There’s a nip in the air, fogs in the morning, and the sun just doesn’t seem to have that bite any more. It’s time to get off to the Winter Blues Festival!
The festival is held every year at the historic Port of Echuca’s heritage precinct and surrounding venues and is a free festival, with more than 40 blues and roots performers from across the country playing. As well as the performances, the festival also hosts Wayne Jury’s amazing Blues Boot Camp.
If you have a budding musician then this is something to get them along to. Blues Boot Camp is a fun and challenging, two day and one evening, highly interactive workshop, where participants will gain both theoretical and practical music industry skills from trained and experienced music industry professionals.
The Camp goes well beyond playing music, and includes song writing, use of social media, stagecraft and occupational health and safety. The skills will then be practically applied during the public concert at the Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival.
Tutors at this Camp are Tim Neal, Sarah Carroll, Michael Pollitt, Kelly Auty, and, of course, Wayne.
Contact Wayne directly to enrol at [email protected]
I could run through the entire gig list, but that would be amazingly tedious, you can get that yourself on the website. So, how about some of the ones I have ticked as must attends.
Andrea Kirwin sounds interesting — roots, folk, funk and soul with an island style roll. I’m not 100% sure what an island style roll is, but the rest sounds very attractive. Women who Rock Oz said “if Joan Armatrading, Janis Ian and Joanie Mitchell could have a child she would be Andrea Kirwin.” That’s high praise!
I would have to include Claude Hay. He’s a great soloist from the Blue Mountains, and I have heard him recorded, but never live. Just one of those things, our paths have not crossed. He was Best Live Act at the Australian Independent Music Awards in 2013. Should be excellent.
Jesse Valach is another definite. I have seen him quite a few times, and will always come back for more. Same for Three Kings, The Detonators and Nick Charles – great musicians.
I also want to catch up with The Teskey Brothers, who are brave enough to say they are from Warrandyte. Now they have a reputation for playing some serious hard blues, but also for getting into soul as in Stax and Motown. Now that’s something I can never stay away from!
Definitely make it to Radcliffe’s for the Blues Boot Camp performance – you might see the “next big thing!”
A free festival could not exist without generous sponsors, Moama Bowling Club, Visit Victoria, Shire of Campaspe, Hero Enchanted Journeys and many more. The festival takes place on the last weekend in July, from July 27 – 30.
With over 20,000 expected to attend, book your accommodation early as this weekend is sure to be a sell-out!
Find more info at winterblues.com.au.
Written by John Lamp
Image sourced via The Teskey Brothers socials
