal Queensland leg of the tour – Canadian duo Quote the Raven and Australian artist Hailey Calvert.
“Hailey Calvert’s voice is never the one people expect to hear when she starts to sing, giving her the element of surprise early on in her performance,” Ms Bartlett said.
“It’s that strong, breathtaking voice and achingly honest folk tunes that make each audience member feel like they are the only people in the room to hear her stories.
“Quote the Raven seamlessly merge Americana-Folk music with east coast storytelling, sharing tales of a small-town touring band experiencing the world.
“They’ve been chosen for the tour not only because of their beautiful songs and tunes, but because they have the ability to really connect with the people they play for … and a real interest in visiting places a little off the beaten track.”
Tickets for the Cooktown show on 4 July are available on the Festival of Small Halls website.
Hailey Calvert’s raw emotion and breathtaking vocals create an intimate connection with each audience member. Photo: Supplied.
