UPDATE: Friday, February 7, 1.45pm
Home Grown In The Hunter will go ahead on Saturday at Hotel Cessnock, but if the heavy rain continues, will be moved inside the hotel.
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Event organiser Charlie McLennan welcomed the much-needed rain, and said all 13 acts will perform as scheduled - but if it's "flogging down" come Saturday afternoon, with the live music in the lounge area and main bar of the hotel.
Heavy rain may also force the cancellation of the jumping castle and Chook Plop Lotto, but the raffles, 100 Club and coin toss will go ahead.
"We've been praying for a couple of years now for rain. And I have to admit, the timing isn't perfect, but hey, we've all waited so bloody long for this, so I'm not complaining one bit," she said.
"The rain can flow as much as it likes, but so will this great day."
The line-up includes Trinity Woodhouse, Dave Javier, Tucan (Pam and Les Gully), Triage, The Cutaways, the Andy Abra and Kellie Cain Duo, Bushrock, The Beautiful Things, Revampt, Corey Legge), Get What Ya Given, Dirty Annie and Damnation: The Bon Scott Tribute Band.
The event will start at 2pm, with proceeds supporting bushfire relief in the Bega Valley (read the original story below).
A benefit concert supporting bushfire recovery in the Bega Valley will be held at Hotel Cessnock this Saturday.
Home Grown In The Hunter is one of numerous mini-concerts running across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Lower and Upper Hunter region to give direct aid and support to the Cobargo Rural Fire Service, Cobargo Bushfire Recovery, families and surrounding areas in the Bega Valley.
A group of Newcastle musicians started the Facebook group 'From One Valley To Another, Spread The Love' and put out the call to local musos and event coordinators to help organise fundraising concerts around the region and show their love to the Bega Valley through a musical platform.
Cessnock event organiser Charlie McLennan didn't hesitate to hop on board, and said she was "inundated" by musos wanting to donate their time.
"I had the lineup sorted in a few hours. I actually had to knock back artists," she said.
"These musos are donating all their time to this cause and I am super proud of them."
The lineup includes Trinity Woodhouse, Dave Javier, Tucan (Pam and Les Gully), Triage, The Cutaways, the Andy Abra and Kellie Cain Duo, Bushrock, The Beautiful Things, Revampt, Corey Legge (who comes from the Cobargo area), Get What Ya Given, Dirty Annie and Damnation: The Bon Scott Tribute Band - performing across two stages (country on the inside, and rock on the outside).
There will also be raffles, Chook Plop Lotto, 100 clubs, merchandise, a coin toss and a jumping castle.
"We want to show Bega Valley what the Hunter Valley is made of and try to bring as much immediate relief as we can to this area where the fires have been so unforgiving," McLennan said.
"We are expecting a big turn out on the day and night, and hope that people dig deep to support this cause."
Any business that would like to make a donation to the raffle pool can email eventertainmentinthehunter@gmail.com.
The show will run from 2pm to 10pm Saturday. For more information, find the Facebook event 'Home Grown In The Hunter - Mini Concert for RFS'.
Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
