Along with the usual sense of excitement for the weekend of music ahead, there was sense of real sadness that it was the end of an era after 19 years and 17 festivals at Narooma.

On a bright note, founder and promoter Neil Mumme said it seemed to be biggest-ever opening Friday crowd in the event’s history as the Narooma Blues Fest.

And with warm sunny weather forecast, it could be record crowd on Saturday too.

Two mates who wouldn’t have missed it for the world were Chris van den Berg and Michael Handcock from Blayney in the Central West, and they had attended about 14 or 15 of the festivals.

“Sad is not the word for it,” Chris said. “It’s the one time we get to get away together ever year.”

“Our wives even give it their blessing saying go and have good time,” Micheal added.

They planned to tackle Neil sometime over the weekend on the issue of keeping the music alive.

Local born and bred musician Mitch Broadhead from The Swamp Stompers was there with his mates and is stoked to be performing on Saturday afternoon in what he considers his home festival.

Tilba music fans Gayle Donnelly and Carol Kemp decided to make a weekend out of it dragging their vans to Easts Van Village on the Narooma Flat where they got one of the last sites available.

Narooma and Batemans Bay local and blues fan Jenny Oliver was there with the third reincarnation of her signature pink hat complete with artists signatures.

The merchandise tent ladies – Ann Millar, Suzie Egan, Cathy Cropper and Lee Zaremski – were flat out busy with fans wanting to get their last Narooma Blues Fest T-shirt.

Moruya music man Tony Jaggers started the musical proceedings in the Ferny’s Juke Joint tent and was followed by blues guitar maestro Lloyd Spiegel with standing room only.

The tent is also the home for the ever-popular Michael’s at Dalmeny food stall, this year manned by a team of eight ladies headed by Glennie Dawson.

Dining out in the VIP section were the winners of Club Narooma’s VIP pass give-away, Narooma Public School principal Paul Sweeney and his wife Christine.

Club Narooma this year for the time first partnered with the festival to run the drinks tent being overseen by club manager Tony Casu, and also hosting music brunches just across from the oval.

The last ever Great Southern Blues Festival wraps up at around 10.30pm Sunday when there is expected to be an emotional farewell from the big man himself.

Who knows Neil Mumme might just announces his plans for something new and musical for Narooma.

Two couples certainly hoping so were couples Ellen and Gavin Tom from Parkes and Steve and Kim Flaws from Cootamundra, both friends with Rhonda Upton from the now closed La Salle Motel where many an international blues muso has stayed.

They all loved to come to Narooma and could see how important a large event was for a small town that relied on tourism.

“We will keep coming, things have to progress and I’m sure there will be something to replace it,” they said.

“You need something that attracts new people who then fall in love with Narooma and want to keep coming back.”