Been watching the weather for a week now, holding my breath, keeping my fingers crossed.
Rain on Wednesday night, a bit more on Friday morning, fine Saturday, early showers Sunday, otherwise fine.
I can accept that.
A bed at Lady Bear's on Thursday night then to my usual room at the Badges when they arrive on Friday night.
Dialysis was on Friday morning at Daylesford this year. I was there as Maryborough could not fit me in and Kyneton times didn't suit me.
From here back to Maldon where I was once again acquainting myself with early campers and friends around the town.
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| Fat Chance busking, the street atmosphere building up at Maldon [Photo: Og Bear] |
People are consistantly arriving through the afternoon and already the atmosphere is building with buskers already on the street.
There were some old timers on squeeze boxes in front of the supermarket and a band call Fat Chance doing parodies in front of the old State Bank building.
The later will one day be called to task for the crucifiction of Johnny Cash, KISS, (Jean Simmonds especially) in mismatched medleys including an obligatory "Smoke on the Water" (country version).
Time to check in at the Badges. Jan was there; Edward arrived about 20 minutes later.
Once ensconced, we headed back down town to catch up with friends, sessions, and look for tea.
End up at the Maldon. New owners with better food. It had to better. It was so bad with the previous owners that I once sent a meal back and have not eaten there since!
As I went to find a table there was an old familiar face. Graeme used to come down from Sydney to MC for quite a few years back, but that was last in 2006. Unbelievable!
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| Tim Woodz in the Maldon Hotel [Photo: Og Bear] |
In the Maldon the acts were starting to come on and we had Tim Woodz, an accoustic folk musician with a deep voice. Tim was the winner of the Maldon Minstrel Award in 2011. Tim's 8 year old daughter joined him on stage and as it was his birthday, lead the rendition of "Happy Birthday" to him.
Darwin's Sunset Music Club came next, being represented by Kevin and Ambon John. As soon as these guys walked onto the stage I knew we were in for something special. They had convinced the Ghan and Overland railway operators to give them free passage in exchange for entertaining the passengers along the way from Darwin to Melbourne.
The Sunset Music Club is a loose group that gathers at sunset on Fridays to play and watch the sun go down over the Arafura Sea. Songs of this sunset going down brough back many memories.
Ambon John recalled tales of his youth helping the diggers resist the Japanese in WW2.
It was good to see the Maldon Hotel back in the Festival proper. Also, the move to the simplified stage setup and up the other end, the same as the Blues Club Sundays.
As you looked at those who were arriving in town during the afternoon, the program, and the opening acts, it was obvious the new committe was turning back the clock to be the "folk" festival it was in it's early days, rather than a music or "World" music festival. it was rediscovering it's roots.
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| Atmosphere at the Butts on Friday night [Photo: Og Bear] |
The real Festival is up at the Butts so I was anxious to make my way there. The Badges and myself waited at the bus stop but when it arrived we were a little shocked. It was just a small people carrier type bus rather than the larger bus of past years. However we were informed that there were two of them, which was what was needed in previous years. All seating, they were quite confortable and we never waited more than a couple of minutes for them to arrive for the whole weekend.
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| The facilities are greatly improved from when I used to camp here [Photo: Og Bear] |
I was told Mr Merls was here, fantastic, I was glad he had come. He had not come last year as he had lost a good friend in fire only days before.
I was not very hungry and satisfied myself with a spinnach pakora, mmmm, and a samosa from the curry tent.
There were many acquaintances from 10 to 15 years ago who had returned to the revitalised Festival.
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| Harddrive Bluegrass are really tight in the Troubador Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Claymore winding Friday night up in the Guinness Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
The whole place was abuzz at the Butts. It had been a big day with an early start and I was very tired, foot sore and legs were in pain. Despite this I did hang around for Claymore, finding a bit of a second wind dancing to Claymore in the Guinness Tent, before retiring back to the Badges for the night.
Saturday morning was a big sleep in!
Breaky (cooking) started at about 10:30am on our portable oven with hot plates and became lunch around 12:15pm! Ross arrived from Ballarat just in time to join us.
We had missed all the morning activities by the time we headed of in the FB just before 1pm, me driving, "no synchro in 1st Malcolm!".
