You Have To Pay To Walk In The Dark!

Arrived at Southern Cross Station to catch the train from Melbourne to Goulburn to attend the Australian Blues Music Festival. I had stayed at Mr Merl's in Melbourne on the Wednesday night. On Thursday morning we got the suburban train into Southern Cross where the CountryLink XPT was waiting for us. A very relaxed eight hour trip, but frustrated by endless track works. The driver did a good job to keep us within 30 minutes of our estimated arrival time.

XPT to Goulburn Departing to Southern Cross [Photo: Og Bear]

Arrived at Goulburn just before 6pm and found our bearings. Situated about 1 hour north of Canberra towards Sydney, Goulburn is Australia's first inland city. It has the State's terrorist jail plus a police academy. It is also gained notoriety about 15 years ago when it elected the local rag and bone man as a town councilor.

Mr Merls on XPT Departing Southern Cross [Photo: Og Bear]

Dialysis was all arranged. The first thing I had done when I thought about coming was ring the Goulburn Dialysis Centre. I couldn't believe it when they said straight away that they could fit me in. Usually there is no space at all and that is the end of any hope of going anywhere at all.

We made way to South Caravan Park, about 3 miles out on the highway. We made a quick tea then got a taxi back in to the opening events.

We checked in to Visitors Centre, where we were issued with $5 taxi vouchers, a welcome relief, as each time we got a cab to the caravan park it was around $12 and seemed to go up by a $1 every time.

Mr Merls and I checked out the other things on program.

The Festival is basically free, but has a handfule of ticketed concerts and events.

Busker in main street at Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Kim Churchill at the opening concert at Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

I have often wondered what would happed if Bastard and Pointy exchanged their well washed grey T-shirts for crisp new black ones. I was about to find out. The event, and as we would discover, the rest of the weekend, would have a a distinct lack of intimacy and was not generally friendly. The atmosphere was quite sanitised, perhaps this is the Canberra influence as just about everyone we tried to talk too was from there.

The turnout at the Chain Awards was just too respectable for a blues event. It was as though they all have a good day job in the public service in Canberra then "don" their blues skins on the weekend. It is all a bit too clean cut, crisp and off the shelf. Excuse the pun when referring to a blues event, but it simply lacked "soul".

Having the Australia's primary blues Awards on the Thursday night to a near empty auditorium was like "pissing in the wind". It almost denigrated the awards and showed a lack of respect to it's recipients. It would have been better to have done this to a full house on either the Friday or Saturday night.

Chain awards presentation on opening night [Photo: Og Bear]

In the lead up to the Festival there was no publicity what so ever. I actually stumbled across it on the Net. I knew it existed, but that was it.

You got a sense that there is little local support for this festival with very few locals even attending it.

Kate Meehan kicked of the night then assisted with the proceedings. This was followed by Kim Churchill who sounds impressive and has already blazed a trail up the blues ladder. But will Icarus's wings melt. Where does he go from here? I get a sense that we could quickly get bored with this prodigy.

Jimi Beavis at opening concert in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

The next bit was quite strange. Each year the Blues Association of South-East Queensland's Performer of the Year is invited to attend and play at the opening of the Goulburn Festival. But again, the auditorium was nearly empty and those their appeared to be not particularly interested. This years winner from Queensland, Jim Beavis & the 385s, was a bit overcooked for me and they continued to burn the pot when the encore completed, continued to play on, and on, and on. Pearls before swine so early in the festival.

Going back to the caravan park, we can see that taxis fares are going to be Bane the of Festival. No festival bus what so ever. If we come again we will stay in town as accommodation appeared to be quite bountiful and cheap.

First thing on Friday morning to Goulburn Hospital for dialysis. Finished around lunch time so made my way to the centre of town. Still in a lot of pain from recent illness and relying on walking stick for mobility. Heavy rain started setting in so as I arrived at Belmore Park the stage was being abandoned and the sound system was being packed away. This venue was going to be a wash out. So went to Centro to catch Tom Richardson where I met Colin Briscoe from Sydney who runs the KK Blues show on 2SER FM Radio. On our way back to the park we caught up with Mr Merls.

Torrential rain washed out the outdoor stage at Goulburn [Photo: Mr Merls]

The events from the Belmore Park stage were being relocated to the adjacent Soldiers Club. The show started one hour late. Again there was very little atmosphere, poor sound and lighting. Everywhere we went, the house lights were left on. There was very little lighting of the performers on the stages.

Tom Richardson at the Centro Centre in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Main street of Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Justine Carter at the Astor Hotel in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

It was good to see Justine Carter make it to Goulburn all the way from Torquay, along with all of the crew from the West Coast of Victoria. His simple approach to music is such a relief.

Chris Harland Blues Band at Carlton in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Later that night we came across the Chris Harland Blues Band at the Carlton. This was a very slick outfit from Canberra that cruised in this really laid back venue.

A bit worn out we decided to be wise virgins and save ourselves for the Saturday onslaught, so we taxied our way back to the caravan park.

Saturday is the big day with gigs around town plus the two concerts we had booked tickets for.

Deja Voodoo at Soldiers Club in Goulburn [Photo: Mr Merls]

Deja Voodoo, winner of the MBAS Youth In Blues, were playing at the Soldiers Club, was a bit rough around the edges, but laid back with a fantastic, but very under utilised harp player.

Matt Southon at the Workers Club in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

They were followed by Matt Southon and was the nearest thing to "dirty" for the whole weekend. We made a point of seeing him at least one more time while at Goulburn. Accompanied by an Ed Boyle from Warrnambool, they put a bit of comfort and humour back in.

