This year was a big year for Geelong, our new Mayor Darryn Lyons set to work, serious construction happened on the library and we got our first experience at Motor City Music Festival. A three-day festival made for the blues and rock lovers in Geelong, and the new fans of the genre.Back for its second year in Geelong, the festival has just announced their first line up. Featuring 40 acts over five stages and three big days, it looks to be a good one. This time around the festival has opted for a bit more representation from contemporary country artists, with more to be announced later this year.
Friday will host a few tribute bands on the night, with acts AC/DSHE and Electric Mary gracing the stage. Also playing the Friday is Broderick Smith, while he’s been a clerk, storeman, soldier, advertising copywriter, graphic artist and actor, he’s most well know for his time with the Adderley Smith Blues Band and country rock group The Dingoes. The rest of the night will see the Chris Wilson band, Claude Hay, Gwyn Ashton, Phil Para, Pugsley Buzzard and The Black Sorrows play live.
There’s something about Saturdays, and Saturday nights, that just scream rock ‘n’ roll. Luckily MCMF has you sorted with a number of tribute bands playing the second day. Inxsive, Appetite for Destruction, Credence Clearwater Recycled and Thunder Road will more than deliver. Though let’s not forget about the blues acts, and how can you with who they’ve got on the line up? Cass Eager & The Velvet Rope, Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones, The Detonators, Lloyd Spiegel, Geoff Achison & Chris Wilson and Jimi Hocking’s Blues Machine with guests, are the names you need to remember.
And that just leaves Sunday, which has changed slightly from the last festival. They’ve enlisted the Glitter Gang, Wayne Jury 4 with Brian Fraser and Jesse Valach & Blue Mountain for a second round, but when they were such a hit last year, why not? Australian record producer, singer, song writer and finalist on The Voice, Michael Stangel, will be making his way to Geelong on the Sunday, as well as Jr Reyne, the Eurogliders and James Blundell. Jason Singh will also hit the stage, though you probably know him as the old front man for Taxiride. Bringing in the rear, and his CMAA Golden Guitar Nominee country sounds with him, is Doug Bruce.
With the experience of the first festival under their belt, the team have delivered a great line up that’s only going to get better, as there is still more additions to be made. The word on the street says they’ll be some of the finest contemporary country singers in Australia, and a ticket to MCMF is small price to see such incredible acts.
Early bird tickets are now on sale and at 50 per cent off the gate price it’s worth getting in early for. Visit www.motorcitymusicfestival.com.au for tickets and more information.
When&Where: Geelong Showgrounds – March 6, 7 & 8
Photo by Gary Bradshaw
