Country Music in the Park

The first monthly Country Music in the Park session was held today at the Gippsland Heritage Park in Moe.

Music was scheduled from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Scheduled acts were:

• The Strezlecki Stringbusters.
• Jodie Lee and the Hayband Boys.
• The Travelling Country Band.
• West Gippsland Country Music Association members, and last, but not least,
• John Mazur.

The day started rather dismally weather wise, with light showers falling up until about lunchtime. I'm glad to report that the rain cleared and the sun shone brightly and warmly. Instead of raincoats and umbrellas, shade was in short suppy.

I arrived around 4:00 to get a good feel of the session before I went on. I was scheduled to start at 8:00, so I had a good long look and listen.

For a first event I'm happy to report that the patronage of the session was really positive, heaps of people and all of them having a good time.

The stage was the back of a semi-trailer and a P.A. was provided for the entertainers, manned by a competent man at the mixer. All very good.

For sheer numbers of people on stage, the Stringbusters would have had to be the biggest act on the day. They stretched from one end of the stage to the others: Very impressive.

The Strezlecki Stringbusters

I was at the other end of scale, just me and a MIDI player. I started off on slide and after about 20 minutes changed over to the Stratocaster. I kept the song choice 'Country' and only at the very end played out the session with a few rock'n'roll songs. I found it most gratifying to have the patrons stay on until I finished off the day, and, dancing in the aisles! Most positive.

Good fun. I wish the organisers continued success with the event.

P.S. I was most happy to catch up with Maria Benedetti. She's still in good voice and humour and was helping out 'The Travelling Country Band' as they'd 'lost' one of their members.