IT was an emotional farewell to the Great Southern Blues Festival by its founder and promoter Neil Mumme on stage on Sunday night.
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After 19 years, 17 years in Narooma, the festival is now over.
“It’s a bit like having a baby that grows up and moves out of home,” he said.
He also urged all those urging all those loyal music fans out there to take their kids to concerts and introduce them to live music.
He recognised the volunteers, production crew and other workers and paid tribute to associate and friend Peter Phelps, as well as production man Rusell “Razzo” Coffey and security boss “Hollywood” Bob Moulden.
He said it was harder to put on a multi-day festival and in regards to the future, he said expect an announcement next month.
Blues fans on Friday evening poured onto Bill Smyth Oval at Narooma for the last ever Great Southern Blues Festival, and the weather remained perfect for the rest of the weekend.
Accomodation around Narooma was in short supply with the Flat caravan park all but booked out.
Along with the usual sense of excitement for the weekend of music, there was sense of real sadness that it was the end of an era after 19 years and 17 festivals at Narooma.
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.
The merchandise tent ladies were flat out busy with fans wanting to get their last Narooma Blues Fest T-shirt and they sold out by the end of the weekend.
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.
