Honk! Oz
 Wollongong, NSW
13th January 2024
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    • HONK! Oz 2022
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  • Galleries
    • ROVING >
      • Roving 2022 >
        • Matt Houston Thursday
        • Matt Houston Friday
        • Matt Houston Saturday
        • Tobias Moore
      • Roving 2020 >
        • Brian & Brian 2020
        • Geraldine Lefoe 2020
      • Roving 2019 >
        • Geraldine Lefoe 2019
        • Brian & Mark 2019
      • Roving 2018 >
        • Brian Lefoe 2018
        • Gerry Lefoe 2018
        • Brian Luckins 2018
        • Barbara Seager 2018
      • Roving 2017 >
        • Paul Thurs Day 2017
        • Paul Thurs Eve 2017
        • Paul Fri Day 2017
        • Paul Fri Eve 2017
      • Roving 2016 >
        • Caz 2016
        • Ian 2016
      • Roving 2015 >
        • Judy 2015
    • B.o.H.O. >
      • BoHO 2022
      • BoHO 2020
      • BoHO 2019
      • BoHO 2018
      • BoHO 2017
      • BoHO 2016
      • BoHO 2015
  • HONK! Oz 2023
    • SCHEDULE 2023
    • WORKSHOPS >
      • Kids 2023
      • HOOT Pickup Band 2023
      • Samba with Susan 2023
    • VOLUNTEER 2023

Background

“Across the country and around the world, a new type of street band is emerging.” (honkfest.org)
HONK! Oz takes its name and inspiration from Somerville’s (Boston, USA) annual HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands and Seattle's HONK! Fest West.  The first ever HONK! Oz Festival of Street Music happened in Wollongong January 9-11, 2015. Twenty bands converged on the city centre to play music in the streets.  

HONK! Oz is a free non-commercial music festival. Community and Social Justice are at the heart of HONK! Oz. Bands are not paid to participate - they come at their own expense, inspired to connect with other like minded musicians. 

A HONK! band is colourful, acoustic and mobile. Honk bands are inclusive and community minded. They take their musical inspiration from Mardi Gras and Carnival, and from street music gatherings across Europe and South America.  They borrow a fusion of repertoire from a diverse set of music traditions; New Orleans second line, Klezmer, Balkan and Romani music; Brazilian Samba and Frevo; Jazz, funk and popular music. 
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A Honk approach of music making blurs the line between artist and audience, between professional and amateur.  Energetic, Irreverent, revelrous and with a somewhat DIY approach to instrumentation and attire.  Honk bands perform on the streets to celebrate; to protest; to proclaim; some play for peace, some for activist causes; for community spirit; and all of them play to have fun!!!! 
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HONK! Oz was founded by members of The Con Artists community band based at The Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. The concept was supported by The Illawarra Folk Club who generously provided funding to mount the first festival as a fringe event of the Illawarra Folk festival. 
For getting us started . . .many thanks to . . .David, Mark, Mel and The Con Artists extended family, Lotte Latukefu and the tenacious volunteers in the first ever Honk Oz Committee, David Di Santi, Graeme Morrison, Linsey Pollack, Ken Field, Eric Dunan, Gregg Moore, Leslie Dalaba, Joe Correia, Mike Smith, Mike Antares, Tracy Camille, Robert Specogna, Ken Allen, Eleanor and Ian McPhee and many other local musicians, volunteers and the public who came out to support us.

The HONK! Oz Street Music Festival acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to Elders both past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which our festival takes place, the Dharawal peoples, their Elders past, present and emerging and their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of our region

HONK! Oz is supported by the following arts organisations
 Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, Wollongong City Council,  Merrigong Theatre, ​Illawarra Folk Club, 
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