Xavier Rudd, Wendy Matthews and Drapht part of line-up for Carnarvon’s This Life Music Festival

One of Australia’s favourite bare-footed roots musicians, Xavier Rudd, will headline Carnarvon’s new This Life Music Festival in July. Singer-songwriter Wendy Matthews and multi-ARIA award-winning Perth hip hop artist Drapht are also part of the dynamic and eclectic line-up for the July 23 concert. The festival, to be held in the civic centre car park, is much-anticipated in the community after the Shire of Carnarvon received funding through the Raise the Roof fund in 2019. But the funds were held over after the event was previously cancelled due to COVID restrictions. Rudd will visit the Mid West and Gascoyne as part of his national tour promoting his 10th album Jan Juc Moon. He will perform in Geraldton on July 22 and in Exmouth on July 24. “I’m very excited to get out on the road and share this new record and live show that I’ve been working on,” he said. “Australia first and then back out in the big wide world, the world needs music and I’m ready to share.” Matthews, a six-time ARIA award-winner and hitmaker from the 1990s, said she was excited to head west. “I am looking forward to getting back over to the west coast and performing; travelling to Broome last year inspired me to get back to WA and perform in regional towns like Carnarvon,” she said. Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith said since Rudd was announced as the headline act, more than 100 tickets had been sold — which “demonstrates significant support from the community”. “The Shire plans to ramp up a State-wide marketing campaign in the coming weeks to bring visitors to the region for the event, which will be great for our business community,” he said. Early bird tickets are now on sale from the Carnarvon Visitor Centre or online at carnarvon.org.au.