Emma Pritchard

Persistent rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of concertgoers who brought their umbrellas and ponchos along to Grafton’s Market Square on October 27 as they watched acclaimed musicians Troy Cassar-Daley, Don Walker, and special guest Jem Cassar-Daley, deliver a captivating performance.

A self-described proud Graftonian, and a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, Cassar-Daley said it was great to be back in his hometown, and to share the stage with his talented daughter Jem, who dazzled the crowd with her glorious vocal range.

Honoured as the 2023 Grafton Jacaranda Festival Guest of Honour this year, Cassar-Daley shared fond memories of the popular annual event from his childhood and adolescence with the audience throughout the night as he performed some of his most recognisable songs including Take A Walk In My Country, Dream Out Loud, Back On Country, and River Boy.

Grafton Jacaranda Festival Manager Mark Blackadder said it was fantastic to welcome Grafton’s favourite son and one of Australia’s most beloved country music stars back to the Clarence Valley.

Prominently regarded as one of the best songwriters in the land after penning several classic hits for famed band Cold Chisel, Walker, like Cassar-Daley, spent a lot of his childhood in Grafton, and said he was honoured to return and perform during the 2023 Grafton Jacaranda Festival.

At the end of the concert, Walker was joined on the stage by Cassar-Daley and his daughter, and together, they performed one of his most famous songs, Flame Trees, which was inspired by his memories of Grafton.