Bellingen Taranta Festival 2025

The Bellingen Taranta Festival is back on for an extraordinary celebration of music, dance art, food and community. Expect incredibile Mediterranean and world music acts, parades, art installations, workshops and intentional spaces for community connection.

SPECIAL EVENT * Thursday 30th, Jetty Theatre, Coffs Harbour: Taranta Festival Gala! Ali Shkaki Band feat Metin Yilmaz, Nawres Al-Freh, Bobby Singh: Come and join a very special celebration of cultural diversity and amazing musicianship for the Taranta Festival Gala night at the Jetty Theatre in Coffs Harbour. Local Kurdish singer and tanbur virtuoso Ali Shkaki and his band (Laura Targett - violin, Emiliano Beltzer - double bass, Greg Sheehan - percussion) will present a special show featuring some of the most prominent artists of the world music scene in Australia: tabla extraordinaire Bobby Singh, Iraqui kemanche player Nawres Al Freh and Kurdish kaval player Metin Yilmaz.

The gala starts with refreshments and Italian style aperitivo by Osteria Stef & Co followed by an unforgettable concert with special supporting act to be announced.

This event has been sponsored by the City of Coffs Harbour thanks to the Arts and Cultural Development Grant program.

Friday 31st: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS -all day live music, talks and workshops plus a DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS - dress up party with the amazing all female Mariachi power band Queen of Hearts plus acts to be announced. A day to celebrate our ancestors.

Saturday 1sr: THE WORLD STAGE: another full day of live performances, dance, workshops and live music culminating in a night of concerts with amazing acts soon to be revealed

Sunday: LA FESTA! A full day of Italian and Mediterranean music, dance qnd food. Imagine a big long table community lunch, leading to a final dance party with authentic Italian music feat. visiting bands The Rustica Project (Melbourne), Zumpa (Brisbane), Scupriri (Sidney), plus a Santa Taranta showcase. And there is more to be announced!