Essentially a world music festival, it boasted more than 130 separate acts held in chalets, public venues and larger pubs to mark the opening of the snow season. Its artistic director is Illawarra’s veteran folk director David de Santi, all but obscured by poetry, rock, Afro beat, world music, gentle pop and hip hop.

It’ll be more of the same this year, with more than 120 acts already announced to run in 10 mountain venues along with workshops, sessions and kids’ events. He praises the fresh alpine air, friendly scenes in mountain bars and especially the “close and personal live music experience”.

New for 2015, de Santi says, are free night-skiing on the Saturday, and unlimited foot passenger chairlift rides with every weekend festival pass.

Now we’ve received an email from volunteer co-ordinator Dan Zylinski looking for volunteers (last year there were more than 60 of them) to make the 2015 festival run smoothly. Zylinski needs all kinds of skills, and offers the chance to enjoy the festival “both in-front and behind the scenes with an enthusiastic and dedicated team, party late with the bands, make new friends and soak up some great music.”

It looks like a good deal to us. Volunteers work hard but get:

• Free four-day Festival Pass

• Volunteer accommodation deal – only $165 per person, twin share bed & breakfast for three nights.

• 30% discount at participating properties

• 30% discount on Festival merchandise

• 15% discount on published on-mountain rates for equipment and clothing hire.

• Free night skiing on Saturday night

• Free unlimited scenic chairlift rides

• Access to the “after-party’

• Lucky- draw prizes

• Free crew T-shirt

• Free Kosciuszko Park entry

• Free Skitube at arrival /departure

Would-be volunteers should contact Dan Zylinski at volunteer@peakfestival.com.au

The Peak Festival, Perisher and Smiggins, June 5-8, all details and bookings to http://peakfestival.com.au/