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| Buskers at the Primary School Market [Photo: Og Bear] |
The School Market was still in progress, but it doesn't quite jump out at me as in previous years except or a few good acts in the Talent Tent.
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| Edward having his hair done at the Primary School Market [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Og also had his hair done at the Primary School Market [Photo: Og Bear] |
Edward is having his hair done by Lauren in the school parent fundraiser's tent. Jan gives me a dare and we are both next!
It's weird moving on to the rest of the Festival not realising you are "decorated".
The Grand Hotel, whose verandah was the home of many great sessions in the past, is gone. Instead the verandah in front of the supermarket seems to be the new venue.
I end up at the Maldon Hotel with Ross. Hang on, I think we were supposed to meet the Badges at Berrymans?
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| Mustered Courage playing in the Guinness Tent on Friday night [Photo: Og Bear] |
Marj is here as well as Patrick. A good bluegrass band called Mustered Courage are serving up a blend of traditional with a rock'n'roll mentality.
I must comment that with a whole new sound crew and a much better sound however some of the time on change overs was dismal.
One well known folk pub band hadn't even tuned up when they mounted the stage. Once they are and have begun, Gordon, a Festival perrenial is up and dancing.
The air is really hot and humid and I am really struggling with dehydration as a result of my renal failure.
With dialysis it is all about fluid control as with renal function that is a major part of it. In Winter you have to refrain from excess fluid as you can't get rid of it, but on the converse, you have to make sure you are 'topped' up in warm weather so you don't dehydrate, without getting too wet!
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| Matty and Sarah at the Maldon Hotel [Photo: Og Bear] |
Finally I was glad to make it to the Church.
As I listened to Jeanette and Duncan there were great stories with traditional songs. An ABC Childrens gardening song brought back memories of my much loved veggie garden when I lived in Maldon, which reputed to be one of the the best in Maldon.
Suddenly I cam across the Blues Club
crowd in the Guinness Tent, Minno, Kristin, Karla, Leary etc. Myra and
the Gracenotes where coming to and end, but everyone enjoyed them.
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| Minno, Kristin, Karla and Leary in the Guinness Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Mick Coates with his Johnny Cash anthology. "Don't do that Og, you are embarrassing me" [Photo: Og Bear] |
Next in the Guiness Tent was Mick Coates and Friends' Johnny Cash Show which everyone loved. Part one of a three part anthology that was to continue throughout the Festival. This part was only his early years before he was really known.
Having finished her Wood Dance gig in the Church, I spotted Lady Bear doing her clown gig at the Butts.
The Badge had arrived, but seemed to have disappeared into the crowd. I was just starting to wonder where Mr Merls was too.
It was great to see Blackthorn Stick back in the Guinness Tent. I remember their first appearance years ago. Young guys from Bendigo that blew the place away with their mix of traditional Irish tunes and more contemporary music.
Caught the bus back down to the Kangaroo. It was good to see the beer garden open again after many years abscence. Local folk band, Ricketty Bridge was playing. There was a good crowd of locals. I feel that with this and the Maldon that a festival should be accessable to the local community, and that they should have a sense of the festival belonging to them. I believe that this is the basis for any successful festival.
The Badges and many other friends are there including late Festival director Fatty's sons, Matty and Stevie.
At the Maldon I got the end of Harddrive Bluegrass's set. Leonie and friends are there plus many other familiar faces. The Badges have arrived too.
Coatsie has arrived and starts setting up for the second part of the Johnny Cash story.
The Maldon was full as Mick sang the popular prison era songs.
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| Myra and the Gracenotes at the Penny School [Photo: Og Bear] |
Lady Bear was there too.
Like last year, I could not resist the Penny School's famous double baked New York cheese cake.
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| Minno and Kel at the Troubador Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Country Express in the Troubador Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
It was a bit weird the way the final buses were organised to get people back to town. We had to wait inside the gate rather than the bus stop. It all turned into a bit of a disaster.
Back to the Badges in the FB and to bed.
Up early this time (9am) to get to the Celtic Service at the Anglican Church. Lady Bear's band, Wood Dance, was providing the music. Being in someone else's church is always a bit strange.
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| Atmosphere at the Butts on Saturday afternoon [Photo: Og Bear] |
Caught up with Sue again.
