Wintersun Festival 2009

Wintersun 2009

What is Wintersun?

To answer a question a few new dancers have posed, and to let them know what they've been missing, we put up a bit about the Festival which attracts between 90,000 and 130,000 enthusiastic dancers and car enthusiasts every year. The festival has been running for over 20 years and has built into one of the biggest nostalgia events in the world....and it's right here in OZ. Click here to go to their website for more details Wintersun.

"Australia's Leading Rock & Roll Nostalgia Retro Event.... Wintersun 2009 starts on Friday 29th May and ends with the huge Best of Wintersun Concert on Monday 8th June. Wintersun is Australia's leading annual Retro Nostalgia Festival. Featuring almost 1500 Hot Rods, Custom and Classic Cars, more than 100 bands and performers, dancing, movies, and competitions. The festival is held in the border coastal towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads on the New South Wales & Queensland border. Many events are free, some are in the streets while others are in the local clubs and shopping centres".

June 3 Wednesday: Arrived @ Wintersun. What a long day of traveling. Took almost 12 hours from house to apartment - great apartment and view. Took in Counrty-Rock duo @ Breezes @ Twin Towns. Great vocals and packed dance floor. Good night...not too late as we have brekkie @ Outbacks Jacks @ 9am.

June 4 Thursday:

Breakfast @ Wintersun 2009:

When we came up with the idea for a Wintersun WA 2009 brekkie, we expected to get 4 to 6 people and be able to meet in a telephone booth. We were surprised. The response was so good we asked Cheryl and Ross to book a restaurant because it looked like there'd be 30 of us. After they booked the number grew, and we were expecting 40. Between 55 and 60 people turned up for the breakfast - all WA visitors to Wintersun.

It was great of Outback Jacks to open for us, and great for them we got such a good crowd. The whole internal part of the restaurant was filled with our crew, and other diners gathered to eat outside. The food and atmosphere were awesome. We were overlooking the beach.

People table-hopped, forging new friendships and consolidating old ones. It was great to get to know Gail and Max from Rockingham a bit better, and others we've seen at gigs, but have never met formally.

Got lots of thanks for setting it up, so we feel it was a success. Hope we can replicate the success on our own turf - 21^st June Brekkie @ Dome Scarborough (Observation City). Be sure to let us know if you're coming so we can increase the booking - already almost all booked spots are taken. Video coming.

Wintersun Rockabilly Jamboree @ Seagulls Thursday 4 June

Terrific to see the range of ages enjoying Rockabilly music and dancing... from 16 to 80. All sharing the dance floor, showing respect for each other, and rockin' on.

Great night of Rockabilly music and dancing. Particularly awesome dancing by Donna and Mick from South Australia - they were an inspiration to watch.

Loved The Satellites, Vargas Brothers and Luis and the Wildfires. Luis got everyone going as he worked the crowd. Good musician, good performer and very entertaining.

Lots of original songs. Great to hear lots of new material currently being created and recorded in the genre. As long as this is happening the genre is alive and kickin'.

The Satellites @ Wintersun Rockabilly Jamboree

Luis and the Wildfires @ Wintersun Rockabilly Jamboree

Friday 5 on the street @ Wintersun

Saturday 6

Bands playing all day on ten stages plus more shows at night.

It is a long weekend here, huge number of people, cars, cars and more cars.

We still think this is the best Retro Festival in the world.

Dennis Knight & Red Hot Chicken Feathers
@ Wintersun 2009

Sat 6 Mr Rock and Mr Soul

Matman as usual provided awesome entertainment. A great night.

Bobby was better than ever. He performed as a wide variety of Soul artists. It was as if they each occupied his body for that short time. His body language, voice and dance style changed with each transition. Great performance.

Lance was once again awesome. Rocked the house both with his original tunes, and his Jerry Lee impersonations. Great musician, and wonderful performance.

Pity we'll not be seeing Sonny Burgess and the Legendary Pacers, Bobby and Lance at the Best of Wintersun this year ... because they definite are up there with the best!