Jo Jo Smith’s Guitar
Summer in Australia’s “high country” is known for it’s clean crisp air, abundant wild flowers and various outdoor activities; it is possibly less well know for its music. But, during ski season there are plenty of live acts in the various pubs and chalets, and summers bring various festivals, including an Irish Cultural Festival and a Jazz Party.
The highlight of the musical calendar is the three-day Thredbo Blues Festival every January which, according to its own publicity, is: “renowned as a boutique style event due to its very personal venues including restaurant gigs complimented by great food and wine.” Last weekend was our first experience of this festival which has been running for 18 years now, and we DID enjoy the great food and wine, as well as a terrific lineup of mostly-Australian blues performers.
“Personal venues” can be translated as small restaurants not designed for live music, making it imperative to book dinners early if you want a view of the performers unobstructed by walls, pillars or other diners. I don’t have enough of an “ear” to comment on the sound quality in these venues, but certainly found the chattering of other patrons annoying some times – and downright disruptive at others.
On the first evening, we stopped in for sets at a pub and a lounge before heading off to dinner at The Knickerbocker for what proved to be one of the highlights of our weekend in terms of food and service, and with respect to the entertainment: Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson.
Hat Fitz, the epitome of pre-war hill-country and delta blues, on his steel guitar.
Hat’s National Steel Guitar
I saw Hat Fitz perform many years ago at the Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, and thoroughly enjoyed his show. The addition of Cara Robinson, multi-instumentalist and powerhouse singer from Ireland, turns his already-good performance into magic. There were a couple of times we had goosebumps as Cara’s voice ranged freely across the scale and held notes effortlessly.
(You can click or double-click the audio link below for a studio version of their performance of Wiley Ways.)
Hat Fitz on guitar with Cara Robinson on percussion.
Cara Robinson on one of her wind instruments.
When Irish eyes are smiling…
Robert Susz, a ubiquitous presence on the live Australian music scene, pops in to play harmonica.
We knew it would be a hard act to follow, so while the different versions of the blues continued in pubs around Thredbo Village, we toddled home to our lodgings for a fresh start at the outdoor performances the next day.
Marco Goldsmith fronts the seven-piece rhythm & blues Blue Heat.
Robert Susz and Dave Brewer from the Mighty Reapers
Robert Susz on his harmonica.
Clayton Doley plays keyboard for the Mighty Reapers
Clayton Doley on keyboard and Vito Portolesi on bass for the Mighty Reapers.
Many hats in the audience.
Performing jazz, blues and boogie-woogie, the “Wild Women” Lisa Otey and Diane van Deurzen in the sunny Village Square.
The Kevin Borich Band rocks out.
It’s still Rock and Roll: Kevin and his National Steel
Cooling off ~ Hat Fitz hatless
Virtuoso Australian guitarist Jeff Lang
Shiny bits: Jeff Lang’s 1960s Black Airline
More Hats in the Audience
Sound Check
The staff race to put up umbrellas…
… but the rains over-take us – as they do at all good music festivals!
Inside the Black Bear with Steve Grieve …
… and Jo Jo Smith.
When the rains came, we ducked into The Black Bear for an early dinner, and rode out the evening on the songs of Jo Jo Smith accompanied by Steve Grieve, before returning home humming and smiling.
Wishing you a week full of song!
sounds like you had a great time… I never realised there was a Blues festival in the mountains, I knew about the Presley weekend in Parkes. I do wish they would publicize this stuff more widely. Back home and you sure know how to find the good stuff not just whilst travelling.. cudo’s!
You could always join us next year – we still have a room available – first in… 😉
Cool
[…] for an excuse (as though one is needed!) to head into Kosciuszko National Park, and we enjoyed the Blues Festival there greatly in January, so we decided to try it out. I’m not about to wade into the […]
[…] decided to ease in with something familiar, Hat Fitz and Cara whom we last saw perform at the Thredbo Blues Festival in 2012. In spite of Cara still wearing an eye-patch following a car accident last December, their […]
[…] to get into Kosciuszko National Park. I’ve said it before: (Summer Blues; All that Jazz; Blues in Colour) I love music in the […]
[…] was our third visit to the Thredbo Blues (e.g., The Blues in Colour). I always have one or two acts on my “must see” list, but mostly I love the laid-back […]
[…] was our third visit to the Thredbo Blues (e.g., The Blues in Colour). I always have one or two acts on my “must see” list, but mostly I love the laid-back […]