Blues, sometimes called the godfather of popular music, sprouted in the soil of cruel injustice. It was a genre of music heard first in plantation fields scattered across the United States.

Stories of hardship, pain, freedom, love and justice were sung with husky cries, swinging beats and infectious melodies. There was no sub text, just expression; an outlet for a minority who didn’t otherwise have a voice.

Over the weekend, the Australian Blues Music Festival – fondly called the Blues Fest – saw an array of artists interpret this genre with passion and veracity. 

Young and old, local or interstate, each performer possessed focus and drive. In all of the nine venues housing these artists, feet tapped and heads nodded. Some were caught in a memory, but most were feeling raw, relatable emotions echoed in the songs.

The influx of activity, laughter and bonded spirit is testament to the power of the arts. Events like the blues fest bring the community together and celebrate niche, unique personalities in our city.

Festival organiser Geoff Bell, in partnersip with Goulburn Mulwaree Council, deserves yet another round of applause for their continued efforts in this field.

Music events will never fall on deaf ears, and will always be welcolmed with open arms and minds.

Beyond the congregation of talent and people, there was also a lesson to be learnt in the blues: every song, every beat, every note – a testament of perseverance, a message to never give up; a hope that your worries today will only last until tomorrow.

Regardless of passions about the environment about the environment, or stances on climate change, many took more than a passing interest in the temperatures over the weekend.

Cities around the state experienced their hottest days on record as emergency response teams were on stand-by for the worst. 

The dedication of the emergency response sector, in every field and capacity, is greatly appreciated. True heroes live among us.

Surely they too are fans of blues music; and may their worries on a total fire ban day only last until tomorrow.