As I take my first step into GreazeFest 2015, I’m greeted by the sparkly twang of guitars, a sea of quiffs and a showground filled with some of the 20th century’s most desirable cars. Now in its sixteenth year, I expected nothing less from the biggest kustom kulture event in the Southern Hemisphere. Bringing together hot rodded automobiles, lowrider motorcycles, top quality rockabilly bands, fashion parades, tattoos and markets, the festival has become the contemporary greaser’s favourite weekend of the year.
The garage rock’n’roll of Kieron McDonald kicked off the afternoon, with his old school rhythm and blues trio getting literally everyone on the dance floor doing the twist. lt was like watching the high school dance scene in Grease. Although I instantly felt like the least co-ordinated man in the room, it was impossible not to be swept up in the sheer joy of McDonald’s set. People three times my age were busting moves more impressive than I could ever dream of. Let that be a lesson friends, never challenge your elders to a dance-off.
Great music aside, GreazeFest offered a whole heap of subcultural specialties to keep you entertained between sets. I filled my spare time cruising through a maze of vintage cars, all lovingly restored and customised to the point of impossible coolness. Honestly, the red Mustang buffed to perfection sitting proudly at the centre of the grounds was worth the trip alone. After stocking up on southern-style ribs and coleslaw, I stepped back into the fray.
Firebird took the stage to up the ante. Oozing sweat, brylcreem and a bucketload of charisma, they fired up the room with a rollicking set of down’n’dirty roots music. Featuring the powerhouse trio of Chris Nomad, Pete Belair and Eddy Fury, they paid homage to likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard while pumping out tracks from their album Screamin’. The Hi-Boys delivered a marauding take on swamp blues, dropping to the floor to shred their way through to the end of the set. They even pushed on with an encore, despite frontman Scottie Rehbein breaking a guitar string.
Further highlights came with the long awaited reunion of Benny & The Flybyniters. The five-piece brought a smooth set filled with roaring sax solos and honey coated vocals. As the lights dimmed and couples gently swayed across the floor during a shuffling blues ballad, I couldn’t help but get involved. Up next was Doubleblack, offering a high intensity set that saw the worlds of punk and rockabilly collide, whipping the dance floor into a rowdy moshpit.
GreazeFest brings likeminded people together in an environment that embraces everything great about rockabilly culture. For a hip shakin’ good time, it can’t be beat. Just remember to wear your leather jacket.
BY JAMES DI FABRIZIO
Photos by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: Stepping back into 1952 for a day.
Hated: Being the only one without a pair of creepers.
Drank: Rum and ginger.
