mmg.com.au

Deniliquin has landed international megastars Santana, Chris Isaak, Bonnie Raitt and Steve Miller Band for its first ever Deni Blues & Roots Festival.

Cementing Deniliquin’s growing reputation as a music mecca, a bevy of international and Australian stars will be flown into town for the Easter event in between performing at the renowned Byron Bay Blues Festival and Blues Fest in Western Australia.

Tickets are limited to 9000 per day for the two-day event, which will be held at the Ute Muster site, now referred to as the Riverina Regional Events Centre, on the Conargo Rd.

It will be two full days of live music over Easter Saturday and Sunday, with the set times recently released and available on the website.

Three of the artists on the line-up were winners at the this year’s GRAMMY Awards - Bonnie Raitt won her 10th Grammy Award, while Zac Brown Band won Best Country Album and Jimmy Cliff received Best Reggae Album.

Deniliquin Play on the Plains Festival Ltd, which puts on the Deni Ute Muster each year, has teamed with legendary music promoters Michael Chugg and Rob Potts for the festival.

Mr Potts, who is CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment, said the Deniliquin event has the potential to reach about one million people from across the region.

‘‘To make a successful festival you need a great site, access to lots of people, world class staging and infrastructure and a killer line-up of great international and local talent,’’ he said.

‘‘The inaugural Deni Blues & Roots Festival at Easter, on the famous Deni Ute Muster site, brings all of these components together as over one million holiday makers and locals take a break and play on the Murray and Edward rivers.

‘‘We’re always excited about building a new festival, especially when everything seems just right for the occasion.’’

General admission tickets cost $250 for two days for adults.

One-day-only tickets are $150 for adults. There are 3500 one-day-only tickets available for each day. 

To better accommodate families, junior tickets for the inaugural Deniliquin Blues & Roots Festival have been removed from the pricing structure.

All children aged 14 years-old or younger will be able to attend the event for free.

Deniliquin Play on the Plains Festival Inc Chair Harold Clapham said the decision was made after the realising how much it would cost for families to attend the concert, especially those who have to travel.

He said all junior tickets paid to date would be refunded.

“We want families to experience the whole event, and we didn’t want people bringing their children to feel it was a burden or an imposition.”

Anyone who has already paid for a junior ticket is encouraged to contact Muster HQ on (03) 5881 3388 to organise a refund.

Various camping packages are also available at the site from noon on Good Friday until noon on Easter Monday, April 1, including the free sites.

Unpowered general camping sites are free of charge with the purchase of a weekend festival pass.

Locals homes may also be available for weekend rental through the Deniliquin Peppin Heritage Visitor Information Centre on 1800 650 172.

Enjoy your Easter break listening to some great live music at the relaxed surrounds of Deniliquin.

For more information, to book your tickets or your camping spot, phone (03)5881 3388 or visit denibluesfestival.com