Music to ears- Storyteller John Sheills and harpist Cath Connelly will entertain the crowd at

By Tania Martin
THE hills will next week come alive to the sound of music and plenty of colour for the annual Performing And Visual arts in Emerald (PAVE) festival.
The popular week-long event will officially open on Monday 5 April with a multi-cultural celebration.
It will kick-start the festival from 10am at Emerald Lake Park with a market and several dance performances including an Indian group and belly-dancers.
Now in its fifth year, PAVE is organised by an army of volunteers and community groups and aims to build community strength through the arts.
Music will again be a big part of the festival with a number of local acts performing at various cafes around the town.
One of the main highlights of the event will be community broadcaster 3MDR’s Women’s Song Night which will take centre stage at ‘The Gem’ performing arts centre on Wednesday 7 April, Kilvington Drive.
Emerald’s resident storyteller JJ (John Sheills) will join hills Celtic harpist Cath Connelly for a night of music and tales at the town’s community centre hall, on Thursday 8 April from 7.30pm.
GEMCO Theatre Company will also be running a number of performance workshops on Saturday 10 April, culminating in a gala performance that night.
The workshops will include vocal and instrumental, acrobalance, masks in drama, stage make-up and clowning, each catering for the different ages and needs of people.
Young people also form an integral part of the festival and have organised a special event called ‘Get PAVED’ on Saturday 10 April.
It will feature local bands and other activities such as laser tag, a football clinic, and a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, plus fun tattoo and jewellery stalls.
It will be a family fun day with rides and activities for all to enjoy.
A Jazz tent will be set up with wine and cheese tasting for the adults and visitors to enjoy.
A number of stalls focussed on local homemade and grown items will be on display and shop keepers will join the fun with activities and special with a distinctly multicultural feel.
A full events listing could be checked out from www.pave.org.au.