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| "His Mother's Son"; the Story of Ellen Kelly in the Uniting Church Hall [Photo: Og Bear] |
It was good to get the other view on the Kellys. But the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, a product of poverty and attitudes of the time.
On my way to Cherrys I happened across a great band busking in front of the old State Bank made up of two members of the Willy Wagtails plus friends passing through.
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| Man on a barrow at the Maldon Railway Station [Photo: Og Bear] |
Macarthurs garden was an unofficial venue with a beautiful cool shaded area to see accoutic acts. Hopefully next year this will be an official venue.
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| The audience at the Sunday Concert at the Butts [Photo: Og Bear] |
Simon from Bendigo was there with Phoenix FM who was broadcasting the concert live.
I climbed up the rocks to get a better photo of the crowd and stumbled across Barry and Julie from Geelong.
Down to the Wine Tent (Troubador) for Clint & Cat where I caught up with Bernie and his friend Robyn who also does reviews for Port Fairy and the National Folk Festival.
Days like today it gets a bit hot, but I don't always realise it.
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| Gleny Rae Virus and her Playboys in the Troubador Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
Everyone raved about the White Top Mountaineers at other Festivals, but I always missed them, so to the Main Stage.
They were good but again, not quite my cup of tea.
I thought I would try the Mexican food stall. Con carne quesadella and a tamarind drink. The tamarindo, sparkly and really enjoyable!
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| Marget Roadnight at the Penny School [Photo: Og Bear] |
Radio National had this ½ hour show on Monday nights called "Room to Move" hosted by Chris Winter, with all the alternative Australian and overseas music.
But after 3 songs I had seen what I came to see. I think sometimes music has it's time and context,
It has been a bit of a heat wave so it is good to go back to the Badges for a cool shower and change for the evening. Put on a black silk shirt rarely worn and recently repaired with embroidered Indian motifs on the front.
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| Angie Browning and her uncle practicing in the park [Photo: Og Bear] |
Then it was up to the the Troubador at the Butts for Mick Coates' 3rd installment of the Johnny Cash anthology, the lonesome years. Again the venue was packed crowd and all in good humour, he carried it off.
I think in a sense Mick not only stole the show, he stole the Festival!
The Stetson Family came over well in the smaller venue and certainly better than when they were at the "Chicken Shop" a year or two back.
Also better suited to the smaller venue was the White Top Mountaineers who had died a bit on the Main Stage.
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| Richard Perso in the Guinness Tent [Photo: Og Bear] |
Taliska was a real surprise in the Guinness Tent and the crowd seemed to respond to them especially after some earlier murmurings over them not being the typical pub folk band you get at that time of night.
In the last few years the Guinness Tent had become mainly a pub folk venue which had turned a lot of regulars off coming, but it was good to see a bit of balance coming back in.
A few tunes from McAlpines Fusiliers and it was time for me to bid farewell and go home to bed.
Crack of dawn on Monday and it's off to Daylesford again for dialysis. Good weight after a big weekend, but a difficult run back in the hospital unit compared to doing the gentle nocturnal haemo at home.
Rigby and Friends were finishing at the Maldon with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace. Mr Merls and the Badges were there too.
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| Campbell, the Swaggie, busking on the street at Maldon [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Kevin and the Irish couple in front of the Kangaroo [Photo: Og Bear] |
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| Sunset Music Club and Geelong Folk Club session under the Kangaroo verandah [Photo: Og Bear] |
Yet another Maldon is coming to an end as I head back to the Maldon for the final Monday night concert.
Old standard, Maria Forde, is up but is soon replaced by Kevin and Ambon John.
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| The Croakers at the Maldon Hotel Monday night [Photo: Og Bear] |
Lazy Farmers' Sons had a big "Bushwackers" type of sound and were good fun, and I managed to have a dance with the gorgeous Marilla.
Then too our surprise, we realised that Edward had managed to behave himself for the whole Festival!
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| Mick Coates and friends in the Maldon [Photo: Og Bear] |
...
Well, well done Maldon. With a new committee you have put a really good Festival on. You have looked back to its roots and put a "folk" festival on.
The ones who love that have responded. Though not a huge crowd, but still a good one, the right one that can be built upon to make this a great Festival again.
[Og Bear]
For more photos go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2012#
For a slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2012#slideshow/
http://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2012#
For a slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2012#slideshow/
