QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL, VICTORIA 22-24TH NOVEMBER
By Chris Lambie
Michael Franti chose QMF as the final show on his current tour due to its renown as a family friendly event. His two-hour Friday night set with longtime band Spearhead validated the choice. Kids he spotted singing along to his hits were invited to join him on stage for duet vocals. The crowd were in raptures when he jumped down to mingle among the throng. Like others across the weekend, he acknowledged the pain of war infecting the world. Advocating for peace and love to prevail, the communion of voices throughout the tent offered hope.
Equally huge numbers gathered at the Lighthouse Stage with headliners including Marlon Williams, Kasey Chambers, Xavier Rudd, Grace Cummings and The Wiggles Sound System. Sugar Fed Leopards and Fools brought mega lineups bursting with colour, movement and energy.
Checkerboard Lounge slayed the crowd at The Brewhouse across the road. A more polished quartet you’d struggle to find: Tim Neal on keys, guitar gun Shannon Bourne, bassist Zoë Frater quietly killing it behind ever-ecstatic singing drummer Carl (‘I’ll have what he’s having’) Pannuzzo. If you’re not smiling watching this fella, you need help.
The welcome of Wadawurrung land brought out joy, laughter, funky moves and sunscreen. Saturday was sweltering but shade was easy to find…plus icy bevs and ice-cream. The site layout has been condensed from the 2010s. But with another five venues around town, punters were still spoilt for choice.
DJs, the kids’ Couta Quarter, up-comers on the Freeza stage and some cracking comedy offered something for everyone. Volunteers were a joy. Sustainability was well-managed. End of night shuttle bus rides, a hoot. (Big shout out to Friday’s Point Lonsdale loop riders for the best mass singalong). The openness of the main tents and creative use of big screens provided good viewing from outside.
Over at the Hippos Stage, popular acts ranged from Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission folk to dynamic alt-diva Queenie’s. Bondi Cigars were missing Shane Pacey (in the throes orthopaedic work) but replacement James Southwell did a brilliant job in his stead. Less familiar names won new fans such as Chikchika (featuring East African instruments krar and masinko), Jack Botts, Joe Terror and The Bures Band with seamless guitars and harmonies.
Fresh from her ARIA award win, Emily Wurramara shared her sublime voice, touching storytelling and natural wit, back by a superb band. The Divine Miss Em effortlessly charmed the full house.
For mine, you can’t go past artists whose unique style earns cult-like status and astonishes the uninitiated. Everyone should have a Bob Log III experience at least once in their lifetime. Unpredictable? Certainly. Batshit crazy? Yep. Kind of like a train wreck you want to stay to witness. The American was just visible (smoke machine doing overtime) in trademark stuntman onesie and full-face crash helmet with its attached phone receiver mic’d up. It’s all fuzzed vocals, thumping foot-driven beats and brilliant slide guitar. A big old bluesy belt across the senses. He threw balloons into the audience to be blown up for stomping. Also fresh toast from his on stage ‘bread heating machine’. Classic.
C.W. Stoneking played his ole-timey, stylish hits to a packed house. In fine form, Stoneking was resplendent in his whites, bow tie and pomade. His quirky lyrics, left-of-centre banter and pre-war jazz-blues-boogaloo set was a charmer. Think Cab Calloway meets Loony Toons. Who else can pull off a solo duet? Exceptional backing from clarinet, trumpet, tuba, accordion and double bass.
The Auslan interpreter had her work cut out accompanying Cash Savage & The Last Drinks but met the brief with verve. Savage prowled, paced, yowled and mesmerised. Genre-fluid, there were moments of almost Appalachian fiddle work (the mighty Kay Mear) but DON’T CALL THEM COUNTRY! Message received. In fact, the set – and the whole stellar outfit – really came alive with the loudest, growly and grungy tracks. ‘Keep Working At Your Job’, ‘Better Than That’ and ‘My Friend’ were highlights. From an air of vulnerability, even fragility, Savage absorbed buckets of love and revelry from audience and bandmates, culminating in triumphant celebration. There’s a lotta love among the passionate group of players. Heartfelt hugs were exchanged as they downed tools before leaving the stage. What a ride. What a weekend. Music, the healer, wins again.