Granite Town organisers are on a high after 700 music lovers streamed through the gates for their “crazy music festival”.
The festival featured upcoming Far South Coast bands and national headline acts on Saturday, September 26.
Volunteer Toby Whitelaw said the local young bands “absolutely rocked it out”.
“I was blown away by Salacious Frank,” Mr Whitelaw said.
“They are guys I know and it was incredible to see them in full costume doing their crazy rock-god thing in the blazing sun.”
He praised the audio set-up as “one of the best I have seen or heard”.
The event was moved to Moruya Racecourse for 2017 and Mr Whitelaw said the venue was ideal.
“It was the hottest September day on record, with strong winds, but the racecourse coped fantastically,” he said.
“We had the sprinklers on, with the kids running through, keeping cool and flying kites.”
It was incredible to see them in full costume doing their crazy rock-god thing in the blazing sun.
- Toby Whitelaw
It wasn’t only kids getting relief from the heat.
Festival secretary Darelle Carmody said adults enjoyed the bar and under-cover seating.
The festival moved from a costly three-day format at Moruya’s Riverside Park.
“We had to hire and set up a lot of infrastructure there,” Mr Whitelaw said.
Ms Carmody said the racecourse move meant, for the first time in four years, the event made money.
“The last years have run at a loss,” Ms Carmody said.
“This year, we got some money in the bank. We can pay a little bit off last-year’s debt.”
Ms Carmody said her highlight was Stella Angelico and Cookin’ on 3 Burners.
“Stella blew the roof off,” Ms Carmody said.
“My girlfriend said: ‘I want to be her’.”
Organisers are making positive noises for next year.
“We’ll book just as great bands,” Mr Whitelaw said.
He is banking on word-of-mouth to get even more people through the gate.
”I think the FOMO – fear-of-missing-out – will kick in,” Mr Whitelaw said.
Music director Phil Phree said he wanted to keep it funky and dancey.
“Our headline acts were some of Australia’s premier bands,” Mr Phree said.
With 13 bands playing Granite Town, Mr Phree said the event was about bringing new music to the area and giving local bands exposure.
“I think there are a few potential stars among our local bands,” he said.
”And all our bands played original music.”
Ms Carmody said Granite Town gave local bands the chance to watch headline acts up close.
“I told the gang from Pretty People that Jimmy Barnes started somewhere,” Ms Carmody said.
“Hang around, watch the more seasoned performers and learn from them.”
