Celebrating Music and Community on Biripi Country
On Saturday, 2 May 2026, the banks of the Manning River came alive with the sound of music. Djarii Bila: Beats on the Bank, a full-day music festival held at Fotheringham Park on Biripi Country (Taree, NSW), brought together emerging local talent and national touring acts for a celebration of music, culture, and community connection.
We were proud to support local student Patrick Hayes and his dedicated team of musicians and music lovers in bringing this vision to life — from planning and promotion through to event delivery.
A Platform for Local Talent
Running from 10am to 9pm, the festival showcased an impressive lineup of performers: Sam Stephens, Amara Paige, Chloe Hicks, Jack the Bread Guy Trio, Patrick Hayes, Luella Deville, Lucas Cavanagh and the Trainwrecks, a group performance with PCYC, Charlie O'Derry, Tom Harrington, Jake Davey Band, Sunday Lemonade, and Jack Botts.
The event realised one of its principal objectives: shining a spotlight on the glowing music scene in the MidCoast. Emerging artists Luella Deville, Chloe Hicks, Sam Stephens, and Amara Paige received particularly enthusiastic responses from the crowd — a testament to the depth of talent thriving in our region.
“It’s as much as it’s about getting people down there for these big acts that have travelled who are incredible to listen to, it’s also about seeing we actually have talent like this in our area.”
Looking Ahead
With a strong turnout and a day that ran seamlessly, the foundations have been laid for Djarii Bila to become a cherished annual event. Patrick Hayes noted the encouraging response and expressed his hope for growth in the years to come: "It was an amazing turnout for a first event of its kind, and with that, it gives room to grow next time and to have goals for our growth over the years."
Acknowledgments and Thanks
TUC extends sincere thanks to Patrick Hayes and his organising cohort for their vision and dedication, and to every performer who shared their talent on the day. We also acknowledge the community who turned out in support — your presence is what makes events like this possible.
We are proud to play a role in nurturing the creative aspirations of young people in the MidCoast, and we look forward to seeing Djarii Bila grow into an enduring celebration of local music and community spirit.