Ozmanouche festival review

Daniel

So a budding young GJ guitarist from Alsace , now working in Australia misses his flight home .He returns to his hotel, and feeling down and out, goes for a walk around the block.
He hears music coming from the direction of the river , and can't believe his eyes when he sees a poster for the inaugural Django festival in Australia '' Ozmanouche ''
Unfortunately its booked out so he can't come inside , however after a brief altercation with the doorman , he is up at the bar with his eyeballs out on sticks and a grin from ear to ear.
I last saw him at a late night Jam at Cameron Fords place having a ball, until the Gendarmes arrived and moved us on [they were really nice about it actually].
Highlights were so many -
Melb. duo '' Ninety Pound Niglo'' opened the event with Ross '' Fat Niglo '' Hetherington on pompe, and Lindsay Barclay on lead - the crowd loved their blazing version of '' Man of Mystery ''
Doch - I love Balkan Gypsy music and this group seriously rocked - the dance floor was packed !
Duck Musique - these ducks fly ! And what about chanteuse Kelsey belting out ''You are my sunshine'' to the Dark Eyes melody , while sipping on a glass of red ?
Mystery Pacific - Ewan Mac Kenzies five piece Gypsy swing band [Ewan studied with Lolo Meier and it shows ].
Cameron Ford Quartet - these guys played at the morning after breakfast - a swinging way to wake up !
Ian Date and Nigel '' Hot Lips '' Date - great performance - great playing and personality in buckets.Great master class from Ian also ,fully booked out - get in early next time everyone.
Grand Boeuf - the big Jam - wow ! Ian , Ewan and Cameron joined by three young guns , Jules , from Manouche a trios , Francis from Band of Monkeys [ that what he told me they were ], and Pauly Binyani, [from out of nowhere] who ripped through a set of Baro waltzes then proceeded to play a perfect version of Djangos Improvisation no1 - all on a $25 Blueridge guitar ! Also on stage was a young lady named Miranda who looked like a Hungarian Princess and pomped like Hono !.
And the endless jams with Kay from '' Swing Fever '' who said the Violin master class with Fred Graham was excellent.
Low lights ? Nearly throwing the Hodson into the river after trying to keep up with Pauly on '' Panique ''
And what a great venue '' Guiangette Ozmanouche '' on the Brisbane river .
Thanks to everyone not mentioned included [violinists , bass players etc. and to Remco [can you get Stochelos number for me ? ] , Paul Davis , and the very patient Mrs, . - '' Ewan come to bed its 4am '' Mac Kenzie., and all the cool guys I jammed with , Greg, Tiny etc.
Everyone please call me when you come to Melb.
Cheers,
Dan.
Hope the French guy got home OK.