Queenscliff Music Festival
Queenscliff, November 25-27
![Killing Heide's Ella Hooper whips up the Friday night crowd.](/web/20161129040404im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/y/o/c/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsyhla.png/1480236029763.jpg)
Martin Boulton
The annual Queenscliff Music Festival has brought music lovers, families and friends together in the picturesque seaside town for years and in this, the festival's 20th year, there was something for everybody.
The event sold out weeks ago based on one of the strongest line-ups in the festival's history, including a reformed Killing Heidi headlining on Friday night, a rejuvenated Peter Garrett wowing a huge crowd on the main Lighthouse Stage on Saturday night, and Ben Harper closing out Sunday afternoon. There was plenty to enjoy in between those three, but the main acts drew the biggest response for several reasons.
Everybody loves a sing-a-long and Killing Heidi with the effervescent Ella Hooper out front, had the Friday night crowd in raptures, two decades since they first broke through with their infectious pop and rock. Hit singles from days gone by such as Weir and Mascara were punched out with verve by the band and the crowd got in on the party.
Ash Grunwald was another opening night standout on the big stage, warming the crowd and setting the scene for two more days of music that spills out of the festival site and onto the surrounding streets. Cafes, the Blues Train running along the water's edge and buskers perched on corners around town all bring the colour and atmosphere that's made this festival a stalwart of Victoria's thriving festival scene.
The strength of the Australian and Victorian music scenes was reflected in this year's line-up, where overseas performers including folk singer Steve Poltz, who played a crowd-pleasing Sunday afternoon show, slotted in neatly among the locals. Julia Jacklin on Saturday morning, Liz Stringer on Friday evening and the sublime Sweet Jean duo of Simon Nugent and Alice Keath on Sunday not only rounded out a bulging schedule, but raised the bar. Newcomers including Gabriella Cohen and up-and-coming acts on the Pavilion stage were a pleasant alternative to the main stage action.
Peter Garrett released his new solo album A Version of Now with a crack band of musicians two months ago; his first new music since leaving federal parliament and first creative output in many more years. The majority of the players on Garrett's new album, including drummer Peter Luscombe, former Jet bass player Mark Wilson and Midnight Oil guitarist Martin Rotsey, joined Garrett on stage on Saturday night.
The impact was not only impressive, blasting new tracks off the stage to a full house of grateful fans, but truly spine-tingling; particularly when the Oils track Don't Wanna Be the One was delivered with Garrett's trademark on-stage energy in full flight. If that wasn't enough, an encore of The Dead Heart from the Oils' '87 album Diesel and Dust nearly lifted the roof of the enormous main stage tent. The Oils return to the stage for next year's reunion tour, but if you get a chance to see Garrett with his own band the Alter Egos, grab it.
Paul Kelly and Charlie Owen played songs from their new album Death's Dateless Night and a collection of Kelly's own songs, giving a different twist to the more upbeat Saturday night spot, before Nattali Rize closed out the main stage style.
On late Sunday morning and afternoon the sunshine that had been poking through the clouds most of Saturday burst through, giving the festival a welcome break from the winds that can whip up across the water. The Pierce Brothers lifted the tempo mid-afternoon on the popular Hippos Stage before Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals brought the whole show rattling home in fine fashion. A big closing for a big, popular and friendly festival.