Yet another Maldon has come around.

Yet another Maldon has come around.  Now let me see; is it 28 out of 29 I have been to?  Yes one year I was in Queensland on business so I didn't make it back for it.  I narrowly scraped in 2 years ago as you know when I was stuck in St Vs Hospital, but only just managed to make a last minute escape.

I arrived at the Badges on the Thursday, a day in advance and opened up.  Then it was off to dialysis in Maryborough at the crack of dawn next morning.  That has been another significant factor that has enabled me to keep coming, being able to go there and dialyse for the last 10 years with only one exception. Later in the day I was back in Maldon and the Badges had arrived.

Once they had settled in we went down before the rush to get our armbands, to become fighters of the revolution or to become inmates, only the weekend ahead would tell. Lady Bear was there too, playing out the front with Odds N Sods.

Locals gathering outside the Kangaroo

Friday night was a bit quiet and a mixed bag.  The hilights were Earl Grey Policy, a contemporary band influenced by soul, blues and reggae, playing at Maldon Hotel, also a small session at Kangaroo Hotel.

The Primary School Market was a washout

The Snakepit was the hilight for the kids!

The next morning saw a downpour on Maldon Primary School Market with many of the stalls washed out.Maldons Got Talent was still running undercover and the snakepit was a big hit with the younger ones.

From there I made my way to the Penny School to see Maldon perennials, Jeanette Gillespie and Duncan Brown.  Kristin from the Blues Club was volunteering on the door and had certainly picked a good venue to be "stuck at".

The Instrument Makers Display

Somewhere along the way I caught up with the Badges and we decided to catch the bus up to the Butts to see what was happening there.  It was so wet in front of the Progress Hall, where we were all waiting, that we wandered inside to see the Instrument Makers Display, which as a result was bustling.

Crowd Ready and waiting for Uncle Bill

Jan was happy that we got to the Butts in time to see bluegrass exponents, Uncle Bill, in the Guinness Tent, but the place was full of kids, much to Jan's annoyance, especially one pair whose father seemed quite blasé to keeping any control over them whatsoever.  But Quill's kids, on the other hand, sat on the stage steps quite attentive, especially her oldest who was quite enthralled.  She told me later that he is quite musical and is already having lessons, which I was glad to hear.

To keep the kids entertained the break between each act was taken up by Hannacrobatics performing her amazing contortions with small hoops etc.

The Legendary Shane Howard

 Next up was the legendary Shane Howard and band.  He was accompanied as well be Amy from Tiddas, and a young Marcia in the form of his daughter Myra.  Though not a big fan, it was a great performance and looking into his eyes you could see it coming right from the soul.  In spite of the children, Jan was happy.

We made our way to the traditional Blues Concert at the Football Club rooms via the Kangaroo where I espied a delicious looking rhubarb and apple tart do a complete loop of the Hotel before it found an owner.  I was smitten.

The Concert commenced with lap steel guitarist Dan Musil in the Bill Woodville Pavilion.  He sounded great from the toilets, but didn't seem to come across on stage in person where he lacked stage presence.

In the weeks leading up to the Festival I had been anticipating Tabasco Tom & Doc White, but found they were very disappointing.  Like a poor man's Dutch Tilders.

Next came Rosie Haden, but I felt I could leave this act, that rhubarb and apple tart was calling - to be served with a dolop of cream and double scoop of ice cream as my tea.

Back at the Blues Concert the best act of the night was the roots band Jed Rowe Band.

The Goodtime Medicine Band

The Goodtime Medicine Band was a bit of a struggle.  They looked great.  We could see where they were trying to go with a bit of a 30s look and sound, but they just weren't getting there, so we left.

Matty Wilson in the Guinness Tent

I dropped the Badges off at their place and headed back to the Butts and the Guinness Tent where Damian Howard and the Ploughboys had the crowd going in the Guinness Tent.  Damian is a different kettle of fish to his brother Shane.  Matty Wilson, son of the late long time Festival director Fatty Wilson, was there too.

Sol Nation in the Guinness Tent

Earl Grey Policy in the Wine Tent

Finally it was Sol Nation, a dance band that finished it off the in Guinness Tent then over to the Wine tent to catch an amazing end to Earl Grey Policy.  If I thought Friday night performance was good, tonight the guys were really on fire!

In the early hours of Sunday morning I made my way back to the Badges, with a good sleep in to follow.
Much later Sunday morning I cooked us all snags, tomatoes, bacon and eggs on toast for breakfast.

By the time we got back down town it was midday.  An amazing Javanese band and dancers, Mugi Rahayu, was performing in the rotunda in the park, so we watched them before moving off to catch the bus back up to the Butts.

