You can do another one of those next year!

Mr Merls arrived at the Geelong Station Friday arvo.  Down we headed to the Queenscliff Music Festival.  What were we to expect?  Rumours had that the new director had made big changes and that it was no longer the staid Festival that I had attended 2 years ago.

Paul Greene and his real home grown blues [Photo Og Bear]

First up was Paul Greene from Culburra Beach near Jervis Bay.  Real home grown blues that held the audience captive at the Crossing Stage.

Katie Noonan with her amazing voice! [Photo Og Bear]

It was a bit of a wait before Kim Churchill was on so we went over to the Lighthouse Stage to checkout Katie Noonan and The Captains.  What an amazing voice!  She just blew us away.

It was good to see Kim Churchill again after Goulburn earlier in the year.  It was a more energetic performance with the smaller intimate venue bringing the best out of him.  The only criticism was in a short set only having several five minute pieces became a bit of a monologue.

The Lighthouse Stage full of Ash Grunwald fans [Photo Og Bear]

The headline act, Ash Grunwald  [Photo Og Bear]

Ash Grunwald was to be the hilight of the night but the guys setting up didn't seem to be able to get their heads around Ash's band's setup.  Ash was getting pretty frustrated and the show started half and hour late.  I feel that this had an effect on their performance and it seemed like it was "just get this over and done with".

Kim Churchill was back on again in Crossings, but we opted for Vika and Linda in Fishnets.

What an act.  Vika is just so powerful in her performance.

Joe Camilleri of the Black Sorrows [Photo Og Bear]

We were in no man's land for a while, but then took in a bit of Joe Camilleri and the Black Sorrows before moving back to Crossings for Blue Shaddy.  They were cooking, especially Jim's brother Belly on the harp.

The foods stall were a big improvement this year [Photo Og Bear]

We took a bit of time to get going on Saturday morning.  Download and check Friday night's photos; much better than I had expected.  Did some grocery shopping and then voted.

We got back down to Queenscliff around midday.

We decided to catch some more of Paul Greene, but this time in The Shed (scout hall), a far more intimate venue where we felt much closer and in touch with him.

Then it was  a quick dash up to Lombardys to catch a few numbers from The Mojo Corner.

The Queenscliff Express with passengers waiting to board [Photo Og Bear]

We wanted to catch Blue Shaddy again, but on the train, so we left and made our way there.  We got to the carriage just as Jim, his brother Belly, and Callum, the drummer, were setting up.  This band has come all the way from the shearing sheds of Kellerberrin, in the wheat belt of West Australia, to the Queenscliff Express (Blues Train) via Apollo Bay earlier this year.

The Blue Shaddys first time playing on a train [Photo Og Bear]

Soon we were off rocking and riding as Blue Shaddy got into the rhythm of the carriage and their music.  As with most in the carriage, we did not change at Lakers Siding, but remained with Blue Shaddy for the return journey.

Once back we decided to have lunch.  Another big improvement.  Last night dumplings and Asian salad; scrumptious, and good value for $10.  Today it was Tibetan momos and rice paper rolls, $5.50!  Again delicious.

Good to see buskers on the streets adding to the atmosphere [Photo Og Bear]

Sated, it was back up the street to The Atrium to see Ray Beadle, the winner at the National Blues Festival at Goulburn's Performer of the Year and Album of the Year.

I hadn't seen Dave Steel and Tiffany Eckhardt for a while so I made my way to the Vue Grand ballroom.  What an amazing room, I have never been there before.  I do enjoy Dave and Tiff, but the show was made up of the old standards, and the room was quite full so you couldn't get the intimate feel that I like when listening to them.

I wanted to catch Claude Hay on the train.  Mr Merls says he was at Goulburn, but I couldn't remember.  Hailing from the Blue Mountains, he plays a variety of guitars and likes to work with a loop box which enables him to jam with himself.

The converted goods carriage had a real party atmosphere [Photo Og Bear]

The return trip was done with The Mojo Corner who were now up and running with their new guitarist.  The carriage was so rocky that by the end Dan and Rory had given up and were leaning on the side wall to keep themselves from falling over!

Saturday evening's events started off with Colin Hay in the Lighthouse Marquee.  Look, I don't mind him, but after 4 or 5 songs I had heard enough and wanted to see what else was on.

It was a very polished Ray Beadle compared to earlier in the day [Photo Og Bear]

And that was Ray Beadle in Fishnets.  But he didn't appear to be the band playing, but upon enquiring to the lighting guy it was.  He had certainly scrubbed up from this afternoon's performance.  Suit and a bit of gel in the hair.  Also Gary Jones had joined them on the Hammond.

