A few mad days in Sydney at my mums (16th – 20th August)… doing all the last minute work on the Kelly Country Pick, designing and printing banners, finalising volunteer schedules, laminating signs, photocopying, organising radio performances, local newspaper advertising and editorials, answering dozens of email everyday etc, etc, etc – and trying to find some time to rehearse and learn new songs for our gig! And have a bit of time with my lovely mum – Lillian – 88 years old now and still going strong!
Headed off to Beechworth a day early…must have been a premonition there…. car broke down outside Holbrook…(jinxed with cars), had to have caravan and car towed to Beechworth. They are still there… car couldn’t be fixed in time. Hire car to the rescue to make Melbourne and flight to U.S. 4 days after festival.
As for the festival, sometimes I wonder when we will stop doing this exhausting voluntary role that keeps interfering with our travel plans, but when we get there and experience the rapport and friendship and share the music it all seems worthwhile! Great new bands this year… Butcher Boys, Breaking Hart Benton were divine… the 4 Jimmies being able to fill an unexpected performance gap left by the Barkers Vale Bros also having a car breakdown and not being able to make it. Jimmy Rush and Quentin Fraser in attendance for the first time brings the picking level up to new heights! Volunteers doing a fabulous job and making it all run so smoothly! Mark Woods,Jack Jensen, Peter Hisco and RMIT sound students all doing a fabulous job with the sound. Late night jamming at the Priory! Such a special event! Thank you to everyone involved!