Portraits in Blues: Thredbo Blues Festival (#1), Kosciuszko National Park, Australia

Stage portrait: Dan Sullivan holding his harmonica, Thredbo Lounge Bar, Australia

Dan Sullivan in Blue
It seems fitting that a blue spotlight shines on award-winning Australian blues-and-roots singer and harmonica player, Dan Sullivan, as he joins the band Brothers on stage at the Thredbo Blues Festival in the Australian mountains.

Is there anything as joyful as being in a room with live music that is being performed by musicians who love what they are doing?

I had the pleasure of attending the 31st Thredbo Blues Festival last month. It started on a Friday evening in January, and continued through to late Sunday night. I’ve attended this delightful little festival several times before (see: Thredbo Blues), and always enjoy it – even though I never last the full distance!

Part of the reason I love it is the venue: the performances take place in different restaurants, bars, and public spaces across the charming village of Thredbo, high in the Snowy Mountains of Kosciuszko National Park. In winter, Thredbo is one of Australia’s premier ski resorts. In summer, the alpine slopes are covered in endemic wildflowers, and populated by hikers and mountain-bike riders.

This year, unfortunately, it rained.

A lot.

So much so that I didn’t get out on any of my usual hikes, and all the daytime music got moved indoors.

Still, the music was great – and I further amused myself by attempting to make pictures of the performers.

When it comes to the success (or otherwise) of the results, the usual caveats apply: the lighting is brutal – especially in the daytime with darkened venues contrasting wildly with the rain-washed brightness outdoors; stage lights play havoc with skin-tones and with the white-balance on the cameras; and many of the venues are not built for music, so the sound can be questionable, and moving around to find lines-of-sight for pictures is challenging-to-impossible.

Still: it keeps me engaged. And, I’m pleased with some of the results.

Enjoy a few musical portraits of a selection of Australia’s foremost blues performers:

Sweet Felicia performing in the Schuss Bar, Thredbo, Australia

Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones
The performance space in the Schuss Bar has been changed: not very successfully in my view. The musicians no longer have a stage! Still, it was early, and Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones were amongst the first performers – meaning I could get in close for a few shots.

Portrait: Sweet Felicia performing in the Schuss Bar, Thredbo, Australia

Sweet Felicia
Even though this accomplished and award-winning bassist and vocalist has been playing her sassy brand of swing and blues over a career spanning 45 years, this was my first exposure to her. She’s definitely a new favourite.

Sound file: Sweet Felicia – Big Strong Woman

Steve Edmonds
Always a joy to watch and to listen to, Steve Edmonds took lead guitar for the Honeytones.

Kate Lush Band
Even without a mountain hike, you are guaranteed to get your steps in at Thredbo: our next stop, the Keller Bar, is two flights of stairs down from the Schuss Bar. The Kate Lush Band had the audience on their feet.

Kate Lush
Kate’s music has been described as: “Slick modern blues with Funk & attitude”.

Joy!
She was a joy to listen to – and to watch.

Dave Hole
How on earth was I not familiar with this guy? Back upstairs in the Kosci Room, Dave Hole demonstrates the effortless mastery that launched him into the international scene back in 1991.

Dave Hole on Slide
He is widely regarded as one of the best slide guitarists playing today.

Mal Eastick
We walk across to the Lounge Bar, where one of Australia’s finest blues/rock guitarists, the well-known Mal Eastick, is leading his new line-up.

John Tweed
Mal Eastick’s Tone Masters was a mix of musicians I’ve seen in many different iterations over the years – including John Tweed on keyboard.

Frank Sultana and Mike Rix
I stayed in the Lounge Bar – because I had a good spot AND because I had seen Frank Sultana before. I was looking forward to Brothers, his new lineup formed in 2025 on a working trip across blues country in the southern USA.

Dan Sullivan
They did not disappoint! Each of the musicians in Brothers have had illustrious solo careers.

On Harmonica with Brothers
Dan Sullivan lead the band Tomcat Playground for a decade.

Nathan Beretta (Brett) with Brothers
Nathan Beretta’s band Blue Eyes Cry is multi-award-winning.

Owen Campbell
We might have called it an early night on Friday, but we were back before noon on the Saturday to catch another of my favourites in the Kosci Room.

Owen on Slide
Billed as one of Australia’s premier alternative blues/rock performers, Owen Campbell slides into country-zone periodically. His melodic story-telling moved me to buy a CD the first time I saw him.

Sound Table
The sound engineers who support the festival do a great job in what has to be difficult circumstances!

Liza Ohlbeck
The weather was still awful, but in spite of the notification saying that performances slated for Merritts Mountain House were to be moved into the village, the Women in Blues Revue at the top of the Merritts Gondola was in full swing when I got there.

Powerhouse Vocals
Liza Ohlbeck is a festival-favourite, with her rich blues/jazz/gospel vocals.

Andrea Marr
Another powerhouse vocalist I’ve enjoyed many times in the past, Andrea Marr is one of the originators of the popular Women in Blues Revue.

Anna Scionti
I loved singer/songwriter/guitarist Anna Scionti when I have seen her at Thredbo: she has some great stories and quite a collection of interesting guitars.

Women in Blues Review
The Review lineup on the day featured Andrea Marr, Liza Ohlbeck, and Anna Scionti, and included John McNamara and Shane Gilbert on guitars, Andrew Fry on bass, and Greg Ohlbeck on drums.