 |
| Closing off the main street of Apollo Bay certainly contributed to the atmosphere when I arrived [Photo: Og Bear] |
I grabbed my arm band and headed out to the farm to settle in.
 |
| The Choir of Hard Knocks was a hi-light upon arriving on the Friday. Definitely worth the price of the ticket! [Photo: Og Bear] |
They were amazing, entertaining and touching, especially their honesty and courage.
On exiting I ran into Carol who I had met at Bluestone several years back. It was good to catch up.
There was a good range of acts at the Festival, with a solid core of blues artists, though the definition of blues on their program was very very broad indeed.
 | |
|
A quick glance at the end the Huckleberry Swedes with Bill Chambers at the Apollo Bay Hotel then over to the Shire Marquee for a complete contrast with the soul, hip hop band, Kid Confucius.
What was really good to see was a strong buskers competition going in the main street, which had been closed off, and also the Young Performers competition in the Street Tent. The Festival had started a day early because of ANZAC Day and these activities created a sense of atmosphere that was to last the whole weekend.
 | |
|
 | |
|
 | |
|
 |
| Canberra bluesman Adam Hole [Photo: Og Bear] |
Just caught the end of another band which I found out later to be the The Band Who Knew Too Much, sadly there was probably some truth in their name.
A mighty fine bluegrass band, Redfish Bluegrass, were playing at the surf club, and kept the crowd quite entranced with something a little different to the rest of the festival with their traditional instruments, a pre-war sound system, and the repertoire to match.
 |
| Not quite sure who they were, but had to take the photo [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Fats Wah Wah as the strangest concoction of a blues band you have ever seen! [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Dallas Frasca was amazing when she climbed over the barrier into the moshe pit [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| I love the look on the two guys watching Dallas [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Jeff Curran carries his end of the bargain, on the beat up old black steel guitar, while Dallas entertains us in the crowd [Photo: Og Bear] |
Over at the Great Ocean I just caught the end of Wild Dog Blues and from the reaction of the crowd I could sense they had done the job.
I was disappointed that Liz Stringer hadn't made it, having broken her wrist earlier in the week.
But I did get to see a bit of Matt Dwyer and the Magnatones again at the Street Stage if only to get a better photo without Matt blocking the drummer this time.
 |
| Big buskers band Da Chos in the BBQ [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Trust Benny to adopt a band and join in. He is normally Somerled's band, Red Arrow Black Shirt's mascot! [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| The view from the dining room of the farm where I stayed [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| The dining room and kitchen on the farm where I stayed [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Sleepy older Apollo Bay is disappearing fast under the "box" developers bulldozers and concrete! [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Kate is the 'Queen of the Blues' and Skip is the 'King of the Keyboards'[Photo: Og Bear] |
At the Bowling Club I caught up with Kate Meehan and Skip Landy and it was good to have a chat with Kate. She showed us why she is the 'Queen of the Blues' and Skip was in his element on the keyboards reminiscing the former days of public service drudgery compared with the enjoyment of following his heart despite the poverty of now being a full time musician.
The best sound of the weekend was at the Bowling Club and we were all certain to let the sound guy know how good a job he had done.
 |
| More buskers contributing to a great atmosphere. Drummer hasn't arrived, well the show must go on! [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| It's thong picking good with Marshall and the Fro in the Street Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| It's thong picking good with Marshall and the Fro in the Street Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
At the Goulburn Blues Festival's Blues Chain awards they were nominated for "New Talent of the Year" for the song "Soldiers". The band comprises of Marshall O'Kell on guitar, slide guitar, and vocals, Nick Ohlson on bass and Jacob Mann on drums.
Marshall at each performance calls for a thong from the crowd, no don't get too excited ladies or gentleman, I mean the rubber type, no, the type that goes on your feet on the way to the beach. The next piece is "thong picked" after which the thong is chucked back into the crowd, towards it's rightful owner, we hope.
 |
| More The New Estate, a young 4 piece indie pop noise outfit from Melbourne [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| The New Estate deserved better with only an audience of two [Photo: Og Bear] |
Anglesea outfit, The Mangy Black Dogs, can take a good honest song from our long distant pasts' and turn it back out with a bad case of the mange, blues mange I mean, hence the name.
 |
| Badge and his brothers became good acquaintances. They go to the Blues Club in Maldon regularly and know all the crew including Kinga! [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| The Kirbys were the only other Sleepy Hollow Blues Club members that I saw at Apollo Bay [Photo: Og Bear] |
After this it was back to the Great Ocean Hotel in time to catch the end of festival party featuring the ever amazing Marshall and the Fro with guests, Dallas Frasca followed by Curran and many more. We were all coming down and it was a perfect windup for a great weekend.
 |
| Kirby & Og with the security guards. A very laid back bunch from across the Tasman [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Marshall and the Fro's Marshall getting down amongst the awe struck audience at the after Fest party [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Marshall and the Fro with Dallas Frasca at the after Fest party [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Carol had a really great time at the end of festival party at the Great Ocean Road with Marshall and the Fro playing [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Og enjoying himself at the after Fest party [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Looking back the "the Bay" when leaving along the "Great Ocean Road" [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Look towards Lorne of the Great Ocean Road on the way home [Photo: Og Bear] |
 |
| Weis - a little touch of heaven |
http://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/ApolloBayMusicFestival2008#
For a slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/ApolloBayMusicFestival2008#slideshow/
