KURRI KURRI FESTIVAL 2008 Review
This is a Texas sized review, but I've divided it up so you can skip over bits and just read what interests you.
REVIEW
The festival was absolutely fantastic, well over 20,000 people came to it and the turn out of cars was more than double what was anticipated. Cliff said to me that looking up the street from his vantage point on the stage the sea of people was unbelievable.
An event with everything for all interests and ages. It was a bit like Marine Parade at Wintersun, where the stalls on the beach and the stage are.
The co-ordinators and organizers were thrilled it went so well.
The gods must have been happy too as the weather was perfect all weekend.
I took some photos as the cars were rolling up early Sunday and got some more later on. Many buildings have murals of which a couple can be seen in some photos.
KURRI KURRI LOCATION
31 minutes from New Castle airport and we were there in this picture pretty historic town. The several beautiful big old hotels that dot the area and town are a reminder of times long gone when coal mining was the main industry. Sydney is around 1 ½ hours south by freeway.
FESTIVAL LOCATION
The public aspects of the festival take place in Rotary Park which is at the end of the main shopping strip in Lang St. A gorgeous park with big shady trees ideally suited to public gatherings.
The Hunter Valley wine district with its endless number of wineries is only another 20 minute drive towards Cessnock.
TYPE OF EVENT
The Kurri Kurri Festiva is a Rock’n’Roll/Rockabilly/Classic/Hot Rod/Family/Community style of event. The whole town turns up plus visitors from all states. Local businesses all participate. Hotels and clubs have entertainment at night and during the day at some.
EVENT HISTORY
It was started just 5 years ago by the some enthusiastic people from some local clubs. It has quickly grown to where this year the Cessnock Council funded a paid co-ordinator to run the event with continued support by the people who started it all and locals
This year well over 20,000 people poured into town for the event and more stall holders and classics and hot rods rocked up than ever before.
The injection of funds into the local economy was massive we heard on the local news while we were there and this year an overwhelming success.
EVENT PROGRAM Friday night were dances at the various clubs around town. Saturday during the day - the stalls and activities were in full swing at Rotary Park with talent quests for kids all happening on the main stage. Also during Saturdaywere Poker Runs, Cruises and Pub Crawls. Some people headed to the wineries. Saturday night – There were more dances at the clubs. The Atomic Hi-Tones played at the Weston Workers Club. The joint was jam packed with people and sold out ages ago we got told. There was one young guy who was the best dancer I have ever watched. So smooth. He said he learned Rock’n’Roll, Rockabilly and 6 step. I made enquiries about this 6 step and got told 6 step is what all the New Zealanders that win the dance comps at Wintersun do. Does someone in Melbourne teach this 6 step. When I finally have lessons, thats what I want to learn. Sunday all day from 8am – Hot Rods & Classics started rolling in early and lined up in the streets that abound Rotary Park. This year the number of cars was double what was expected, so the main street also soon filled with the cars. By 9am there were nearly 400 cars registered.
Cliff and the guys played as the Rockin Daddys on the Sunday as requested but after 2 sets of standards, they threw in some of their Atomics material. It worked well will the dance crowd and public.
Between sets, was a fashion parade with all the girls in their Rockabilly or Rock’n’Roll finery escorted onto the dance floor by who else but Blonde Elvis who bought an Atomics T.Shirt. Mr. Bean (father of Dave the bass player from Monster A GoGo and Casino Rumblers) and Mrs. Bean taught some line dancing (Rockabilly Stroll and the Stray Cat Strut) to novices from the general public.
There were kids dancing that were so cute. All the cool moves. I videoed them and will post it when I find time.
It was a great introduction of Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly to the general public.
The Rockin Daddys entertained from around 8.30am to 2pm. They were meant to play till 3.30pm but we’d been told 2pm months ago and I had arranged flights to suit the members of the band who were going back home that afternoon. They started earlier than programmed and it all worked out well.
