The festival has built on the phenomenal success of Oakleigh’s Caravan Music Club which has gone from strength to strength by showcasing quality national and international talent to music-starved local audiences. The greatly expanded festival program this year has resulted in a second venue being added, the charming Oakleigh Bowling Club, down the road from the Caravan Club.

The opening event this year will be the smash hit of last year’s program, “JVG’s Stopping All Stations Except East Richmond” , an ensemble show with RRR’s Jon von Goes, leading a posse of Melbourne romantics including David Bridie and Mick Thomas on a sentimental journey through the “burbs”. The suburban content has been cranked up a notch this year with new shows featuring Dave Warner (“I’m Just A Suburban Boy”), Jane Clifton (“Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home”) and Mic Conway & Robbie Long launching their new album “Street Of Dreams”. Another festival highlight will be “Under Suburban Skies” featuring the music, poetry and meanderings of Dog Trumpet (Reg Mombassa & Peter O’Doherty), Dave Graney, Lisa Miller, Brian Nankervis, Stephen Cummings and Mark Ferrie

Shows by celebrated local favourites Wagons , The Audreys and The Celibate Rifles will be complimented by the Melbourne premiere of “A Night At The Crossroads”- a fervent tribute to Mississippi Blues Legend Robert Johnson which features some of Sydney’s and Melbourne’s finest Blues musicians. The hugely successful Big Gospel Breakfast will also be back again this year featuring the South Of The River Gospel Choir with Bob Sedergreen & Chris Wilson.

Carnival Of Suburbia also features a contingent of extraordinary international talent including New York folk scene hero Judy Collins and founding member of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers , Chris Hillman, performing alongside renowned Californian banjo player/ guitarist Herb Pedersen. Also appearing is acclaimed US folk-poet Pieta Brown accompanied by The Sawdust Boys with very special guest Lucie Thorne. This second annual Carnival of Suburbia emphatically cements Oakleigh’s place as a hub of live music performance south of the Yarra River. …..And we may still have a few tricks up our sleeve so stay tuned for further announcements!

”The suburbs are considered by many to be a barren wasteland devoid of culture, but in reality so much of the art hanging in trendy galleries and the music being played in hip inner urban venues is created in the garages and lounge rooms of suburbia so why not celebrate it in its place of origin. Carnival of Suburbia is about celebrating Melbourne suburban culture!” - Caravan Music Club Founder Peter Foley.