BRUTHEN
BLUES
BASH
2004

This year the Bruthen Blues Bash won an award for community events via the local council, a fitting reward for all of those who have volunteered a lot of time over the past 9 years. Hopefully it will mean even more people become involved so the Bash can continue to provide for the community. As usual the Bruthen Blues Jammer's kicked off proceedings on Friday night and again a jam contest was held. Many acts participated, some with a very loose interpretation of the blues, but all tried hard. Eventual winners were Trish and Steve, with Trish providing some lovely vocals. So they won the prize to play at the Blues Café as a support act to Salty Dog, won't that look good on the resume! Lotus and Get Funked! Provided and entrée for what was in store in the main street on Saturday. Also really good to see ex Warrnambool blues guru Wally Edney getting up and getting down.

39 degrees is bloody hot folks! Unfortunately the Bash has the on going saga of insurance issues which makes it increasingly difficult to maintain live music on the main street. Hopefully the Council will be able to step in and guarantee the main street can continue (well they gave the bash an award, surely they can ensure it continues to be a world class event!). So as people were baking behind the town hall listening to the music, many were lazing underneath beautiful shady trees in the main street, with no music. Lotus, headed by Jay Wagstaff kicked off proceedings, well and truly getting everyone in the mood for the day. Ash Grunwald gave a snapshot of what people could expect later that night, which didn't help, he just made everyone hotter with his sizzling guitar playing and singing. I couldn't handle the heat and missed Get Funked, but of what I have seen of them they would have been to their usual standard with Eva Grunden out front singing up a storm.

The beautiful breeze flowing through the Bruthen Inn Hotel's beer garden was sublime and as the night cooled the music got hotter. Ash Grunwald is going to be a star. He's got the licks, the material, the new and the old (old blues with new technology with the sequencer) he's got a huge voice (that has improved heaps over the last few years) he's entertaining, he can write a song, he's a lovely guy and he's got the looks! Melbourne blues boss Noel Goodwin had a tear in his eyes and almost a tear in his pants when Ash did his version of "Crossroads", he then did a couple of Howling Wolf numbers and Noel almost passed out, a really great set.

Kerri Simpson and Ron Tabuteau followed. I think Ash had everyone worked up so much it took people a bit of time to get into Kerri and Ron's mellow moods. But by the end of it the were singin' along to "Minnie the moocher" and havin' a good time. Kerri should be spoken about in the same company as Renee Geyer and Vika and Linda with the talent she has, but I suppose that's the price you pay when you don't go commercial and stick to your roots!

Rod Paine and the Full Time Lovers took a break from lovin' and played some music. Rod was original singer in Howlin' Time and then in the Redliners. This band is more bluesy than the Redliners but maintains it danceability. Dave Birtwell (also in both bands plus Blue Devil and Harper) is as solid as a rock and when given his head can play as well as anyone. Great to see Ray "TT Slim" Tulley (Rocket 88's - Detonators) hittin' the skins as well as he ever has. So as the night became very comfortable temperature wise, the Lovers go and spoil it, making everyone dance and getting hot again! Collard Greens and Gravy are local favourites and didn't disappoint. Great to see some new tracks that will be on the new album to be recorded soon. Shorty always goes off in Bruthen and they love it. James Bridges just gets in a groove and pumps it out and Ian Collard makes the harmonica do things I'm sure it was never made to do. It may though have been better to put The Lovers on last as I still think some have difficulty dancing to the Collards groove, lets face it some people just don't have it! From all reports Salty Dog knocked them dead in the Café, is anyone surprised?

Sunday started with Pete Maskell from Geelong. Very smooth guitar and vocals with many originals. He's the type of guy you can just sit and listen to all day. Really smooth singer and a good guitarist, not great but it is his vocals and song writing that are his meal ticket. He had Shorty up on drums and original Bruthen Blues Jammer Cliffy sitting in and adding a broader sound. Fiona Boyes followed, need I say more? Great, talented, humorous etc etc. Soon to be touring with Hubert Sumlin and Chris Wilson, with a custom made axe to boot, should be sensational. She has such a wonderful rapport with an audience, women especially loving the female side of events in her songs. It is so wonderful to see those years of hard slog paying off. Unfortunately I couldn't hang around for Crawfish Dave but from reports from Rob Harwood suggest they went off! There is just something about Zydeco that just gets people moving. And speaking of Rob Harwood, he and son Ben did another fantastic job of the sound and once again recorded the event. The Bash has been spoilt with such great sound for a number of years now and it is something that should never be overlooked.

Well next year will be the tenth anniversary Bash, should be an absolute hoot! .

....Rooster....