Sunny skies, great music all day (and into the night), and 830 'festies' on the lawns kicking back to some of Australia's best acoustic, blues and folk musicians.

It was the perfect day.

Our thanks to all who helped - to Jeff at Island Marquees, Phillip Island Skip and Toilet Hire, the Davies family (Richie and Sharon) and Enviromeat, Simon and the crew at OptimAV (for the brilliant sound), Trevor and Megan Ryan for the stage, also Rod (for all his help setting up and on the gate) and Jim Barnes from Tallangatta, Greg Price for his 'second stage', Dazzle signs, Miekle's paella's, Carole and Mary on the gate and our three French backpackers (Louis, Antona and Pierre), Cleeland Bus Lines for the shuttle service, and huge, huge thanks to our classy MC Gaeton and all the fabulous musicians.

Thanks also to Kim, Kathryn and the team at Destination Phillip Island, and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival.

Lastly, thanks to the cheerful staff at Phillip Island Winery for all their hard work in making the day such a success.

We'll be back again next year, bigger and even better - you can bank on it - with another eclectic mix of brilliant 'rootsy' songwriters and bands.

Put a circle around Sunday March 10 2013 (Labour Day Weekend) and keep watching this site for news and for details.

Country, blues and folk music stars will be shining at Phillip Island Winery this Sunday 11 March for the first annual MUSICFEST Phillip Island.

Running from 12:30pm until 10:30pm - finishing with a bush dance under the stars with Paradiddle - and featuring some of Australia's finest roots and acoustic musicians, MUSICFEST will be a unique day of classy roots, blues and folk music.

Order or performances:

Main stage:

12:30 Rob Fairbairn and friends
1:15 Jacqui Sterling
1:50 Hugh McDonald
2:40 Little Stevies
3:30 Tropical Lounge
4:15 Lisa Miller Trio 
5:05 Zebra Crossing 
5:55 Tabasco Tom, Doc White and Broderick Smith 
6:45 Bern Carroll and Mrs Brown 
7:30 Mike McClellan 
9:00-10:30 Paradiddle Bush Band

Cellar Door Stage

3:15 Jacqui Sterling
4:00 The Plovers
4:45 Vampire Boogie
5:30 Vivace
6:15 Tropical Lounge

A not-to-be missed event for Phillip Island with a brilliant line-up of performers, wine, food and soft-drinks will be available from the cellar door, plus food marquees.

Patrons are also invited to bring along a picnic lunch, chairs and rug to make a day of it.

Cleeland Bus lines will be operating a shuttle bus from Cowes, through Ventnor and Smith's Beach.

Shuttle Bus Pick-up Points

Cleeland Bus Lines: on the hour throughout the afternoon from Cowes (Coles) and evening return
$15 return ticket ($7.50 one way)
Pick-up points:
Cowes: Coles bus stop and RSL
Ventnor: Lyall Street and Grossard Point Road
Smith's Beach: Back Beach Road

Parking:
Priority parking for ticket holders (below the Main Stage)
(Tickets still available: call 5956 8465 or online: www.musicfestphillipisland.com.au)

Coinciding with MusicFest, Phillip Island Winery is pleased to announce the opening of an exciting sculpture exhibition, SCULPTURE CULTURE, Food and Wine, to be staged at the winery from 4th March until 10th April (Easter Tuesday).

Featuring works by leading and emerging Victorian artists, the works will be on display around Phillip Island Winery's grounds and cellar door. With Bass Strait as a backdrop, and sweeping rural views, it is the perfect environment for these dramatic sculptural works.

Artists whose works will be featured include JOHN ABERY, SIAN ADNAM, HELEN BRISTOL, PAUL HEARNSHAW, BOB HICKMAN, NICOLA HOYLE, PAUL JESSE, ANDREW KASPER, MARTIN KEOGH, HELEN McINNES, MARGARET McPHERSON, ANGELA NEWBERRY, FATEMEH VAFAEINEJAD, and TREVOR WHEELER.

On days other than Sunday 11th March when the grounds will be jumping to the sounds of MusicFest Phillip Island, admission to the sculpture exhibition will be free.

All works are available for purchase. Watch this site for more details and images.

With the first of our newspaper advertising beginning this week, and already strong ticket sales through the cellar door (and Phillip Island's strong word-of-mouth network), now is the time to secure your tickets.

There are two levels of tickets:

1. A $40 ticket gives you entry to the event.
2. An $80 ticket gives you entry to the event PLUS a seat at the table for a fine-cuts 'enviromeat' meal in our enviromeat dining marquee right next to the stage.  

Numbers to the 'Long Barbeque' lunch are limited to just 100. If you're thinking of securing a spot in our dining marquee - don't think too long, these tickets will sell out quickly.

At $80 a ticket giving you a seat in the thick of the action, a fine-cuts 'enviromeat' meal, and also including a day of superb music from some of our finest acoustic performers, what better way to kick-back on a Sunday afternoon?

Or, if a picnic is more your style, $40 ticket holders are welcome to bring a picnic hamper, rugs and folding chairs and enjoy the performance from our wide green lawns.

CHECK OUT The Little Stevies on You Tube, or, if you're on the Island on Wednesday 11th January, come along to Phillip Island Winery.

From 7:30pm, The Little Stevies are performing at the cellar door. We were hoping for good weather and an outdoor concert, but the weather gods are not smiling.

No worries, it will be cosy - like an old folk club - but we're hopeful we can fit everyone in. If not, you will be able to catch The Little Stevies on March 11 at MUSIC FEST. (Book your tickets now, sales are gathering pace.)