Regardless of mix ups, delays and all the things that can be improved on with a first ever event, I didn't encounter one person who wasn't having a ball.
The weather was pristine perfect and there was a mixture of familiar and friendly faces from Brisbane, New Castle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Bendigo and everywhere in between, there for the fun.
Although not the masssive number of people as at Coolangatta, there was still a very healthy appearance of hot rodders, dancers (rockabilly & rock'n'roll) and people. It would not surprise me to in time see future Wintersun Mildura events grow to rival Coolangatta.
People down from Brisbane for the event said Mildura Wintersun was exactly like Coolangatta when it first started.
The area on the river used for the Sunday was just beautiful. A huge outdoor stage is currently being built, which will make staging live entertainment a dream.
Future events just need some refining of timing of acts and activities, parking specificially for hot rods and classics, dance floors in venues that dont have them, some instruction and assistance for where to load in etc for entertainment and bands, simplicity for the merchandisers who roll into town, plenty of advance warning and advertising both nationally and locally so people can plan and more signage round town to show people where to go and that there is a festival on.
Locals told us they thought newspaper articles were about an event at the Wintersun Hotel in Mildura. and didn't realise there was anything happening.
A coincidence that a local iconic Hotel is called the Wintersun.
Hats off to Barry McNamara of Coolangatta fame for getting the Mildura Wintersun ball rolling in just a few short months and wishing him future success with the Mildura Council and interested parties in their collective future endeavours with this event.
Barry was handing out feed back forms, so if you attended Mildura Wintersun and wish to contribute your thoughts and suggestions, I am sure an email would be very welcome and useful for future planning.
Finally I get to hear how things went at Mildura. I was sooooooo depressed that I couldn`t go, but we had our own dance commitments happening in Gippsland. I was anxious to see how my friends, in particular Brian from `Phil Haley & the Comments` went in Mildura. I would have loved to have been there for the first one. I didn`t even have to worry about accommodation as I have friends living there.Damn ! I certainly won`t miss out if there`s another one next year. Apart from a few teething problems it sounds great, I can`t wait to hear more.....
Excellent write up and photos Maryann. I must say that the most appropriate two-word description of the inaugural Mildura Wintersun Festival has to be ‘Enormous Potential’.
The S.L.F (sweet lady friend) and I arrived at this sun-drenched city at high noon on the Friday. The place was packed & buzzin’ with hot rods & rock & rollers. We knew we were in for a hot-rockin’ weekend. Friday night saw the ‘Sandbar Hotel’ jam packed with locals and visitors to hear the brilliant rock sounds of the mighty 'Atomic Hi-Tones'. It was a special buzz to hear the positive comments by the locals after being totally blown away by one of Melbourne’s finest rockabilly bands.
Saturday morning was spent exploring the many sights around Mildura and the Murray river before we ended up in the main CBD mall and checked out bands ‘Sweet Rock’ plus AHT’s and the outstanding sounds of newbie Melbourne band ‘The Rechords’ who will ‘Rock the Gully’ in September.
We spent Saturday night being entertained by Brisbane’s ‘Chevrolets’ followed by the greatness of Aussie visitors … 'Phil Haley & his Comments' and ever-talented ‘Firebird’. This free outdoor entertainment was held in an area called ‘Feast-Street’ which has numerous coffee bars & restaurants. The stage also doubled for the opening ceremony of the 'Masters Games'. It was no surprise why the CBD was so crowded. The traders were doing very well indeed.
After the huge farmers market at the nearby township of Merbein on Sunday morning, we took in the sights around Wentworth before returning to Mildura for more rock & roll entertainment on the Murray River foreshore in the afternoon. Late Sunday afternoon was spent at the Mildura Workers Club where we boogied to those energisers known as ‘Jump & Jive’.
We travelled back to the Wentworth Sports Club on Sunday night to experience ‘TJ & the Twinspinners’ after a fine meal from the clubs restaurant. It was such a pleasure to meet and mingle with so many lovers of rock & roll music and dance, especially those people from Adelaide who were so friendly and went out of their way to make themselves known to us.
As much as this festival is different … it certainly has the potential to equal or better the popularity of Coolangatta. The experience has a definite thumbs-up from us. Jiver J ... I met up and spoke with Phil Haley & Comments’ Brian who is in good spirits. He’s sporting a new set of choppers and looks very healthy. Bass player Martyn is on the hunt for an Aussie bride so he can migrate to Oz with ease. Got no pix of the boys on the weekend but here is a pic of their first OZ & Wintersun trip 2002. Click to enlarge.
Live & let Live, Love & let Love, Rock & let Roll, plus related clichés.
Thanks for that interesting update on Mildura Jazza, did you check out the Mildara winery in Merbein? . Sounds like it really has the potencial for growth, which is very positive for the future of 50s rock and roll. I have always found the Adelaide rockers very friendly too, and they take their music and dancing very seriously. I still haven`t got to their Toop & Toop rock and roll festival which is coming up on the 18th to 20th of September, but would love to get there sometime as I hear it`s also growing.
I guess Brian has the set of choppers because he is now an Edwardian Ted , and has the suits to prove it. The Teddy Boy movement is really growing in the U.K, must do an article on the history of it when time allows as it`s very interesting. There are only a couple of expatriate British Teds living in Australia. I met up with one at the Greazefest, and have they got some stories to tell.
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