SW festival encourages artists

THERE is less than a month until the 30th annual Boyup Brook Country Music Festival - an event that boasts 150 artists including some country music greats.

Headliners for the 2015 are Troy Cassar-Daley and Tania Kernaghan, with other artists including Jonny Taylor, Ray Kernaghan, Fitxroy Xpress and Steve Hill.

Festival music director Sharon Winter said a point of difference for the event was the extent to which artists were involved in the festival.

"Artists make themselves available to the community, they don't just perform their set and leave, they'll go into town and look around," she said.

Festival president Daly Winter said the event brought about $1.7 million into the Boyup Brook economy last year.

"Long-term, we would like to find a patron for the festival, which would allow us to employ some people full time," he said.

"We want to create a sustainable festival that has financial stability that will allow it to evolve in the future."

In addition to the 150 artists - which Mrs Winter said was more than last year - there would be more for people to enjoy, including the West Australian Country Music Awards presented by LiveLighter.

"We have 10 venues, about 35 events relating to the festival and about 55 buskers, in addition to the street markets," she said.

"There are still spots available for the street markets, if people are thinking about having a stall."

Festival vice-president Carol Lander said in its 30 years, the festival had evolved to an extent that artists were contacting the festival about performing.