OK Motels Rochester
Take a trip to Central Victoria, as this one-day festival celebrates small-town spirit with a stellar local and international lineup.
Overview
Forget about the five-star stay; OK Motels is bringing people together for a different kind of festival experience on Saturday, October 18. Rooted in small-town community spirit, these lovers of local live music and art have just announced one of their biggest lineups to date, with Rochester in Central Victoria this new-breed festival's next port of call. Live sets will roll out across Rochester's three local pubs throughout the afternoon, transforming the town into a musical pub crawl.
Then, once the sun dips beneath the horizon, festival-goers and probably a large chunk of Rochy's 3154 population will gather in the central car park for the evening's headline performances. Taking to the stage is a stacked selection of local and international acts. New Zealand's Marlon Williams brings his velvet vocals and cinematic ballads, while Canadian duo, Kacy & Clayton, blend British folk rock, classic country, traditional songs and faded psychedelia. Alongside their solo performances, fans are in for a special treat as Williams and Kacy & Clayton also come together to perform their collaborative album, Plastic Bouquet, in full.
Also on the lineup, Sylvie, hailing from the USA, will perform decades-old barn recordings, and Drifting Clouds, the solo project of Terry Guyula, will journey from the remote community of Gapuwiyak to perform his brand of synthpop, rock and Yolŋu storytelling — check out his recent single 'Bawuypawuy' for a taste. Besides the incredible musical talent, OK Motels is taken to the next level with fun-loving community encounters, from the chance to marry your friends (without the annoying legalities) to disco rodeo boot scooting.
As for the accommodation, there's no shortage of options. There's comfy river camping alongside the picturesque Campaspe, or you can book a cabin in the Rochester Caravan Park. Meanwhile, the nearby hub of Echuca has plenty of motels ripe for a good night's rest. Yet if making it back to the big smoke without delay is on your agenda, the OK Sleeper is departing from Southern Cross Station on Friday night. Bound for Rochester, this party train will have you safely returned to the city once the festivities have come to a close.
Images: Kyle Dobie.
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