A few pictures that don’t quite capture the might of the event but all I got at the last minute on the Saturday night.

The Narooma Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival takes place on Smythe Oval which is right in town. There is heaps of accommodation round the place and a nearby a tent city organized.

The area is refreshingly green, very pretty with gentle hills.

Three massive circus sized marquis with the biggest fattest sound systems you have ever heard, house acts non stop at the festival. Start times are staggered but pretty much, there are three acts on at once that you can commute between.

Definitely not a dance gig and while weighted with blues bands the variety of entertainment was still diverse enough to satisfy many tastes. The event is a deserved fix for bands and performers with a throng of people getting off on their music. The bumpers and grinders swarm up close to the bands while others make themselves comfortable on the seating or the grandstands at the rear. People standing take up the rest of the space.

Standing outside the marquis, you hear all three sound systems, while inside each the sound seems contained. The stages are full set ups with awesome lighting and very comfortable.
They are open one end onto the common area but are closed each side and on the stage ends.

The event is not cheap but with 35 acts both Australian and International to see, not cheap is actually a bargain.
I believe Telstra and other major companies are sponsors for the event. The hire of marquis, sound systems, fencing, toilets, tents for merchandise etc, safety equipment, staff and security would be massive, not to mention the cost of band fees and band accommodation.

Some acts weren’t quite my thing and some were, but all were worthy performers for the event. The Melbourne Rockabilly bands added some energy to the blend and went down very well.

The dress code was thongs, runners and whatever you felt like.

There were many great stalls and the selection of food outlets very diverse. Gone are the days of battered savs and dim sims.

The event is run with military precision, no encores no matter how many people scream for more and strict adherence to on and off times kept programs tight. Entry strictly policed with no sneaking in.
All band CD's could only be purchased from the Official Festival Merchandise Stall, which for bands is actually a negative as most CDS for bands are bought when people are watching them perform or in the seconds straight after. The event requires structure though, with so much to control, so I imagine the merchandise stall solves problems for them.

The weather was disappointing on the Saturday but stopped short of being too bad. There was a misty rain all day. If you stood in it you would have eventually got wet, yet you could get from A to B OK.

The area is absolutely gorgeous. Just as you head back to Melbourne on the Princes Highway there is the cutest, little, charming village with cafes and tourist spots all with cottage gardens surrounded by green hills.
Kevin made us seek out some cafe where he talked to the owner two years ago who was into music. We found the place but the bloke had sold it and moved on much to Kev’s disappointment.

We arrived on the Friday night around 11.30. Artie, Marg, Cathy & Ray had arrived earlier in the day and were having a nightcap as you do.
By the time we had all talked for a bit, had a coffee and were ready for bed it was around 1.30am.
Kevin was sleeping closest to the door. We all told him to lock it but he wouldn't because he said who would come in. Everyone else was in bed and was too tired to get up again so disagreed with him but did nothing, me included.

About 2.30, I was still awake but drifting off and facing the door end of the room which was all window next to it, but with the drapes shut.
With subtle light from the street, I could easily make out the oblong shape of the window. I closed my eyes then opened them again and the oblong had changed shape. Instead I could make out the shape of someone very tall standing very close to the door, It was a few seconds of processing my thoughts as to when did Cliff, Ray or Kevin leave the room to come back.
As soon as I had the realisation, I whispered "There's someone at the door", Cliff was instantly awake watching with me as the door started to open, very, very slowly. A sleeping person would never have noticed and if our eyes had been shut, we wouldn't have noticed either.
I semi screamed, "He's opening the door"; Cliff jumped up and used some expletives to scare him off and ran to the door and chased him away. The guy took off..

Everyone was now wide-awake again. Kevin was saying it was probably only someone at the wrong room and me saying no way, his movements were way too slow. Kevin then got up and walked on his knees to the door to look out just as the guy came back. Kevin opened the door and surprised the bloke who said Sorry he was at the wrong room.
From then on Kevin was adamant it was nothing.

After getting to sleep, we were woken again to noises coming from above us. Some thumps, and running, some more thumps and thuds. We thought maybe it was some youngies getting back late.

The next day the hotel manager was bringing us a key for our second room. I told him about our experience. It was then we found out, someone had entered a room above us with an unlocked door and 5 sleeping people. Their keys, wallets and cameras were stolen and all the bedside drawers open. The guy had taken all the goodies to his car and was robbing another room when someone awoke.
The guy ran but was seen getting into a taxi, by someone in the street. The police and taxis in town all became part of the chase. The police recognized the guy's description from an altercation earlier in the night.
To cut to the chase, this bloke robbed several hotel rooms with unlocked doors that night, but all property retrieved when he was arrested before morning, much to the relief of people who lost car keys especially.

Next hotel/motel I stay in I am barricading the door.

The 8 hour drive to Narooma is enjoyable. There are some nice places to pass through on the way. The bakery at Rosedale is a must for a pie, the café at Cann River has great coffee and the Cheese factory at Bega tops for some goodies for the kids and yourself.

The trip can be shortened by going to Brethren from Bairnsdale and missing Lakes Entrance. It can also be shortened by ignoring the navigator and sticking to the Princes Hwy at Eden instead of following the coast.

All in all, a visit to Narooma for the Great Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival makes for a top weekend. Sharing with others for fuel costs and accommodation is the way to go.
If you can dance on the grass, you’ll love it.