Newstead Live Music Festival

Newstead Live Music Festival Newstead Live! Just 90 minutes from Melbourne; 45 minutes from Bendigo. What They Said About Previous Newstead & Chewton Folk Festivals .... KRISTINA OLSEN

Small Town • Big Heart • Unforgettable Festival • January 23 - 26 2026 Australian folk-roots music festival in the historic country town of Newstead on Dja Dja Wurrung country. Music Festival features highly regarded international and national artists, performing in concert spaces, workshops, impromptu sessions and blackboard spots. Traditional Celtic & old-timey sessions, Australia's legendary Tr

oubadour live music venue, Spoken Word & Poets' Breakfast, Australia’s original Trad Disco, outdoor Pool Party, great camping, walk between venues. would like to acknowledge and thank the photographers who have contributed to the photos used on this site, including Dean McLaren, Julie Melia, Dave James, Richard Grace, Marina Hurley, Trevor Pearson and Mike Woodgate. Music Festival has been running for fifteen years, the first 6 years as Chewton Folk Festival. "The best festival I've ever been to" ANDY IRVINE "

"...a great weekend, a quality music experience." SHANE HOWARD

"If this is what small festivals are like I want to go to many more of them." PETER GRAYLING

"A weekend to be treasured." KAVISHA MAZZELLA

"The venues are small and charming and the calibre of performers is very high, a great mix of Australian and overseas guests at the Newstead Music Festival."

We had our small and extremely joyful event at The Newstead Pub last Saturday night. It truly was something to behold. O...
28/01/2026

We had our small and extremely joyful event at The Newstead Pub last Saturday night. It truly was something to behold. Our tiny town was buzzing for one night only. Sad but satisfying. Thank you to those who played and everyone who came and enjoyed. An even bigger thank you to everyone who wasn't there, performers and punters, you supported us and the very difficult the decision to cancel Newstead Live 26.
Keep the love alive and enjoy the rest of the festival season.
MUCH LOVE NSL.

See you at The Newstead Pub music starts 5.30 with The Anita George's Trio.There will be a volunteer “THANK YOU” toast a...
23/01/2026

See you at The Newstead Pub music starts 5.30 with The Anita George's Trio.

There will be a volunteer “THANK YOU” toast around 6.30pm.

Followed by Alluvium, Emmy Ryan, The Badcock Brothers and Whiskey Dram.

A BIG THANKS to this town, each and every performer (ever), everyone who follows this page and loves our festival.

Our businesses, community groups and locals look forward to our festival. Its'a vibe! This year may be a little quieter ...
22/01/2026

Our businesses, community groups and locals look forward to our festival. Its'a vibe!
This year may be a little quieter but pop in and check out our town. Get your fridge stocked with quality meat from Newstead Meat Supply, have a coffee at Dig Cafe, stroll over to the Newstead Country Store and grab an ice cream, keep going to Newstead Men's Shed to peruse hand crafted wares and finish off with a trip to the op shop at to buy all your books for 2026.

Have a snooze, you deserve it, and come back for Saturday nights entertainment at The Newstead Pub

WHAT A TOWN! WHAT A COMMUNITY!

Festival or not, these lovely people are always motivated. Check out their hand crafted pieces this weekend and every we...
21/01/2026

Festival or not, these lovely people are always motivated. Check out their hand crafted pieces this weekend and every weekend. We love our Newstead Men's Shed

No Festival in Newstead this weekend. So no Shed BBQ cafe this year. But, until it gets too hot, the Shed’s Sales Guru, George will be here each day. Pop in and browse if you are in town.

We are thrilled to say that The Newstead Pub have offered a night of entertainment in the spirit of Newstead Live Music...
21/01/2026

We are thrilled to say that The Newstead Pub have offered a night of entertainment in the spirit of Newstead Live Music Festival. In the wake of today's disappointing news, it is heartening to see the town rallying to support each other during an exceptionally hard time for our region.

We made the decision to cancel the 2026 Newstead Live event in the interests of everyone's safety. It was not an easy choice - and we are especially sad for the locals of Newstead to miss out on an important weekend.

Please help us in supporting them
Newstead Pub encourages dinner bookings for Saturday Night.

STARTS 5pm
with a toast to the town and its volunteers

MUSIC STARTS 5.30pm
Anita George Trio Anita George
Alluvium Alluvium - Music
Emmy Ryan
Badcock Brothers
Whiskey Dram

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2026 festival. Given the forecast of very high tempera...
21/01/2026

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2026 festival. Given the forecast of very high temperature over the entire weekend, we have decided not to take the risk presented by the heat. We want to keep both our festival community and our Newstead community safe, and ensure that we are back in 2027.
The Team at Newstead Live

NOTE: Ticket holders will receive information via email about refunds, which will be processed in the next day or two

Hi There We need a Coffee Cart for the festival. It would be located next to the oval, right next to the campers and the...
18/01/2026

Hi There
We need a Coffee Cart for the festival. It would be located next to the oval, right next to the campers and the Main Stage if you are interested please call Kelly on 0448 234 758

Jeremy Beggs here 23-26 Jan! Such an incredible local talent.
18/01/2026

Jeremy Beggs here 23-26 Jan!
Such an incredible local talent.

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Newstead, VIC
3462

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+61448234758

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Newstead Live Music Festival takes place each year over the last weekend in January. Celticana, Americana, Australiana folk-roots music festival in historic country town of Newstead, near Castlemaine, Central Victoria. The festival started out as Chewton Folk Festival and has now been running in Newstead for over 15 years.

Small is Beautiful:

Highly regarded international and national artists perform concerts, workshops and impromptu sessions in spaces and venues across Newstead. Traditional Celtic & old-timey sessions, Australia's legendary Troubadour live music venue, spoken word & poets' breakfast, Australia’s original trad disco, outdoor pool party, great camping, walk between venues, and all just 90 minutes from Melbourne; 30 minutes from Bendigo. "The best festival I've ever been to" ANDY IRVINE " "...a great weekend, a quality music experience." SHANE HOWARD "If this is what small festivals are like I want to go to many more of them." PETER GRAYLING "A weekend to be treasured." KAVISHA MAZZELLA "The venues are small and charming and the calibre of performers is very high, a great mix of Australian and overseas guests at the Newstead Music Festival." KRISTINA OLSEN