The lighting guy had set some lights up behind the drummer so that when he played he was silhouetted on to the ceiling of the marquee.

Blue Shaddy's Callum on drums in Fishnets [Photo Og Bear]

Blue Shaddy were back to do another show at Fishnets after Ray.  The crowd had been a bit stodgy up till now so Mr Merls and I were quite interested in how they would react to The Shaddy.  Jim, Belly, Callum plus Sandy on Bass started doing what they know best and it wasn't long before the whole marquee was on it's feet.

Mr Merls had seen The Meanies on the program and was determined to go out on them.  Formed in 1989, they are a highly energised punk band with a really crazy lead singer.

When I was last here two years ago Sunday was very light weight, but this year was to be a big improvement.

Our day started with Claude Hay on at The Atrium.  It was good to see him in a different venue, but a third time would have got a bit monotonous.

The rain didn't seem to dampen the crowds' enthusiasm [Photo Og Bear]

Mr Merls had mentioned this bizarre act from yesterday, The Bedroom Philosopher, so off I went to see them at Lombardys.  Mr Merls met me at the door and said it was packed 20 deep out the corridor, but not to be perturbed, I went in.  The lady on the door said that they were full, but as I said OK, someone came out, so I said I would grab their spot.  When someone else left I grabbed their spot and in no time I was right in the room with him.

After all that work I could have taken or left him.  The act consisted of him strumming on the guitar and having a bitch about the World and where he came from.  I must admit, I did laugh at his Burnie Football Club song.

Some of the venues in the street get quite crowded [Photo Og Bear]

The Vue Grand ballroom with Kate Vigo and the Underground Orchestra [Photo Og Bear]

The program was starting to get a bit repetitive so for a change I made my way back to the Vue Grand ballroom to see Kate Vigo and the Underground Orchestra.  A bit of soul, a bit of jazz, this lady had a big voice that filled the room right up.

I wanted to see Dave and Tiff in the much more intimate venue train, but there was enough time for lunch.  As I was ordering I ran into Chris Canning so he joined me.  He too was wanting to see Dave and Tiff so off we went.

Passengers all lined up for the Queenscliff Express [Photo Og Bear]

Dave Steel and Tiffany Eckhardt aboard the train romancing the audience [Photo Og Bear]

It was good to catch up with Dave before he started and both Chris and I enjoyed the show and stayed on board for the return trip.

A bit of sunshine on Sunday was a welcome appearance [Photo Og Bear]

The Mojo Corner in Crossings [Photo Og Bear]

With a bit of time to kill I strayed back to Crossings and spent it listening to the last of The Mojo Corner.

The day was winding up for us as we had to go to Melbourne to take my other son, Somerled, to the airport to leave for Japan where he is going to live for a while.  But not before I catch The Mojos again at the Crossing Stage.

The Meanies really are quite a crazy bunch of old punk rockers! [Photo Og Bear]

We ended the Festival with The Meanies at The Shed.  Again, crazy, almost airborne lead singer.  Even weirder was a guy with a digital camera strapped to his forehead that the band kept on taking the piss out of.

Well, what can I say about this year's Festival.  What a welcome surprise.

Very cruisy compared to previous years with a much improved lineup.  Ok, there were still a few acts that had their coffin lids unscrewed, but thats ok, as part of a bigger picture.  Besides, if I wish to have the parts of the festival that I want, then I have to let others have theirs.

They have got rid of the silly opening night concert where only a select 300 could attend.  Instead they have opened the Friday night up to all comers and matched it with an incredible lineup that was fantastic.

No dead stars, but fresh live ones!

The crowd was quite different to previous years.  A much bigger age range and a lot friendlier.  Not just old farts trying to relive the 60s and the 70s.

For the blues enthusiast there was a strong representation of established and up and coming artists.

The street scene has improved over the years and it was good to see young local buskers having a bit of a go.

The hilight of Friday night was Blue Shaddy

The hilight of Saturday night was Blue Shaddy

The hilight of Sunday was Blue Shaddy

The hilight of Festival night was Blue Shaddy, almost unknown to most attending, they blew them away.

Hang on, am I saying something here, or being an election weekend did those attending just vote with their feet?

I normally give this Festival a hard time, but there is a new director, and it seems that with him has come a new Festival, a breath of fresh air.

Queenscliff is over for another year [Photo Og Bear]

On the way out we ran into Matty and Sarah again and said our goodbyes.  It was off to Melbourne to see my other son off on a another adventure altogether.

[Og Bear]

For more photos go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/102935184649222300700/QueenscliffMusicFestival2010#

For more photos go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/QueenscliffMusicFestival2010#slideshow/