By MICHELLE HERBISON
GEELONG’S music scene may have changed a lot over the 20 years since Hugo T Armstrong founded Queenscliff’s The Blues Train but the unique tourism venture is still going strong.
Now he is gearing up to celebrate the train’s 20th anniversary with a bang, hosting the inaugural Motor City Music Festival from 7 to 9 March.
After 25 years in media, festival and events and tourism management, Armstrong is well equipped to host Geelong’s own music festival, which promises to rejuvenate live performance in the city.
“Geelong had an incredibly strong live music scene, pushed out by gaming machines and urban sprawl,” Armstrong lamented.
“But people’s love of music never went.”
Motor City Music Festival will take inspiration from Queenscliff Music Festival, of which Armstrong was at the helm for eight years, with a series of unique venues.
An open-air stage reminiscent of A Day On The Green would offer punters the opportunity to relax on the grass with a bottle of wine and some gourmet food from one of the many vans present.
“Each day is a bit different, it’s cheap, accessible and celebrating what’s great about Geelong,” Armstrong explained.
Armstrong has enjoyed plenty of successes throughout his career including a Centenary of Federation Medal in 2001 recognising his long-term service within Borough of Queenscliffe and the music industry.
During his tenure at Queenscliff Music Festival, it was voted best national festival in the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame awards three years in a row.
He has also performed MC duties at some of the country’s largest music festivals, hosted a Melbourne Community Radio show for more than 20 years and served three years as Bellarine Tourism chair.
Armstrong described The Blues Train as “a unique marriage between a live music event and a tourism product” that offered weekly “mini-festivals” with ARIA award-winning and internationally-acclaimed acts.
Boosting the Queenscliff and Bellarine Peninsula economy by $5 million annually, The Blues Train had so far entertained more than 50,000 people – the capacity of Etihad stadium, Armstrong said.
“Over 20 years we’ve travelled the equivalent of Queenscliff to Shanghai return – in 16km trips over 370 shows.”
More information about Motor City Music Festival is available at motorcitymusicfestival.com.au.
