2025 Music Festival
Friday, February 21st, to Sunday February 23rd. Music at the Gellibrand River Hotel on Friday night from 6.00 pm to 10 pm and on Saturday from 12.00 noon till 10.00 pm. We will also have our popular Markets again from 9.30 am till 2.00pm on Sunday at Rex Norman Reserve.
Line-Up
Chestnut Street Band
Chestnut street came together about 7 years ago after having played in various other bands around the Otways and surf coast. We love jamming and performing together and pick songs that we all feel good about. We play a big range of tunes that include blues, soul and country and a bit of contemporary pop too. Our band is made up of Leah playing guitar and lead vocals, Liz on harmonica, uke, vocals and percussion, Rod on lead guitar and Charles playing bass. We love to get people up and dancing!!
The Maskell Love Band
Born out of love for the Blues and a need to escape the ennui of COVID lockdowns, The Maskell-Love Band is a fresh project brought forth by a seasoned collective of musicians, each with a considerable local music pedigree.
Fronting the band is Pete Maskell, a man with a rare gift for lyrical interpretation. His style is unassuming yet feisty, with vocals akin to smoked honey. Pete’s no slouch on slide, lead and rhythm guitar, either.
Fans of The Mojo Corner, Chris Wilson, Sweet Felicia and Wayne Jury will already be acquainted with Troy Love’s fine guitar work.
Providing momentum in the engine room, keeping this Blues machine grooving steadily forward is Adrian Gardham on drums.
To complete the rhythm section, Luke Hynes (The Tufftones, Chubby Rae and the Elevators) injects a solid groove and energetic stage presence, bringing a powerful and soulful foundation to every performance.
Back Alley Sally
Known as Back Alley Sally, this blues duo features two awarded musicians, both bona fide veterans in the blues and wider music scene.
Featuring on blues harmonica, Julie Noble was selected to represent Australia as one-half of the venerable Miss Whiskey duo in the International Blues Competition held in Memphis, Tennessee. Delivering decades of international experience as both instructor and performer, she breathes hurricanes, breaking reeds and hearts with her red hot, inimitable style.
Appearing as a new duo they are already emerging in high demand, securing Blues festival slots such as Gellibrand River Blues Fest, appearing at Hume Blues Club, Queenscliff’s celebrated Blues Train and twice supporting legendary bluesman Geoff Achison.
Dan Dinnen & Shorty
Dan Dinnen is a blues singer/songwriter who plays harmonica and finger-pickin’ guitar, and sings up a storm. His original tunes include smoking ballads, country-blues ditties and juke joint boogies. An award winning artist, a dynamic, energetic performer with an old-time blues feel and style, yet with a wholly individual voice and sound. Dan has performed alongside some of Australia's leading blues artists including luminaries such as Fiona Boyes, Geoff Achison, Jimi Hocking and Lloyd Spiegel.
As well as his solo shows, Dan performs in both duo and trio formats. The duo performances pair Dan with one of Australia's most unique and exciting drummers, Anthony "Shorty" Shortte - best known for his work with ARIA award winning Australian blues scene legends Collard Greens and Gravy.
From 2013 - 2016, Dan fronted Chicago blues influenced band Greg Dodd and the Hoodoo Men, singing lead vocals and playing blues harp. The band appeared at some of Australia's premiere blues festivals and made two CDs which won the band numerous awards. In 2016, Dan won the MBAS Blues Performer of the Year award in the Solo/Duo category. This earned him a place competing in the 33rd International Blues Challenge on Beale St., Memphis TN in 2017 where Dan made it to the Semifinals.
Lukey Luke & the Dukes
Lukey Luke has been rockin' tunes since his time began and this ‘Big Bang’ has been expanding through the universe of sound ever since. With a voice as big as Everest, clean, rich and reaching for the skies, you'll be entertained in a deep blue sea of passion, energy and soul.
He has supported the likes of Rose Tattoo, Deisel, James Reyne, Russell Morris and Joe Camilleri. Forteing in solo acoustic singer/songwriting and fronting Rock bands such as "Prime Mover" and the "Diehard Dolls". Lukey's diversity has also taken him into musicals where he played the leading role of Judas in an award-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He has also experienced his fair share of Australian Country with an appearance in the ‘Road To Tamworth Finals’.
For the FULL Experience go for the Full Band LUKEY LUKE & the DUKES. With Lukey Luke fronting Master Musicians Carl Dickens on Violin, Jono Dunn on Drums and Rod Colins on Bass. Piano, Lead Guitar, Trumpet Saxophone etc etc etc can be arranged if you want to go the whole hog!
