The Gympie Music Muster 2012

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Posted 2012-06-24 by Bee Hewitt ⇒ follow

Thu 23 Aug 2012 - Sun 26 Aug 2012

The Winter months can be pretty grim, but for us the end of August heralds the ' p://www.muster.com.au/ Gympie Music Muster' . YeeHaa.

My 'country music obsessed' friend and I have been going there off and on for the last 7 years. The first time I heard of the 'Muster' I conjured up visions of cattle being herded into cattle yards by leather faced cowboys on horses. How wrong was I.

The Gympie muster is a celebration of Country Music with some of the biggest names performing in a multi layered festival. The 4 day celebration is held in the Amamoor Creek Forest at Gympie. The first time we went up I was blown away with how many people were camping up there.

Hundreds of people embracing the country theme donning hats Akubra hats, Drizabone waterproof oilskins, blue jeans and even the odd chaps. The creative camp sights, from pink bras to beer cans, fireplaces to old sofas. All stamping out their identity at their temporary digs (They offer prizes for the best camp sites) Everyone seems to go all out to make the experience memorable and fun.

The dirt road out there can be a bit dodgy and it always seems to rain and flood. This doesn't seem to put a damper on things, people just pour in, keeping with the country spirit. I do recommend warm clothes, a rain coat, and a cowboy hat, a four wheel drive or a mate that has one. Though saying that I drove my Toyota Camry up there last year and got through ok.

Once you have set your camp site up, catch one of the buses that come every 20 minutes or so from the camping area to the main entertainment area. The bus is filled with happy campers, from grey nomads to young families looking for a laugh and a good time. I have never seen a fist fight or cussing just the usual Aussie ribbing, mate.

The entertainment area is massive and offers many stages with names like the Crowbar, Main stage and Kidzclub There are 10 venues and 8 bars. The Muster offers a diversity of entertainment from Traditional to Modern country music, Bluegrass, Folk, Bush Poetry, Gospel, Blues, Clogging, Line dancing and Talent search.

The beautiful eucalypt bush camping grounds of Amamoor Creek State forest are set in 50 hectares of well maintained grounds, with hot showers and toilet facilities. We take a small bar of soap in our pocket and some sanitizer.

One of my best memories is walking back to our campsite at the end of a satisfying day, head filled with Kasey Chambers Songs and the "Sensitive New Age Cowboys' humour, legs tired after a clogging lesson (yes my friend is also a clogger) in amongst the bush and campers with the mist and smoke from the camp fires swirling around our heads and the jovial atmosphere of the returning folk. The air thick with smells drifting up from damp bush (remember it rains) smoke and the waft of too many onions. Thank you 'Feral Cheryl' for sharing.

On that subject 'The Muster' offers many choices for food, to satisfy the fussiest taste buds. One of our favourite venues is the Bush Poets tent in the morning for 'Bacon and Eggs with extras' breakfast. Imagine sitting in the crowded tent, balancing the plate on your legs, munching away on crunchy bacon, listening to a hilarious poem. Original renditions of life's little anecdotes', memorised, rhymed and humorous.

The Muster is a non profit organisation and has raised over 14 million for charity and this year they want raise funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation.

Some of the big names coming to perform this year are Kenny Rodgers, Lee Kernighan, John Williamson, Shannon Noll, Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson and many more.
So why don't you shake the winter blues and head on up to 'The Muster' for a toe- tapping weekend. Get soaked in country spirit and help raise some funds to boot.