The now iconic Girgarre Moosic Muster attracts more than 1500 music lovers and skilled players from city and country, stamping it as a major fixture on Victoria’s acoustic festival circuit. The tutors and bands work free of charge. For more than a decade this unique muster has encouraged and taught thousands of beginners how to play music and provided a platform and exposure for many established and emerging musicians, songwriters and bands.

The festival has promoted the personal joys of making your own music, whether your bent is country, folk, blues, traditional Aussie bush songs, bluegrass, Celtic, pop, gospel or more contemporary styles. 

The burgeoning Girgarre music scene has also given birth to several new bands who now 'give back' by performing within their own communities in northern and central Victoria. Through it all, the muster has kept its true heart ~ its community base ~ and has never charged an entry fee. It’s arguably the most friendly and affordable acoustic music event in Victoria.

The Girgarre Moosic Muster is a family friendly music festival based on a combination of Bluegrass, Irish, Gospel, Country, Bush and Folk music ~ a little for everybody.

It is a festival with a very strong emphasis placed on participation, whether that be as a performer, a teacher or a learner.  Over 40 workshops are run covering a huge range of activities which includes lessons in guitar, banjo, dobro, autoharp, double bass, mandolin, ukulele, bass ukulele, violin, tin whistle, harmonica, singing, songwriting, percussion and poetry. These workshops are tiered to be inclusive, from novices to a gifted musician.

Each muster features free public concerts. Two Friday evening concerts are open to all to participate with open mic and walk~ups. The Saturday evening offers different musical experience.  The outdoor concert is for the bands with big sounds while the indoor concert is a coffee club style of music. New offerings include old-timey sessions, a jokes competition and a tutorial on getting the best sound from your gig venue. 

Sunday morning concerts are continued at the hugely popular Farmers' Market and with a gospel session in the Memorial Hall. The Festival concludes with a walk up concert on Sunday evening. Continuous jamming is encouraged throughout the event and you can even borrow an instrument for free, courtesy of our sponsors. 

The muster venue site is the Winter Road Park with on site camping and the air-conditioned Girgarre Hall. Catering is available with food and drinks. 

The Bush Dance on Wednesday, the concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings and the Sunday morning gospel sing-along are all open to anyone who would like to attend.  No cost, just the mandatory double-vaccination certificate and sign in with the QR code or paper version.  

The team has worked hard to make up for last year’s cancellation, planning a wonderful weekend of musical frolics, interactive activities, concerts and friendship. 

See the website here for our 2022 Muster Program, there's something for everyone!

It will be different, we are not out of the woods with Covid just yet as you all know, but we promise it will be a magic week and just as inclusive as ever.

Bookings are mandatory this year and are closing on Thursday 30 December, so don't leave it to the last minute and miss out!