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.

Port Fairy Bound

Tomorrow I’m heading off to the Port Fairy Folk Festival for a weekend of music at the seaside. I’m travelling by train then bus as my original ride has come down with the flu. I don’t drive a car so public transport is the go.

I don’t mind – I’m fond of the leisurely style of public transport and enjoy my own company.

The only other music festival I have attended was the Thredbo Blues Festival in January 2002, which I had won in a draw on Rhythms Magazine. It was a great prize – travel, accommodation and entry to the festival were all included, and it was a very enjoyable weekend in a spectacular location with great music.

I wasn’t contemplating going to the Port Fairy festival at all, but one of my Nu Country friends had a room going begging at the accommodation she regularly books for the weekend of the festival, so I figured why not get away from the big smoke for a few days and take in the vibes of the festival, and of course see any number of my favourite artists who are performing.

Here’s the poster with the complete line-up of artists. Click for a larger view

I will try and post from Port Fairy throughout the weekend, time and internet connection permitting or else report when I return.