Dannie McKenzie of Woohoo Revue at the Butts, Case in Hand

The weather had cleared and the Festival was starting to pick up.  Michael the Balloonist was in action at the Butts being watched by a small group including Quill and her kids.  Moving towards the food stalls and Guinness Tent again I spotted Dannie McKenzie of Woohoo Revue with his amazing handcuffed case which had in it's lid a 33.3rpm LP they use as a resonator.

Traditional Bolivian band, Acequia, were playing in the Guinness Tent with instruments from their homeland.

Lunch was from Jerry the Veggies Burger King, scrumpuous as always.  My other favourite is the Indian stall.  The food is always a good array at Maldon and of a good quality.

Uncle Bill was on again at the Guinness Tent and this was followed by the Roaring Forties singing unaccompanied traditional songs in the Wine Tent.  I also caught a little of folk guitarist and singer, Chris Aronsten, here too.

Dya Singh in Guinness the Tent

Spot the Dog were on back in the Guinness so back I went.  This was followed by a hilight of the Apollo Bay Festival, Dya Singh.  He was accompanied by his young grandson for the first time.  I like the philosophy behind this band of tolerance and embracing what the World has to offer.

Stevie Wilson in the Guinness Tent

I ran into Fatty's other son, Stevie Wilson here too.

Colonial folk band, The Currency, were in the Guinness Tent but they were nothing to get excited about.

Crowd Watching Shane Howard in Guinness Tent

 I was glad Shane Howard was on again in the Guinness Tent as I was unhappy with the photos I had got of him the day before.  This time I managed to get some good ones.

Young guitarist Stephen O'Hern was next strutting his stuff in the Wine Tent.

Matiss at the Butts

 Now the weather had cleared up there was quite a good atmosphere at the Butts and the Festival was in full swing.  Unlike previous Festivals there were no blasts from the past, but I was still running into many friends and acquantances all through the day including Leonie and Matiss.

Atmosphere at The Butts

Leary at Blues Club Camp at Butts

I wandered up to the Blues Club Camp at Butts to find the two Kel's, Leary, Rob, Deb and Co all there being assailed by halloweeners, trick or treating.

More in the folk pop vein, Damian Howard with The Ploughboys was on today as well in the Guinness Tent.

Over at the Wine Tent was Jan Preston but she was still going on ad nauseum about how she wrote the theme song for "Australian Story" so I didn't hang around for long.

Celtic folk band, Saoirse, played next in Wine Tent.  Tony O'Neill on guitar, mandolin and fiddle has been the stalwart of many a band that has played at Maldon for as long as I can remember.

The Molly Maguires in Guinness Tent

This was followed back at the Guinness Tent by more of a folk rock band, Zeptepi.

I did quite enjoy Pablo, an unaccompanied choir, back in the Wine Tent.

I found two very amusing young children who have made up a collection of stones and was selling them.

Tiny Lounge Session with waitress singing at Kangaroo Hotel

It was getting late and by now I had collected the Badges and we were back at the Kangaroo where a small session was going in the main bar, as well as an even tinier session in the lounge.  Just when we thought it couldn't get better the waitress joined in with a rendition of Amazing Grace!

Monday morning and off to dialysis again.

By the time I got back Helen Begley was on in the Maldon Hotel followed by Mark Cryle and the Redeemers who seemed to be just another incarnation of Spot the Dog?

Edward Badge suffering for the Error of His Ways

Edward Badge was suffering for the error of his ways, hiding from the light and seeking various remedies.

The Abbie Cardwell entourage heading for the Maldon Hotel

The afternoon started to pick up with a bit of "rootsy-rockabilly-twang" from Abbie Cardwell and Her Leading Gentlemen.  Edward was still suffering as we went into Rosie Haden who unlike with her neat little mama of the blues suit she had on at Saturday night's concert was dressed more like a hippy earth mama.  Just didn't quite gel Rosie.

Atmosphere on Final Day in Maldon Hotel

Jan Badge remonstrating with Megs, from the Rhys Crimmins Band, and her partner Ben

The pace picked up even further when Warrnambool's own Rhys Crimmin and band took the stage.  You might remember I found this band at an out of the way pub at Goulburn earlier in the year.

Next was The Wildes; not bad for a country band.

Edward by now had discovered a remedy for his malaise and was dancing merrily with Jan as the the Molly Maguires fired up, or rather didn't fire up.  It would have been good to go out with a bang, but instead of their normal lively performance they started doing these laid back numbers.

The Festival was definitely over, it was time to go home.

[Og Bear]

For more photos go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2010#

For a slideshow go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/OgBear/MaldonFolkFestival2010#slideshow/