Article by Ros Jason
Photography by Mark Moray, Wicked Rock Photography
Could you pick a more beautiful picturesque spot than MARYSVILLE for a music festival?
Opening night kicked things off on a high featuring the iconic sister act VIKA AND LINDA BULL.
I clearly remember the first time I saw them back in the eighties at the Tankerville Arms. The ease with which they related to each other on stage, their voices melding intuitively creating a flawless vocal fluidity; the ebb and flow of harmonic perfection.
And they have never disappointed since, in fact honing their craft with the passage of time.
Festival highlight and new fave artist had to be KAREN LEE ANDREWS.
With her effortlessly distinctive voice, this extraordinary talent drifted through her set performing catchy original songs and knockdown covers including a standout version of ‘I’M ONLY HUMAN’ which she made her own, the Beatles ‘Come Together’, the Rolling Stones ‘Jumpin Jack flash’, ‘Mojo Workin’, ‘Put the blame on me’, smashing it out of the ballpark one song after another.
Dressed in black, her silky long hair cascading down her back, ANDREWS held the audience in the palm of her hand throughout, leaving us all wanting more.
ONE NIGHT ONLY came in on Saturday night and threw us all a party with familiar much loved tunes from the BLUES BROTHERS catalogue including SWEET HOME CHICAGO, SHE CAUGHT THE KATY, and GIMME SOME LOVIN’ featuring the sensational JUSTIN YAP on electric guitar in a fab rendition of GREEN ONIONS. Time to get up and have a boogie and the band played on…
MATT KATSIS, MATTY T WALL and DEAN HAITANI all presented punchy sets highlighting their various songwriting talents throughout the weekend. PAIGE DUGGAN AND WAYNE PARKER’S skilful jazz guitar and lilting vocals were a delight, particularly their cover of ‘BLUE MOON,’ a crowd favourite.
As I approached the outdoor pavilion at SETTLERS PARK the voice drifting towards me was startlingly reminiscent of NEIL YOUNG. J.D DELVES vocals and guitar on ‘OLD MAN’ and ‘HEART OF GOLD’ were exceptional with lots of audience members singing along with these classics, yours truly included.
There were a number of festival food trucks nearby in the park including Mexican, Indian, waffles, coffee and Swiss delicacies. We shared some scrumptious nachos whilst enjoying DAFKA, a charming duo on guitar and ukulele. Their rendition of ‘BEI MIR BIST DU SHEIN’ made famous by the ANDREWS SISTERS was fun, and DAFKA’S DAVID KRYCER regaled the audience with his stories about supporting Blues musician ROBERT LOCKWOOD on tour.
SENEGAMBIAN JAZZ BAND were a festival favourite featuring the exceptional AMADOU SUSO on the KORA, a stringed instrument made from a gourd and stretched cow skin, often referred to as the AFRICAN HARP. This sensational line up of gifted musicians on saxophone, guitar and drums was a refreshingly standout act..‘channelling over 8000 years of African music traditions…transporting the power and beauty of these ancient sounds rhythms and melodies..’
On a crisp October weekend, we were greeted by screeching lorikeets shooting across our path as we stepped out on the way to a gig. What a glorious setting for a festival. On the way to the MARYSVILLE STADIUM or the LAKE VIEW ROOM one passes through GALLIPOLI PARK greeted by cockatoos and ducks as you stroll by the peaceful lake. The park is named for Henry White who died at Gallipoli in 1915, and there is a pine tree grown from the original LONE PINE in Turkey.
One cannot visit Marysville without acknowledging the horrendous trauma this community has suffered. It is inspirational and heart-warming to see how this little village has literally risen from the ashes following the loss of thirty-nine much-loved community members. We paid our respects at the deeply reverent and beautifully designed memorial dedicated to the memory of those who perished and those who bravely fought the fires.
It is clear that this community has bound together in order to rebuild and move forward and the closeness is palpable.
The MARYSVILLE HISTORIC CENTRE is well worth a visit. The original building was entirely lost in the catastrophic fires of 2009 along with many other homes Hotels and businesses in the area. All historic memorabilia was lost and Heather tells me of the extraordinary generosity and kindness of people all over Australia who sent in personal souvenirs which related to the history of Marysville in order to help replace the many lost items.
There are collections of war memorabilia, tools, chinaware, paintings, glassware and history of the first local residents which dates back to the 1860s. There is even a garden bed of salvaged roses from destroyed properties.
