Bimbadgen Blues @ Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley

Bimbadgen Blues @ Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley - 6 September 2008

by lkatulka on September 7th, 2008

Dallas Frasca @ Bimbadgen Blues

I had been looking forward to Sunday’s Bimbadgen Blues concert for months. I’ve long been a fan of this amazing winery and the relaxed vibe of the concerts it hosts. Yet as the big day approached, my excitement turned to dread. Anyone who lives anywhere close by knows why. The weather was atrocious, with the rain relentless.

As I drove to Newcastle to meet my father, it was no exception. In fact, I didn’t feel comfortable pushing my little Festiva above 90 kays! We both considered not making the trip to the Hunter, but our eternally optimistic natures convinced us to make the trip. I’m so glad we did.

As we approached our Cessnock, the clear skies brightened our moods. It was still a grey dreary and freezing cold morning, but it was at least dry!

Bimbadgen Blues is a different beast than the Day on the Green concerts I’m used to attending at the winery. The obvious contrast is the two stages. It’s a smart move for a concert with such a crowded bill. It allowed us to see full lengths sets of all the artists, rather than only a couple of songs from the lesser known performers. The sets were staggered, so punters could walk between the stages and experience non-stop music. While one band was setting up, there was always another show not too far away.

My dad and I were a little too lazy for that, and we were happy to set up camp at the main stage. The rain had scared away many people, but the enthusiasm of those left made up for it. The wine flowed freely as it always does at these winery shows, but everyone was so well behaved. They danced, they sang, and they had a fantastic time. So too did the performers, who clearly appreciated the fans braving the cold and intermittent rain.

We arrived midway through Mojo Webb’s set. I’d never heard of him before, but this buzzing blues artist has a way of drawing you in. The eclectic tunes were brilliant, with elements of jazz, funk, jungle beats, and even a little bluegrass thrown in. Mojo is a real showman, even stepping down off the stage at one point to get a little closer to the appreciative audience.

Dallas Frasca provided a real change of pace with her bright red dreadlocks, vibrant green dress, and earthy blues sound. Her raspy vocals bear an uncanny resemblance to Janis Joplin, and she’s got the wild stage persona to match. In fact, as fans discarded their shoes to dance in the mud it was easy to imagine we were at Woodstock. Dallas’ voice was amazing and her larger than life personality matched it, but there wasn’t a lot of variety to her set. I’d have loved to hear her belt out something a little more melodic. Perhaps a few Janis classics?

The occasional showers turned to steady rain as Josh Pyke took the stage. But I’d been waiting all day to see this Australian singer-songwriter, and I wasn’t going to let a little rain spoil my fun. He gave everything to the patient and soggy crowd, producing an amazing set filled with old favourites and some exciting new tracks. His poetic lyrics and natural warmth were all the sunshine I needed for that hour and a half.

When Josh left the stage though, I was just wet. Sadly, the rain was getting worse. My father and I tried to wait it out, reasoning that you can’t get any wetter than wet, but it was just far too unpleasant to persevere. Like many, we decided to count our losses and skip out Australian blues legends Chain. I didn’t want to miss their set, but it just wasn’t worth braving the storm any longer.

Bad weather conditions are just the luck of the draw, and it’s a shame that they had to end my Bimbadgen Blues experience prematurely. But as unpleasant as the rain was, I still had an amazing time. The crowd was beautiful. The performers were top notch, and gave us everything they had. The day ran so smoothly despite the terrible weather. The wine was pretty fantastic too. I’ll definitely be back next year. I just hope the sun is shining!

Image source: own photos