BANG! BANG!

Closing off the main street of Apollo Bay certainly contributed to the atmosphere when I arrived
[Photo: Og Bear]

I hadn't been to the Apollo Bay Music Festival for over 10 years. What a shock, people and queues everywhere so with no respite it took a little while to settle in. I was glad I was staying out at a farm house by myself about 10 minutes out of town as I needed some respite.

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]

The Choir of Hard Knocks was on in the big tent that night, a must see, so I made sure I was back in town to beat the rush.

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.

Matt Dwyer & the Magnatones at the Bowling Club
[Photo: Og Bear]

Next cab off the rank on the Friday night was Matt Dwyer and the Magnatones at the Bowling Club. A raunchy rock-a-billy band dressed to the "T"s doing original material with a burst of surf, they certainly showed why Matt had won the winner of the MBAS Victoria/Tasmania Blues Music Award Male Artist of the Year.

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.

Buskers, The Shed, would let you pick a song for their list and would sing it for a donation
[Photo: Og Bear]

More buskers contributing to a great atmosphere
[Photo: Og Bear]

New Zealand band, Bonjah, a four piece band crossed into a blend of folk/funk/reggae
[Photo: Og Bear]

There were some really refreshing young blues acts and Saturday morning saw the start with Bonjah on the Street Stage. This New Zealand, four piece band crossed into a blend of folk/funk/reggae with a unique display of dynamic musicianship, from touching vocal melodies to impromptu jams.

Canberra bluesman Adam Hole
[Photo: Og Bear]

Next, at the Great Ocean Hotel, Adam Hole on guitars was joined by Phoebe Juskevics on an amazing esoteric looking drum kit. This is what the people in Canberra do when only they could sing a capital kind of blues.

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]

Back at the Bowling Club, Fats Wah Wah came next with their energetic blues reggae roots band. They combine elements of delta blues, reggae, country, and free flowing improvisation, all with an unerring ear for a hook.

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]

The blow away hi-light for Saturday was Dallas Frasca & Her Gentleman in the big tent. I saw them on the Blues Train the December before last and this was like something else again. Dallas' distinctive, gutsy, heart-felt vocal style is of uncommon strength coupled with Jeff Curran's finger pickin/slide guitar grooves blew the crowd away when, much against the security guard's wishes, she climbed the barrier and got in with the audience with every intention of heating the party up a few levels. Jeff remained on stage with his old black steel guitar responding to her every move.

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]

I fell by the wayside as even though I was in the company of Eric, he hasn't quite settled in yet and behaving so it was an early retreat back to the farm house and about 10 or more hours of much needed sleep in preparation for the Sunday assault.

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]

It was an easy Sunday as I had caught most of the acts I wanted to see already.

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]

The blow away act for Sunday was Byron Bay's Marshall and the Fro. This band has this really rich dynamic but with a raw and dirty sound with a presentation that had the crowd enthralled. It is a real working band that knows how to "talk" to it's audience.

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]

A band that deserved a better deal was the New Estate.  A young a 4 piece indie pop noise outfit from Melbourne with a really good sound, played at the Surf Club to an audience of only two!

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]

Ran into the Kirbys, and my friend Carol again, so we all headed off for the traditional dinner at Buff's Restaurant.

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]

[Og the Bear man]

Weis - a little touch of heaven

For more photos go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/ApolloBayMusicFestival2008#

For a slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/ApolloBayMusicFestival2008#slideshow/