Once again, Thredbo, that little village, high – ok, so it is only 1365m, but in Australia, that is high – in the Australian Alps, has dished up some great festival music.
The venues: outdoor verandahs at risk from wind and rain; restaurants with crowded tables and clanging cutlery; dark indoor spaces with glaring, streaming backlight from the bright afternoon sun; pubs with laughing conversations behind and bouncing dancers in front; all make for photographic challenges – but that is part of the fun.
Brody Young The festivals start with the collection of a wrist band at the office – and a Yalumba wine tasting or three – on the Village Square.
Doggn It Blues Duo From the Village Square, we move into the closest restaurant for good food, more wine, …
John Cupit on Harp … and great sounds …
Doggn It … as local groups play the blues the Aussie way.
Phil and Trudy Edgeley We always try to take in a lunch performance at Eagles Nest (1937m) at the top of the chairlift; …
Merritts Nature Track … it gives us such a good excuse to walk back down.
Trigger Plant (Stylidium montanum) The flora along the trail provide a good excuse for a pause: this track was longer and steeper than I remembered.
Shaun Kirk Back in the Village, one-man-powerhouse Shaun Kirk is filling the tiny courtyard at Berntis with wonderful, joyful sounds. People are standing and sitting wherever they can grab a space – I was hanging to a railing on a steep staircase to take this shot.
Rory Ellis with Andrew Toner We were so blown away by Rory Ellis’ music and songs that we booked the dinner show – and bought a CD. I tried to upload a track for you, but the Mac won’t read it: think Jonny Cash meets Burl Ives.
Swamphouse Meanwhile, in the Schuss Bar, it could be late night in Louisiana, as Swamphouse stomp out their “gutbucket boogie”.
Charlie A’Court An absolute crowd-pleaser, visiting Canadian Charlie A’Court took up residence in the Lounge Bar.
Matt Burrows It’s the stuff of fairy tales! Charlie A’Court was at Narooma’s Great Southern Blues Festival in October 2013, and on impulse, handed his guitar to a 16-year-old in the audience. That youngster, Matt Burrows, so impressed Charlie – and the audience – that he earned a spot at the Thredbo Blues (see: Guitar Kid Gets Dream Break) –
Matt Burrows with Charlie A’Court – and back on stage with Charlie.
Andrea Marr Singer-songwriter Andrea Marr chats to a fan …
Music: “Andrea Marr Play On/Off” … as the music stands and the Funky Hitmen wait to introduce her …
Funky Hitmen Saxophone … with bold, brassy sounds.
Russell Morris An Australian icon and Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) inductee, Russell Morris didn’t disappoint.
Rory Ellis with Andrew Toner Dinner as the sun went down marked the end of our Blues…
Dixie Street Allstars … but we were back in May for some Dixie jazz in the Autumn sun.
Piano: Sydney Latin Allstars
Belle Peppers Making room for the band and their equipment, while fitting in the diners is a tricky balance, but the venues manage. Lunch at the Knickerbocker is always a treat; Liza Ohlback and the Belle Peppers were added seasoning.
Ali Penney Sun streams over the hill behind her, as Ali Penney sings her heart out.
Keyim Ba For a complete change of pace, we headed back to the Lounge Bar for an Australian-based West African band that had everyone up dancing.
Sibo Bangoura Percussionist with joy and attitude, Sibo Bangoura had us all smiling with him …
Richard Adams … as did Richard Adams of The Nairobi Trio – in a completely different way.
The Nairobi Trio Why Nairobi? I don’t know – as they perform jazz standards and, to me, have a celtic + gypsy flavour.
Illya Szwec We are plunged back into darkness for great sounds and excellent food, as we enjoy classic blues & roots music from Illya Szwec and his band, in the Cascades Restaurant.
This week, a FaceBook friend of mine posted a reference to a study claiming that, on average, people stop listening to new music at age 33 – to which my friend quipped: “33 1/3”.
I didn’t read the study, so I don’t know if “new music” meant new genres, young musicians, or just new takes on old standards. I don’t know who that study talked to, but I was well over 33 when my children were still at home exposing me to their “new music”. Granted, I didn’t love all of it. But, I listened.
Now, I get annual doses of it at local music festivals.
[…] favourites, Rory Ellis, was performing. We enjoyed him at Thredbo Bluesfest several years ago (see: Cool Blues, Hot Jazz) and were thrilled when we heard he was back – and especially excited when he replayed one of […]ReplyCancel
- Performing the Ganga Aarti from Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- Buddha Head from Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
- Harry Clarke Window from Dingle, Ireland
- Novice Monk Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, Myanmar
Packets of 10 for $AU50.
Or - pick any photo from my Flickr or Wanders blog photos.
[…] favourites, Rory Ellis, was performing. We enjoyed him at Thredbo Bluesfest several years ago (see: Cool Blues, Hot Jazz) and were thrilled when we heard he was back – and especially excited when he replayed one of […]