The Australian Blues Music Festival brings together solo acts and bands at various stages in their musical careers for a weekend of fun, and fine tunes, with genre lovers.

Over the weekend of February 8-10 this year, the acts were as diverse as ever, from seasoned performer such as Jan Preston, a veteran of many shows, to rising stars, such as Rory Phillips, 12, of Tumut.

As usual, there were impromptu performances, last-minute changes, and solo artists who merged into mini super groups.

On Friday about 4.30pm  the guys from Guitar Case received a call asking if they could fill in for Doggin It! booked for four sessions at the Samran Thai Restaurant. The trio packed their instruments and headed to Goulburn from Sydney for the first of their engagements at 7.30pm.

 At that first performance on Friday spoon-man Rob Orr from Wingello who was dining at the restaurant decided to get up and join the band for an impromptu performance.

 When Kane Dennelly was booked as a solo act for the Hibernian Hotel, his band 19 TWENTY’s drummer, Syd Green, thought he would like to come along too. Also Kane’s brother Heath hearing that Kane was to perform in their old home town, packed his sax and harmonica bag to tag along too for what became an amazing night for their many friends and fans.

 At the annual Chain Awards, held at the Goulburn Club on Saturday, the night Best New Talent winner Simon Kinny-Lewis missed the stage call but had his manager accept the award for him.

Kinny-Lewis was still packing up following a performance at the Tattersalls Hotel, but arrived a little later, in time for a photo session.  Winner of the Duo or group of the year went to Adelaide group Lazy Eye who were otherwise engaged on the weekend. Artist of the Year, Album of the Year “ Back Roads” and Song of the Year “The Kick Around” went to Lloyd Spiegel who was also engaged at another festival. He also picked up producer of the year jointly with Robert Dillon.

Good friend and fellow artist Mike Elrington collected the trophies for Spiegel and thanked organiser Geoff Bell for promoting live music in Goulburn and to the wider community on behalf or the artists.

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