Top: Halfway To Forth headlined the Little Laneway Festival on Sunday 7 February.

Below: Volunteer Mary Jane Gerson, Musical Director Kat Jeffree and Neil Gibson.

Photos by Darren Harris

Darren Harris

FOR SEVEN Sundays of summer, the Little Laneway Fringe Festival has brought live entertainment, good cheer and business to Emu Bay Road, Deloraine.

Situated in the little laneway between The Empire Hotel and Seppenfelts, this little festival promotes community, a place to play for local musicians, and a place for community to enjoy live music and make connections.

Alfred Franssen, co-owner of Seppenfelts, is the co-founder of the festival and a volunteer committee member.

Alfred said he came up with the idea for the first Little Laneway Festival in 2015. ‘The original idea came from trying to attract the crowds attending the Tasmanian Craft Fair across the river to come over to the main street in Deloraine.

‘It is perfect for a little street festival of performance, poetry, music, good for local businesses, the street and for Deloraine.’

Audience member Moira Weber, an Emergency Dept Nurse from Devonport, travelled down to the festival with her husband for the 7 February show, which had 50–60 people in the laneway, along the street and inside the Empire Hotel.

‘I love supporting local music and local towns. Yesterday I went to the Sheffield Flower Show and today it is the Little Laneway festival.

‘I’m originally from Augathella (north of Charleville in Central Queensland) and being part of a community means participation in rural towns, where the people from local business participate to entertain each other.

‘I also get to see familiar faces and make connections. It is about community.’

Kat Jeffree, festival Musical Director and volunteer, said the laneway is a place for the community to come and perform. ‘Local bands come and play, some people have their first gig here, musicians get to meet and hang out. The duo Avalanche met at a previous laneway festival, formed the duo and then recorded an album. A local drum group Come Unity had a jam session here, kids and all ages were welcome to come and play and join in.’

Kat said the Little Laneway Festival is starting to draw wider interest from further afield, including acts from Launceston and Hobart, and one from the mainland.

‘Performers are now calling me to ask if they can play in the laneway each festival. It really does support the community.

‘It gives a place for bands and performers to play, people can see live music in an all ages setting, and local businesses get supported.

‘New artists get to play to their first audiences, and it is a place where original songs and music is welcomed and supported.’

Mark Flanagan, owner of The Empire Hotel, is another volunteer committee member involved in organising each festival.

Mark said the Little Laneway Festival enlivens the ‘Paris’ end of Deloraine, brings people to the street, and for hotel guests staying overnight, it is an added surprise.

The Empire Hotel sponsors the headline act for each festival. Mary Jane Gerson volunteers to pass around the hat for donations to give to the musicians, whose livelihood has taken a dint because of Covid-19.

The festival committee is currently thinking ahead for a two day Little Laneway Fringe Festival over Easter (3–4 April).