Mudgee Guardian journo digs deep to learn about Sunset on the Rocks
- Meg Benson
- Aug 6
- 2 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Updated July 31 2026 - 2:05pm
Half an hour after sending out a press release I received a surprisingly enthusiastic email from Mudgee Guardian journalist, Ben Palmer, " I Love this! I'll be in touch shortly!"
A day later we had a 35 minute conversation while I was looking out on the last golden light at Rocky Mountain, Kandos, visible from my lounge room. We discussed Sunset on the Rocks, the partnership with Rylstone Region Community Association and the outstanding live music paired with community participation. Ben demonstrated a rare curiosity to learn more, and clearly expressed his excitement for how activities such as these benefit the region.
Looking Beyond the Event
I appreciated Ben Palmer's recent Mudgee Guardian feature because he looked beyond the usual brief event listing facts and explored the thinking behind Sunset on the Rocks.
He recognised that the event was inspired by place, writing that it is "an intimate concert experience inspired by nature" and that "the region's natural beauty has inspired one of the newest live music events." Rather than focusing only on dates and ticket prices, Ben was curious about why the event exists.
That allowed me to share ideas that are central to my creative practice, including my desire "to really champion the sense of place" and my belief that "everyone connects with the beauty of the place."
Ben also recognised the deliberate decision from this point forward to create "one carefully designed event each year," reflecting a shift towards depth rather than simply producing more events.
Perhaps most importantly, he captured what I hope audiences experience. As I shared with him, "You don't feel like a walking dollar sign at a big, massive festival… You're a person." Hearing afterwards that people "came on their own, made new friends" and "felt comfortable even though they were on their own" remains one of the most meaningful measures of success.
Two days later Ben requested if I had a photo of me to include in the Mudgee Guardian online article, I knew then that his article was going to be more of a story feature, rather than just a listing.
Thank you, Ben, for your thoughtful curiosity and for recognising that the story behind an event can be just as interesting as the event itself.
Ben explained that This article is in the queue go to print in both the Mudgee Guardian, and the Lithgow Mercury because Kandos Rylstone sits smack bang in the middle of that broad reach. Ben, you have played a role in sustaining the arts, that do indeed sustain us! Nice to "meet" you Ben!
A few of you are probably subscribed to the Mudgee Guardian, if you want to read Ben's feature article, I saved it as a PDF.
Here's the photo he asked for, taken last September by Studio1000 ,
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