Port Fairy Folk Festival Postscript

Well I’m back home and still somewhat spun out after an excellent weekend of quality music.

As festivals go – not that I’ve been to many – the Port Fairy festival has to be one of the best organised and laid back music events in Australia. I was impressed and pleasantly surprised by the whole experience.

I’ve briefly posted on the first two days of the festival, so here’s a brief run down of Sunday events.

The highlight of the day for me was Shane Nicholson’s set on Stage 4, Sunday evening. He’s very underrated, but perhaps the release of his latest CD Bad Machines will change all that. It was available at Port Fairy, though the official release date is March 25. Naturally I purchased a copy and also got it signed by Shane when he and Kasey were hanging around after Joe Pug’s set on Saturday evening. They are both big fans of Joe Pug, not surprisingly, it is well known that they appreciate quality song writing.

It’s a rare pleasure to see a Shane Nicholson solo performance. He opened with the lovely Broken Things, currently my favourite song from his new record and went on to play a total of fifteen songs, some from the new album and others from Rattlin’ Bones and Familiar Ghosts. Kasey joined him for One More Night, then departed, informing Shane (so he reported) that she was off to see Joe Pug, whose show was on at the same time.

Here’s the set list for those interested.

1. Broken Things
2. Where the Water Goes
3. God & Elvis
4. Famous Last Words
5. Monkey on a Wire
6. Jimmie Rodgers Was A Vampire
7. Short Fuse Part 4
8. Summer Dress
9. Once In A While
10. One More Year
11. Blueberry Pie
12. Bad Machines
13. The House That Never Was
14. Not You Again
15. Trick Knee Blues

Besides the Shane Nicholson show, I also saw Western Australian band Blue Shaddy. Their show was fast and frenetic, and yes, fast and frenetic all the way through. The harmonica player Belly McClennand was amazingly energetic. He was drenched with sweat after only a short time. The band is a family affair, with brothers Belly and Jim (who plays a mean guitar), with Jim’s wife Sandra playing bass. The young, unrelated drummer was pretty good as well.

Throughout the afternoon, I sampled several acts, including Tim O’Brien and Crooked Still again.

I get to see Tim O’Brien once more on Thursday night at the East Brunswick Club, where Shane will be performing the following week.

I was sorry to miss Justin Townes Earle on Sunday night, but the tent was jam packed. However, I have tickets to his show at the Forum on Friday night this week.

All in all it was a wonderful Festival, and to cap it off, the weather was perfect all weekend.

Sea Change–Day One at Port Fairy

Arrived here yesterday afternoon after a relaxing train trip and am writing this from the accommodation, which is a short distance to the beach. The above picture I snapped last evening when the tide was out.

Fortunately the mobile broadband dongle works a treat, so reportage will be possible.

More news will be forthcoming when the festival begins this evening.

The Canon G10 at the seaside

Yesterday we went to Ocean Grove to participate in the celebration of my brother's 60th birthday. It was a pleasant party - good food, tasty ale and convivial company.

B and I stayed the night, and this morning, before heading home, we drove the short distance to Point Lonsdale ostensibly to purchase some delicious, locally made Tomato Kasaundi, a spicy tomato relish. It was included in a hamper we received from my niece for Christmas. We've become addicted to it.

Anyway, while we were in Point Lonsdale, I thought it would be a waste to go home without taking in some of the sights and test the G10's ability to take seascapes.

Below are a few... click for larger images

Point Lonsdale Sea Front

Walking along the sea front to the lighthouse

The jetty running from the lighthouse

The lighthouse

Low tide rock pools

Interesting rock formation with view of the beach

A night in the country

Yesterday afternoon we went to visit friends who have recently taken the plunge and made a sea change by selling up their city property and going bush.

The change is not really a sea change as their country residence is up in the wilds of North East Victoria at a place called Tolmie, which is out the back of Mansfield, the nearest sizable town.

I am familiar with the countryside in that area as I went to boarding school in Mansfield for two years when I was about ten. Though truth to tell I haven't been up that way for years.

We arrived mid afternoon, and despite the fact we were hoping there would be snow on the ground, it was cold but bright & sunny. Ideal for photos. The house and property are very pretty and quite isolated.

Below is a photo of the verandah of the house with part of the wonderful view.

More photos...

View from the verandah

Reflections in the dam

Solar power grid

The sun room this morning with bowl of lemons

Sunset last night with unusual bright blue clouds

It was a pleasant change to get up to the countryand lovely to see our friends Robert & Nani. Unfortunately we were unable to stay longer than a night as we left the cats to their own devices with enough food for the night, but no longer.

One of them obviously got peckish this morning, as when we got back there was a live pigeon sitting on the top of the blinds above the window in the computer room.