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A bake-off, a bass player and a festival

Welcome to The Nugget, a 24k gold newsletter about Castlemaine's people and events

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The Nugget
November 08, 2024

★ A COMMUNITY BAKE-OFF ★

A very sweet, very queer bake-off is happening on Sunday and everyone is invited to come have a taste.

Bakers are competing in categories from Gayest Cake to Best Tart and This cake is 'brat' - the youth category.  

Attendees will be able to sample the treats and vote on their favourite for the People’s Choice Award.

Celebrity judges will hand down their deliberations live, in a Master-Chef-esque presentation.  

"This will probably be the most fun part of the event. We're so lucky in Castlemaine to have access to the level of expertise that we do," says Amalie O'Hara, who has the honour of hosting the inaugural Queer Cakes and Butch Bakes.  

The judging panel is comprised of culinary connoisseurs from Johnny Baker, Cabosse and Feve Chocolates, Bar Midland, Ratbag Food and Wine, Superhero Banh Mi and Dhelkaya Health.

In addition to being fun as heck, Queer Cakes and Butch Bakes is a fundraiser for Castlemaine Pride.  

Amalie says this town is a very good place to be queer.

"You're going to make me cry.

"As someone who is part of a minority group, I think we are constantly looking at how the world perceives us, how the world treats us, constantly analysing how we fit, if we fit, if we're not only accepted but celebrated,” Amalie says.

"I feel held by the community in Castlemaine. I feel like I've got peOple here, not just from my community, but allies, too, who would fight for my rights and for me."

Amalie O’Hara (she/they) is a proud queer human whose favourite time of the week is when they present Queer and Now with Sherene Clow on MaineFM (Tuesdays, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

❀ THE BASS PLAYER & THE FESTIVAL ❀

M79, keeping the Spring Ball groovy. Bradley Dawson is the bass player in the hat.

Are you going to the Town Folk Festival???

M79 is. They are, of course, Castlemaine’s favourite five-piece electronic funk-rock dance band. They gearing up to join a wild lineup of musicians at the third, and rather beefed-up, version of the Town Folk Festival. 

"It feels like it's just going to be a huge success," says Bradley Dawson, M79’s bass player. 

3,500 people are expected at the festival on Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Castlemaine to see international and homegrown stars including A. Savage (US), Marlon Williams (NZ), the Teskey Brothers, Grace Cummings and Ngaire. 

"A lot of people will be coming from Melbourne to see some of the bigger names and we're excited to play for them, "  Bradley says. "It's also great to perform in front of your home crowd; people who know us and get up and dance to our songs."

The Town Folk Festival has levelled up this go around, adding a main stage in the Sunken Oval alongside the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. Acts will also perform at The Bridge Hotel and Shedshaker Brewing. 

The event will help show off the eclectic, artsy magic of Castlemaine.

"This town is full of musicians,"  Bradley says. "Really talented people who might also be tradespeople or yoga teachers. There's a real collegial feel; we all want to support each other."

M79 came about after he met slide guitarist Telford Scully. 

"He just said one day, 'want to come round and play some music.' I hadn't played in the last decade or so. We did some really bad covers. (Vocalist) Lisa Mills came the next week and we just started jamming." 

Briega Young joined on vocals and Euan Williamson brought the beats, keys and vocals. 

"We played one gig during Covid when we were only allowed 30 people in the Theatre Royal. From there, we've built a catalogue of songs and played all over town and down in Melbourne," Bradley says.

“Performing is great, but the song writing is the most joyous part of the whole thing. It's actually joyous. When you're jamming and creating something new, it's a really special feeling. 

"I have a bit of a motto: Look after people and make things.

"We're no spring chickens (except for Briega). As you get older being creative becomes more important."

☆👀 Flash mob of the week 👀☆

The Soul Funkers from Movement Zone took the goove to the street last weekend, putting on a joyous pop-up performance in front of the Theatre Royal. Yessss, crew.

♡˖ NOVEMBER EVENTS ˖♡