Anyone who's visited Bellingen before will know there's a lot more to the idyllic coastal town than meets the eye. We asked Jacquie Gill and Toke Brunnekreef, frontwomen for Bellingen-based band Honey & Knives, to take us Bello the surface.
Local Flavour
coffee
Jac: Bello knows how to do great coffee everywhere but my faves are Hyde and Amelia Franklin's Fairtrade Coffee in the old petrol station.
Toke: Follow Jac's guide to coffee as I don't drink the stuff. Caffeine tablets on the other hand do the trick when you need a little pick me up (every cafe in Bello is gonna hate me for that).
whiskey
Jac: Can't go past The Brewery for the best wines and whiskey. And the 'Hot Lips' is a smokin' cocktail.
Toke: Wow, I'm coming out the gates real good here — I don't drink this stuff either! Haha. But Paul at the Cedar Bar is a whiskey connoisseur so I'd place my bets there I reckon.
Dinner
Jac: Qudo, the Japanese, is sensational and I love the share entrees at Cedar Bar (best polenta chips with truffle parmesan — yum).
Toke: Oooh I took Jac on a date to Qudo earlier this year to thank her for the mattress she handed down to me. So good and the food is wonderful! Also seriously enjoy the vego thali plate at No.5 — SPICY.
Honey & Knives at No. 5 Church Street. Pic by Jay Black.
Place to warm up
Jac: The fireplace at The Fed is cosy and loungy and they have great food there too.
Toke: At my folks' place. Sure they wouldn't mind a few visitors! If it gets a little crowded there, you could head to No.5 for a thali plate by the fire — HOT & SPICY.
Craft beer
Jac: Eep! I don't drink beer! But I love The Brewery's organic, preservative-free wines because they're basically a health elixir.
Toke: The Brewery has some delish beers and The Bellingen Brewing Company ginger beer, which is just right.
Gig guide
Favourite venues
Jac: Love playing at No.5, St Margaret's Hall and Cedar Bar. And super looking forward to playing outside in the park at the Festival Market Place on Sunday.
Toke: St Margaret's Hall was special last time and I'm really looking forward to playing the Cedar Bar this festival.
Hot pop-up
Jac: Definitely catching Miel and Tyler Nakoa at the Gelato Bar, such a tasty and intimate venue! And I have musical crushes on the violinists in The Twoks and Hello Tut Tut, so I'll be strolling to the Showground on the Sunday arvo to watch those amazing ladies shred it.
Toke: Miel at Gelato Bar and Tyler Nakoa at Hyde would be my picks.
Best spot for the parade
Jac: Lucky me, I have a great view of Oak St from my house. I'm a stone's throw from the Gelato Bar, lucky me!
Toke: Don't just watch the parade — join it! Check out the Bello Winter Music Facebook page for details about rehearsals.
Pic by Alex Clarke
Best of the fest
Workshops
Jac: So many great workshops this year! I'm planning to head to the Primitive Fire Making workshop on Friday, the Yoga on Saturday morning at St Margaret's and the Empower Yourself To Be Plastic Neutral at The Stables on Sunday.
Toke: Singing and songwriting with Z-Star at Diggers on Saturday, Edible & Medicinal Weeds at Maam Gaduying Park on Saturday, Live Looping With Burger Joint at the Youth Hub on Saturday, Dustyesky's singing workshop Sunday at the Golf Club and Make Your Own Plastic Free Personal Products at The Stables on Sunday.
For the kids
Jac: I see lots of my violin students' families hanging out at the Festival Market Place and jumping on The Magic Bus!
Toke: I think the Bugs Of Bellingen workshop at The Stables on Friday would be fun for the squids. The Magic Bus for sure and Roundabout Theatre are a great laugh for all ages. And for those times when the ferals need to let off steam, hit the skate park down by the river — see you there, bring an instrument so we can jam.
Festival must-sees
Jac: I discovered The Northern Folk at the Illawarra Folk Fest earlier this year and loved their energy on stage! Also looking forward to the Ethno Folk Orchestra, Loren Kate, Perch Creek, Sal Kimber, The Twoks, The Morrisons, Hello Tut Tut, Hot Potato Band, High Lonesome. Ah, I'm going to be running around all over the place trying to catch everyone! Also really want to see the local singing and rhythm group, Gunganbuwala play on Sunday.
Toke: Ok, I have to put this in alphabetical order so I'm not accused of favouritism because I really like them all so much. Ash Bell & Sara Tindley, Brian Campeau, Dan Parsons, Diamond Duck, Dustyesky, High Lonesome, Justin Townes Earle, Mandy Nolan, Miel, Perch Creek, The Morrisons, Tyler Nakoa, William Crighton, Z-Star Trinity and all the rest!
Best spot to see musicians play together at the festival
Jac: I like going to the opening night at the Memorial Hall on the Thursday — a really great tasting platter of the acts for the weekend — and Mandy Nolan is really funny.
Toke: The opening night is a top way to get everyone excited about what's to come. Then the Bread & Butter sessions at the Cedar are really, really cool — singers/musos from the festival pair up for duets and everything's outside the box.
Don't miss…
Jac: As a music teacher, I just love the Youth Mentorship Program the festival has each year. At the first Bello Winter Fest back in 2015, we were youth mentors to Rosie Stephen, a 14-year-old with the most incredible vocal talent. It was a really rewarding mentorship and we have watched Rosie grow into a powerful musician who is now singing in vocal trio act Miel. They are an act not to be missed — their harmonies are so beautiful and haunting. So I would definitely recommend seeing them!
Toke: Ditto what Jac said... Miel is a trio of young fems with jaw-dropping vocals — a must see.
Favourite thing you've heard on the street at Bello Winter Music
Jac: Last year Mama Kin walked past me on the street and commented on my funky dress. It's possibly the best thing that's ever happened to me haha! And I love seeing my violin students busking about the streets, I think those little musos add so much to the vibe.
Toke: Ok, this sounds cheesy but I love it when people come and say hi and let me know they enjoyed a show. When people take the time to do that it really means a lot. Also, the goss is that Scott Collins will be doing interpretive dance at a secret location during the festival — keep your eyes peeled.
Bellin-gems
Favourite view of the river
Jac: I love the view of the green paddocks and the river beyond from Qudo and the beautiful Youth Hostel.
Toke: Right down beside the river is the best spot. There's some benches among the trees on the southern side or down on the banks of the northern side in the sunshine.
Pic by Megz Noel
Out of town adventure
Jac: An ice-cold swim in the Never Never River in the Promised Lands. It's as beautiful and fairy-tale-like as it sounds!
Toke: Stay at least a week so you can check out the Promised Lands, Dorrigo National Park and Sawtell beaches!
Local goodies
Jac: The Growers Market Saturday morning at the showground has beautiful local organic produce and they've got a free concert — it'll be a great place to chill.
Toke: The Growers Market like Jac said. Kombu for a walk in shop with pretty much everything you need and Bello Food Box online, pre-order a weekend box of goodies to keep you going.
Favourite thing about Bello Winter Music…
Jac: It's so energising to see my hometown bursting with cultural energy. I moved to Bellingen five years ago and fell in love with the vibrant community, passionate about the arts and environment, and Bello Winter Music just brings out the best of all of that.
Toke: Finding that new album to play on repeat. Bello Winter Music puts on such a variety of acts from up-and-coming to world class — there is always something I've never heard before and I go home with a bunch of new CDs. Bello Winter Music also put so much effort into making each venue inviting, welcoming you in for a good time.
