Head To Echuca To Beat The Winter Blues

The Age

Friday July 20, 2007

Matthew Frederick

I don't know whether to blame El Nino or La Nina or the Wicked Witch of the West but the current cold snap has Gig Guide hankering for a cosy pub to warm his tired limbs and some music to warm his weary soul.

If the current blast of icy weather is making the city look too grey and dreary for your liking than why not make the drive up to Echuca for this year's Echuca Winter Blues festival?

The acts including some of Gig Guide's personal favourites such as Collard, Greens and Gravy, the Wolfe Gang and Australia's great prog-rock survivors Spectrum. The blues was born on the steam boats of the Mississippi so what better place to hear the music than by Australia's own great paddle-steamer port?

Phone: 1800-804-446 or visit www.winterblues.com.au for all the info.

Live music veterans will need no introduction to Richard Tankard's Tank Dilemma. The band's main man Richard Tankard has played with such luminaries as Broderick Smith and Things of Stone and Wood and with the Tank Dilemma he has the perfect vehicle to bring his patented brand of Australian based roots music to the masses. The band will be launching their new CD "Alright Already" tonight at Brunswick's Lomond Hotel (225 Nicholson St) from 9:30pm. Visit www.tankdilemma .com to hear some samples from the new disc.

As you browse the Gig guide you may be surprised to see an entry for a Christmas show. Rest assured that this is no error as Queenscliff's legendary Blues Train has started taking bookings for it's Christmas season. Having had the chance to ride the train on a number of occasions Gig Guide can assure you that a trip on the train is the most fun you can have with your pants on and you don't need to be a blues fan to have fun.

More Gig Guide action next week.

mfrederick@theage.com.au Phone 96041665.