Whilst visiting the area there is much of interest to see and do. BRUNO’S SCULPTURE GARDEN is set in a picturesque private setting where sculptures appear in unlikely nooks and crannies, within tree trunks and peeking out of small fountains. There are beautiful terra-cotta sculptures of witches, mothers with babes, lovers, birds and native animals, mythical figures etc. The river ambles along at the rear of the garden and can be heard as you wander along the many winding pathways. One may view photographs of before and after the fire and it is remarkable to witness the incredible amount of work that has gone into refurbishing and rebuilding what remained of this charming sculpture garden.
The VIBE HOTEL is centrally located on the site of the Cumberland Hotel which was destroyed by fire and features a gym and pool. The staff are friendly and helpful, the rooms are comfortably and stylishly appointed, many with beautiful views and we enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast. My beautiful Mum came to Marysville for several summers after my beloved dad passed away. She stayed at the Cumberland and spoke with such warmth of the friendships she made there with staff and guests. I could not help but think of her during this visit and it was bittersweet. She would have been so sad to know of the great losses here. Mum was an artist and I have many sketches and paintings that she did whilst on holiday at her much-loved Marysville, one of which she had proudly presented to the Cumberland as a gift.
Located near the Marysville village, the LITTLE FISHES GALLERY hosts exhibitions of various artists, currently featuring an exhibition of portraits of musicians by photographer SEAN CLOHESY.
STEAVENSONS FALLS is an easy 4 km drive from Marysville. There are many blackened trees along the way but there has also been much regrowth and regeneration of the native flora.
We were super lucky and excited to spy a spiny ant eater with his head down an ant hole munching happily as we walked along the path.
With a total drop of 84 meters STEAVENSONS FALLS which is illuminated in the evenings, is one of Victoria’s most imposing cascades and one can walk to various viewing platforms on well-marked paths.
Whilst in town we enjoyed a few great meals at the DUCK INN, especially of note their delicious chicken parmigiana washed down with local pale ale from HARGREAVES HILL BREWERY of LILYDALE, a delightful refreshing brew featuring crisp top notes of passionfruit.
Worth a mention is the lovely MARYSVILLE BAKERY for their delicious pies, cakes and tarts.
There are a number of shops and a post office along the main street selling old fashioned sweets, clothing, bric-a-brac, souvenirs etc. and there is a general store as well.
The MIRA INFORMATION CENTRE has brochures and pamphlets about all local attractions as well as art installations, gifts and souvenirs.
It also houses a small MUSEUM with displays, video, photographs and books which record in detail the impact of the local fires on BLACK SATURDAY in 2009.
MIKE ELRINGTON dedicated his sensitive original piece ‘There is a light’ featured on his new album to be released next year, to people suffering from anxiety and depression. After his screaming blues guitar set the tender almost folky vocals blew me away. Performing barefoot with guitar and loop, Elrington generates a sound explosion effusive with passion. Spitting and screeching, pleading and moaning… it’s impossible to ignore him, and you don’t want to. His unique one-man show utterly captivates as he slaps and thumps, engaging his entire body and soul. Lost in the moment, completely in his zone, Elrington is eye wateringly charismatic; a man consumed by his music and taking you with him. You go willing, now in the Deep South as he drones the well-worn song ‘To the Pines’ made famous by LEAD BELLY and more recently, the spectacular FANTASTIC NEGRITO whose version of the song at the CORNER HOTEL earlier this year evoked all the pain and longing of his forebears. ‘To the Pines’ also known as ‘Where did you sleep last night?’ was recorded by Alan Lomax to whom we must all be eternally grateful for capturing the chain gang prison songs and folk music of African American slaves and prisoners upon which so much contemporary BLUES music draws.
We were so lucky to be treated to another rendition of this song on CLOSING NIGHT during FRANK SULTANA’S energy fuelled set for the BLUES ROULETTE SESSIONS at the charming original CROSSWAYS TAVERN which has stood since the 1920’s.
SULTANA traversed various numbers from NEIL YOUNG’S CORTEZ the KILLER, to DYLAN and his own compositions including, ‘THE DEVILS HOOCH’, citing the observation, ‘I’m a Blues man. I have to pay my respects to the Devil.’
No one wanted the festival to end and as the crowd got up to boogie, they begged for more. SULTANA obliged, playing a few more numbers until he was drenched with sweat and it was time to call it a night.
Can’t wait for next year to be welcomed again by charming Marysville, and to check out the lineup which no doubt will be spectacular.
In the past years talent the likes of RENE GEYER, JOE CAMILLERI, LLOYD SPIEGEL and GEOFF ACHISON have graced the stages.
Who knows who will pop up next year?
We wait with bated breath.
