Deni just keeps getting bigger and better. For us it was our 3rd visit to the iconic Aussie festival and it was definately a case of '3rd times a charm'. We love this event, and it was such a blast to be part of it again and to be on the bill for the 10th anniversary celebrations. Sure it was the day stage and not the big stage like last year, but they still found the time to rustle us up our own backstage dressing room. Ok it was more like a tent.......pitched right between Lee Kernaghan and the Living End's dressing rooms. With all the rain that we got on the Friday night we nearly got to use it. Thanks Chris!
Our deluxe dressing room.
The line up for the festival was nothing short of incredible. Lee Kernaghan, Kasey Chambers, James Reyne and Mark Seymour and the Living End. Something for everyone in there. Isnt that Bill Chambers a slick dude! He just cooked up some sweet slide on the side of stage - awesome stuff. Loved the all acoustic set Kasey, Shane and Bill played, a real highlight of the festival.
But hang on lets just take a step back to Saturday arvo! The sun was shining, the bar was chock full of blue singlet wearing drinking maniacs, the XXXX girls were dancing, hundreds of blokes were watching with open mouths. Motorbike riders were doing aerial stunts and the rodeo was in full swing. The bluey singlet count just smashed their world record (I think they got over 2500), well I was in there somewhere! It turned from a singlet count to a slightly raunchier version of a wet t-shirt comp - definately food for thought if they are trying to figure out how to break the record next year. And then if that wasnt enough to keep you entertained during the day - The Distance took to the stage to close out the arvo entertainment.
Rockin the day stage
We are no strangers to the Deni Day stage. Even the year we played the big stage we still played a slot on the day stage. The band seems to be getting better every time we step on stage at the moment. I'm not just saying that just to pump us up - I really feel it. And this show was no exception. Gav pulled out a rockin festival set that just kept the crowd wanting more and more. Actually I have to mention one song as we only learnt it to play at Deni (although I'm sure it will get a run again soon). 'I need a lover' by Mellancamp - was the perfect was to close the day stage and nearly caused a riot when we didnt play another song after that. It was Gav's idea to learn that song just for the Deni show, just a big anthemic rocker to slay em. Had the whole place singing along and went down a treat. Actually there was hardly a song that the crowd didnt sing along to. All our songs that have been getting CMC coverage seem to be working their charms on the Aussie psyche. From 'This Land' to 'Country Life' and the newie 'Comin on Fast' I could see so many people singing along to the words! Thanks to everyone who bought CD's from the music shop at the muster - it was good to see our pile was getting smaller.
Bluey Count!
After we finished our set we headed back to our riverside retreat (no not the tent - an actual house!), threw the guitars in the door and then it was straight back to the muster to catch the Saturday night acts hit the main stage. There is plenty of stories to tell from the Saturday night - definatley let the ol hair down. But one of the destinct advantages to being the guy who does the web page is the opportunity to omit certain stories, distort certain facts and basically just make fun of everyone else other than myself. So Saturday night was bloody boring, nobody was acting stupid or had too much to drink. Nobody tried to rap dance in the dirt etc etc etc and basically we all fell to sleep with boredom and went back home..........
James Reyne on the main stage
So I dare say we wont be performing at next years muster after playing there 3 times in a row (go on Chris just once more mate!!) . No doubt we'll still go next year.
Here are a few various pics from the weekend.
Oh and big happy birthday to Rowdy - hope you had a ripper weekend mate!!!
and finally after much deliberation and harrassment.......
The one and only Mr.Peter O'Keefe!!!!!!!
BACK TO BLOG MENU
