THE Hunter is known for attracting big rock acts in the vineyards, such as the Rolling Stones, the Eagles and Bruce Springsteen.
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Adrian Buckley wants the region to also be known for supporting smaller, independent music events.
He is director of Folk in Broke, a festival returning on Saturday after a hiatus of several years.
‘‘We’re relaunching it and giving it a new energy,’’ Mr Buckley said.
It will feature 11 bands, markets, food stalls and artisans.
‘‘To have independent music festivals in the Hunter is important – it adds culture to areas that sometimes don’t get represented in that way,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s also good for tourism and exposure.’’
Mr Buckley said the Broke, Laguna and Wollombi area had long been ‘‘classified as the arts’ end of the Hunter Valley’’.
It was also a beautiful part of the world, he said.
The festival will be held at Broke’s McNamara Park, which he said was a ‘‘perfect location’’ with mountain views.
It was a fitting place for one of the festival’s bands – the Hillbilly Goats – which describes itself as having an ‘‘undeniable passion for mountain music’’.
Broke is a small village with views to the Brokenback range and a sandstone formation called Yellow Rock.