Mojo Corner at Soldiers Club in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Next with heaps of energy, but still cruisin' was our own Mojo Corner. They have a laid back attitude with heaps of songs about the pitfalls of everyday life. These bands were a welcome relief after a few self indulgent ones.

As we moved around the perennial Kate Meehan & Skip Landy would appear in corners and side rooms with their ever sparkly presence.

Backsliders in concert at Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Saturday afternoon came and it was time for the paid concerts that we had tickets for. We entered the Worker's Club Auditorium as Claude Hay was warming the crowd up. Wow, stage lights on, house lights down and sound system up. Mr Merls and I laughed and concluded that you have to pay to walk in the dark!

Backsliders with Ian Collard were as tight as ever. Dom's skill and discipline with the steel guitar complimented Rob's vibrance and energy with the drums. New boy on the block, Ian started off a little quietly, but really started bursting through with the harmonica as the concert went on.

Caught Paul Greene having a jam at the Goulburn Club. This venue was full of atmosphere and character and was basically run as an open mic for the Festival.

Food was very disappointing. This is typical for these big New South Wales regional centres where the big clubs are so dominant that all the outlets are basically bistro style with very little individual character or variety on the menu. We were not really that hungry anyway.

Dallas Frasca in Concert at Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

The second concert we went to was the veritable Dallas Frasca supported by Kes O'Hara. The high point of the concerts was the light show which gave me some wonderful photos. The low point was the crowd was very staid and unresponsive. Again the polite, genteel audience that we Geelong people tend to suffer at the Deakin Waterfront. A bit public service, a bit academic, that doesn't quite know how to let go and kick it's heels up. Dallas poked them a few times with her in your face showmanship, then resolved herself to giving them the standard drill. Still a great effort on her behalf despite all.

Pouring rain, very heavy on Sunday, we paid our way back to town late morning, drifted around various venues catching up with bands we had missed. It was a bit cruisier with some more intimate venues and some good bands.

Sunday afternoon, the rain was so heavy, we actually caught a taxi from the Soldiers Club to the Bowlo, a distance of a mere 300 metres!

Blues Preachers at Bowling Club in Goulburn [Photo: Mr Merls]

Blues Preachers from the Blues Mountains are Brother John and Captain Blue Tongue who fed us with a very dry dose of traditional blues. Their original lyrics reflecting how life today is still full of injustice and greed.

Again, I wish we had paid the extra money and stayed in the middle of town. There is no bus, but the $5 taxi vouchers did take some of the pain out of the couple of taxi trips we made everyday. This meant that we would make one trip in and one trip back that night. So not only did we have the hassle and the expense, but we just couldn't slip back for a rest or a change of clothes. Everything we needed we had to carry.

Rain took away most of the "street" atmosphere, but it was most welcome (100mls) and created an atmosphere of it's own. The Goulburn Club was a great venue with a great balcony that could be used a lot more.

I liked the Bowls Club a lot more as it was basic and friendlier than the Super Clubs where a lot of the Festival was held.

Glenn Cardier at Bowling Club in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Glenn Cardier was a real surprise to everybody, including himself. He started playing the blues when he was young, but after a few knock backs retreated to his own. A few years back he got inspired and produced a CD. He says the CD "escaped" rather than was released with a copy making it's way onto the playlist of ABC Darwin. He ended up getting a phone call stating that if you want to get some sales in response to the amount of requests then you better get some stock up here!

The Astor, where we saw Justin Carter, was a nice mix of locals, atmosphere and bands.

Pokies even in the Annex at the Exchange Hotel in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Rhys Crimmins at Exchange Hotel in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

Rhys Crimmins at the Exchange took a bit of finding, but the pleasant little getaway venue on the back blocks was ideal for a sound made of guitar, big ceremonial didgeridoos, a dynamic drum kit and spunky violin. Another of the Warrnambool crew that we should have up to the Blues Club sometime.

In fact, I think festivals should run a bus starting at Warrnambool, picking up musos along the way as it heads up the coast. The whole West Coast has been, and continues to be a cradle of up and coming blues and folk musicians. This includes Tim Richardson, also with Ed Boyle, who gave a bit of light heartedness to the Festival when it was needed.

The Detonators at Bowling Club in Goulburn [Photo: Og Bear]

The Detonators merchandise is in keeping with their act. [Photo: Og Bear]

Leading the windup to the Festival, The Detonators did the job they were paid to come and do, and that was to get the crowd on it's feet, with their raw in your face rock-a-billy sound.

Finally tired, we made our way back to caravan park.

Up early for dialysis on Monday morning. Mr Merls arrived at dialysis unit around 11:30am having checked out of the caravan park.

I finished dialysis about 1pm, but then had the whole day to kill as night train doesn't depart till after 11pm that night.

Went to the library, write up quick notes. Then lunch and visitors centre to write up notes again. Mr Merls sorted through photos on cameras.

Ironically one of the better meals was in the Workers Club that night.

Og waiting at the Goulburn Station for the XPT back to Melbourne [Photo: Mr Merls]

Finally make our way to the train, which was a sit up all night snooze, arriving back at Southern Cross 7:35 Tuesday Morning.

On the whole this festival is very disappointing. The sum of the parts is far less than the whole. The organisers need to get out of their insular shells before it dies an inevitable death.

[Og Bear]


These photos & more got to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/AustralianBluesMusicFest2010

For slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/ApolloBayMusicFestival2011#slideshow/