Thredbo Blues - 21st Birthday Party

Wow, what a weekend that just past. The 21st Thredbo Blues Festival was a hoot. The rain stopped 2 days before the event and the sun came out. It was a tad windy at times producing a glorious wind chill effect up top that dropped as low as -7C but averaged mostly single digits (above zero) during the days. A welcome relief to visitors from Sydney, Canberra and pretty well anywhere else that have been sweltering in 30+ temps and obscene humidity.

I struggled to catch as many bands as I could and three nights up past midnight was something I haven't done in a long time. Luckily proceedings didn't start until late in the morning each day so sleeping in was compulsory ;-)

I must admit, being a bit long-in-the-tooth, the headline attraction for me was Russell Morris. Friends said they were impressed that I was able to sing along, knowing the words to Russell's classic songs. His more recent movement into Blues music was also most enjoyable but I didn't know the words. I'll have to get his CD and spend more time listening.

Russell and his excellent band played to an overflowing crowd in the Kosciuszko Room on Saturday night and again to another massive crowd on Sunday afternoon by the hotel poolside.

I managed to get a video of his performance of 'The Real Thing' and have uploaded to YouTube (wind noise and all). There was quite a loss of quality from the original (404MB) during the upload process but here it is anyway:



I'm not sure whether Russell was referring to himself or his audience when he said 'like a wolf in sheep's clothing - hippies in blues clothing'. To me he is just a legend of Aussie rock. Anyway, now you have an idea of what you missed not being Thredbo.

The crowds were up on past years and everyone seemed to have a really great time.

In the coming months there are the Country Music Festival and the Jazz Festival, both certain to provide great entertainment in Thredbo.

The atmosphere in the Schuss Bar is always close and loud

Brody Young playing in the Village Square

Andrea Marr and the Funky Hitmen plus Blue Heat playing in the shade by the poolside

Phil and Trudy played for the sold-out Saturday lunchtime crowd at Eagles Nest

Doggn It with ballads tellin' it as it is (with a guest sax player)

Swamphouse in the Village Square outside Squatters Run

Richard Perso played the other end of the Village Square
always a great venue for free music

The Bondi Cigars on the late shift in the Kosciuszko Room
They kept Jane dancing for hours ;-)

After a fantastic performance in front of a massive overflowing crowd in the Kosi Room
Russell Morris again thrilled the crowds Poolside on Sunday

Russell's blues were great but his flash forward to 1969 and 'The Real Thing' just blew everyone away

Some friends in Thredbo have asked me to inform you about current proposals submitted by Kosciuszko Thredbo Pty Ltd involving the Village Green area on Thredbo Village.
The major items of the proposal, as I see it, involves moving the tennis courts to the Village Green, building a skate park and toilet amenities on the green and moving the pump track.
For more information click here.

I have a bunch of great photos from Japan and will post another report soon.

As soon as I have time I will post some more grumps on wikigrumps/ where I am getting some prime exposure.