Some musos dropped by to catch up. Kenny the drummer from Blue Denim drove up from Sydney, Shaun ex Flyin Saucers rocked up with his kids. Shaun now lives up that way. The guys from Pat Capocci dropped by and Glen the bass player from the Creepers rolled up.
OF INTEREST
Gavin Bean another brother from the talented Bean family was our DJ on the Saturday night with the Atomic Hi-Tones.
The Bean family all dance, teach dancing, run dances or play in bands and are well known in the area. Great supportors and workers for RnR and related scenes.
USEFUL INFORMATION
If you get flights with Tiger. Pay for excess luggage up front before flying if you think you will go over the allotted weight. Excess is $22/KG Melbourne to Gold Coast and a bit less Melbourne to Sydney if you are over, so be warned.
I paid extra for luggage and instruments so we were covered, but the kids in line before us with surf boards weren’t. I could see them emptying their wallets and asking where an ATM was.
There are last minute deals for car hire. We got a car for 3 days for $183 inclusive of insurance, a $350 excess in case of an accident and unlimited Kms. Something to keep in mind.
We parked with Helicopter Pilot Rock’n’Roller Gary, who’s rates at www.ezyairportparking.com.au are very competitive. Gary picked us up and dropped us off right outside the terminal which was very convenient and quicker than the usual getting back to the car in long term. He is taking parking space bookings for Wintersun at present.
OUR MOVEMENTS OVER THE KURRI KURRI WEEKEND.
Some of us went up on the Friday, Tiger changed our flight by 4 hours so we got there later than planned. We still got to take in some night life and catch one of the bands.
Saturday, we rocked up to one of the pubs in town with the gang from Californain Cruisin for brekky, then checked out the stalls and shops, cruised around the area, checked out the Hellhounds, then I drove to the airport to pickup Artie and Kev.
That night the Atomics performed at the Weston Workers. After the gig Kevin and Cliff put on a 2 man show for the gang staying where we stayed at the Kurri Kurri Conference Centre. Artie had no option but to join in while Ray buried his head under a mountain of pillows. Sleep finally followed.
We were up early for the band to perform Sunday as described above. At 2pm I drove Kev and Artie to the airport. By the time I got back the awards and trophies were being given out for the cars. The festival wound up around 5.30pm.
That night we went and had a Curry in Kurri Kurri. Ray said he liked it hot.
It was not unlike the curry eating sketches from the Little Britain comedy series. Ray’s crook leg stopped hurting and his ears were buzzing he said. He was sweating a river and flames were just about rising from his head.
We bombed to bed not too late that night and Monday morning we headed to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting and lunch. I got breathalysed at 10 am, so just drank water.
We made it to New castle airport and got in the queue to check in with only 5 minutes to spare.
We had a fantastic but exhausting weekend. A top festival that other festival organizers could get some good ideas from.
FINALLY
Cliff and the guys enjoyed them selves very much and were honoured to have been invited back to headline two years in a row particularly since the organizers aim is to vary the acts each year. They said they had so many requests to get Cliff and the guys back after the last festival, they went with the demand. A feather in their caps for the Atomic Hi-Tones/Rockin Daddys machine.
The people who are behind the Kurri Kurri Festival are a great bunch of hard working friendly people who go out of their way to be helpful and ensure you have a great time, right down to home made supper in our case.
With sale priced air, sharing car hire, a weekend in Kurri Kurri for their festival is not expensive at all. Something to consider next year.
Maryanne that was a great run down on everthing,
It`s great that you have given such indepth info into everything from hire car to flights( which is a big problem for most people), here`s hoping you & Cliffy can get back to normal, catch up soon.
Wow Figjam, after a review like that ... how could one not at least think about a full-on weekend at this mini Wintersun festival. Like the Atomic Hi-tones ... the Kurri Kurri festival is a winner. Keep it up Figjam, your contributions to this site is part of it's success.
Live & let Live, Love & let Love, Rock & let Roll, plus related clichés.
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