Artist and Friends Applications Open Now

Planning is well underway for the 2010 festival. Artist and Friends applications are open and the committee is working full steam ahead on planning for 2010 - what will be the 18th year of this wonderful festival. To celebrate this milestone the committee will soon be announcing a new Patron for the Festival, and we will also be introducing Artists of the Year.

The Committee has also introduced special subscriber tickets which are on sale now until 31 July. Artist applications close 31 July 2010.

2009 Apollo Bay Music Festival hailed " a faultless event"...
– Yasmin Paton The Echo

"Apollo Bay Music Festival the best yet"
– The Geelong Advertiser

The 2009 Apollo Bay Music Festival was indeed a musical feast and the weather was truly on our side. Artists, audience and community members alike relished in the relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. Artistically there were so many standouts from Jimmy Little's performance with Karma County to Boo Hewerdine performing with Kim Richey and Alan Kelly. King Marong and Afro Mandinko were an incredible highlight and their version of big in Japan with Nicky Bomba and young community members was nothing short of amazing. The finale with Joe Camilleri and Nicky Bomba's Limestone truly lifted the roof .... closing the festival with an energy that was sublime.

More than 4000 audience members, artists and volunteers attended the festival.
2009 was a great success!

"It's just the best festival in Vic I reckon!" Matt Walker

"Jeez, I had a good time." Jon Von Goes

"We had a great time and really appreciated the fantastic organisation and spirit that went into the whole weekend." Major Chord

"Thanks for a wonderful weekend. We’ve played most of the big festivals in Victoria and have to say we enjoyed Apollo Bay the best. Music and weather fantastic... generally had an ace time." The Sandpebbles

"Thank you ... Tex and band really had a lot of fun." Danial Caneva Majorbox Music

"Thank you so much for organizing this!" Robyn Hitchcock

"REM Trio Stars at Apollo Bay" The Geelong Advertiser

Review
Chris Lambie Forte Magazine
Thursday April 9th 2009 Issue #451

What's not to love about the Apollo Bay Music Festival? Gorgeous coastal location, invariably perfect weather, user friendly layout and a good mix of headliners and newbies. Despite the fact that this year's event was moved forward to fall during daylight savings, numbers seemed to be down a little which was actually a bonus for punters. Maybe it was due to the absence of a major commerical act I suspect the likes of Paul Kelly and Pete Murray pulled bigger crowds in recent years. But it's the surprise discoveries that make a music festival truly memorable and organsiers came up with another batch of beauties. I can't believe some of the big shows I missed (eg The Vasco Era, Jimmy Little, Mick Thomas). But halfway through an unexpectedly riveting performance, you soon abandon plans of a power walk to the next venue. A few higlights:

Matt Walker & Ashley Davies - Set the tone on Friday night with a scorching set of resonating rhythms. Hypnotic marquee set on Saturday. Musicianship taken to another level. When this Melbourne pair get together and get in the zone, they take every man - and his heartbeat - along for the ride. Sublime.

Pete Cornelius & The De Villes - revved up, backbeat rhythm & blues from Tassie. This brilliant young songwriter guitarist doesn't visit the mainland nearly enough.

Stephen Cummings - rejigged hits and polar bear tales...with and without punchlines. Still one of the most distinctive voices and wordsmiths in the country.

Illzilla - Tasty Aussie Hip Hop that got an all-ages crowd moving.

Lee Morgan - Grandson of 'Wisdom Man' Uncle Banjo Clarke, this 'master shredder' has nothing to do with Ninja Turtles. Morgan's rockin' band did well to keep up with his blistering guitar work. Word-of-mouth had spread by Sunday arvo and the packed pub crowd was blown away.

The Sandman & Flacco - A full house in the big tent wiped away tears of hilarity when these timeless oddballs took us on a ride from high-end conundrums to supreme silliness. Sandy impersonated a giant musk stick in hi lolly pink suit. Flacco demonstrated his innovative 'smile-on-a-stick'. Old favourites, such as Harry High Pants and Larry Low Pants made a scary appearance, as did the compressed air walk and the ever-expressive 'haadya!" Tears, I tells ya.

Blues In The Round - Fiddler extraordinair Andy Baylor gathered a stellar line-up including the aforementioned Cornelius, Walker & Davies, Liz Stringer, Wild Dog Blues and Canadians David Francey & Craig Werth. Magic solos plus all-in-jam.

World Music - Arrebato Ensemble (Spanish), Dya Singh (Punjabi) and King Marong & Afro Mandinko. The King and his funky group put on the most exciting visual feast, spreading rhythm and energy throughout the room.

Short sharp shots - Caught a wee sample of Nick Barker, The fabulous Junes, The Butt Bros and Dave Walker. So many options so little time...

Best on the street - Surfcoast locals The Rustys are growing up fast. Destined for big things. An impressed Tex Perkins was spotted checking them out on Sunday.

Plenty of great busking and young performers play for coin. South American combo (don't know thier name) pulled big crowds near the food village every day.

The JVG Guitar Method - RRR's wild and crazy Jon Von Goes (with super group Dale Lindrea, mark Ferrie & Ash Davies) had all the moves and stylish grooves working on Sunday arvo ...inside, outside and around the pub! Wish I coulda stayed for the after party.

Nicky Bomba - Thinking of reaching for the Prozac? Try a little Bomba instead. If reggae's Mr Positive can't put a smile on your face you're beyond redemption. With brother Michael Caruana and band. Bomba injects joy and harmony into every beat. This is the stuff festivals are made for.

The Undesirables - Likeable Canadian duo joined by The Waifs' David Ross McDonald had as much fun as the audience. Funny, sentimental and warm.

Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - although widely recognised as a British legend. Hitchcock is not well-known in Australia. However, his classy and infectious pop went over well: his band (comprising 3 members of REM), tight and terrific. 8 Miles High was a surprise encore.

Tex Perkins & His Ladyboyz - They play tacky, saccharine 'classic' hits from commercial radio. They wear white suits. They look like they're in party mode but, at the same time, like they don't give a rat's. As awful as the chosen tunes were (the Pina Colada Song!) all-comers ate up the show. Perkins the incorrigible ham was matched note for note by his girly-men. Also alluringly draped in white were the two ladyladies - more a visual addition than musical. Charlie Owen spent most of his time on synth and there were a lot of cheesy keyboard duties. As Tex and Alex Lloyd would say "They were amazing".