Wollongong's epicentre of live music The Towradgi Beach Hotel is barck with DIRTY BLUES & ROOTS 2 The lineup for this special event will feature ASH GRUNWALD, the power and passion of MARSHALL OKELL, GOOD OAK featuring BUSBY from Busby Marou, MASON RACK BAND, new-age roots 'n' reggae from PENNY HARTGERINK TRIO plus the duo KIRRAKAMERE ! Six great acts over nine hours! Don't miss this fantastic day of blues & roots entertainment. The event kicks off at 1pm and continues through until 10pm..

Ash Grunwald Ash Grunwald, loved for his crowd frenzied shows and blistering guitar playing, has critics and fans raving about his unique blend of roots, beats and a whole lotta groove for over a decade..   Nominated five times for Australia's ARIA Awards, and a swag of award wins including MBAS Blues Performer of the Year 2003 and the AIR Best Independent Blues and Roots Album, and in 2009, taking out a prestigious APRA songwriting award for Blues & Roots Song of the Year.
    His album of 2010, Hot Mama Vibes, was nominated for Best Blues & Roots album and after a sold out national Australian tour, he capped off 2010 supporting Jack Johnson's Australian tour. His first single from the album, 'Walking' received significant radio airplay, and was prominently featured in the Hollywood blockbuster, 'Limitless' starring Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper.   Teaming up with Scott Owen and Andy Strachan from The Living End, Ash released a ripping cover of Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy'. Developing a life well beyond the borders of a loyal fanbase, Crazy made it's way out into commercial radio land, and took Ash with it. Within 6 days of first appearance on Triple M, Ash along with Scott and Andy, had laid down his 7th studio album; the rock monster GARGANTUA was born.
Ash effortlessly proves why he is one of Australia's most loved bluesmen.
 

Marshall Okell MARSHALL OKELL MUSIC OZ 2012  BLUES & ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
"Love that slide playing." - Chris Scaddan - TRIPLE J

Marshall OKell has an exciting new project & new band Marshall OKell & The Pride!!! It's the sound of Surf Roots & Australian Mojo Rock. It's stomping in high energy yet jaw dropping and full of fresh new raw emotion. A style of music garnished and brewed in the Far North Coast surfing Mecca of Lennox Head/Byron Bay, NSW. The songs are powerful, rhythmic, honest and emotional. The live performances are raucous, energetic, feel good and super sweaty!!

Marshall OKell & The Pride performances are igniting fervent reactions all over the Country. This new collaboration and now Four Piece has fans frothing!!! Musicians that have been brought in for the new album titled 'BIRDY' include members from Chase The Sun, The Hussy Hicks, Brittle, Hat Fitz and Kostaman & The Good Vibrations (Canada).

"A rip-roaring blues set that went off." - Richard Porteous - ABC RADIO
 "That's the best music I've heard in years." - Bill Chambers

Good Oak What started as a jam with flat-mates over a few beers has kinda turned into a real band.  
To describe GOOD OAK as organic would be a massive understatement.  

Stephen Ryan, Brett Gibson and Tom Busby share a house and love of the irreverent side of Americana.  Buzz is also known for his role as singer for roots music stars BUSBY MAROU.  Ryano's music background is a bit of mystery but has become one of 2012's real songwriting discoveries.  Gibbo has been playing harp around the traps for a while but GOOD OAK has given him the outlet to share his truly unique and powerful voice.  

While separately each of these blokes are pretty impressive.  It's the sum of their parts that make GOOD OAK work.  Few would have guessed these three scruffy looking mates could cut such powerful harmonies.  

Continuing their organic process, GOOD OAK made contact with Mark Meyers (The Middle East) who opened his Cairns based home studio for a very rowdy weekend indeed.  Mark has added his substantial talents to help find the core of what is special about these songs.  It really feels like he has found the heart of the matter.  

GOOD OAK have already scored coveted slots at festivals such as Bleach and Oxford Street Party and recently supported Hawaii-based singer songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter at a secret show in Brisbane during his Australian tour.  Joined onstage by Tim Sladden, Damon Joel and AJ Hall, GOOD OAK are gaining a reputation for their determination to ensure that their audience is having as much fun as they are.  
 

Mason Rack Band OVER TWO THOUSANDS LIVE PERFORMANCES , EIGHT  INTERNATIONAL TOURS REACHING  CANADA SIX TIMES , GERMANY,NETHERLANDS , JAPAN , AND VANUATU . The ' rags to riches' Mason Rack  is a born enertainer - growing up playing percusion at the age of six with his musicion father Billy Rack. Progressing to drums at age eight, Mason was able to play any style of music. For the next four years Mason developed a natural rhythm that is now part of his soul and way of life.The popular three piece is renowned for their amazing live stage performances. The band has played alongside artists including Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson, Buddy Guy and Keith Urban to name a few.   

Penny Hartgerink Trio Singer/ songwriter, Penny Hartgerink, is best known around the Illawarra as the lead singer of reggae, rock band "Penny and the Mystics". After 6 years of playing reggae with the Mystics, Penny is returning to her folk routs and teaming up with local musicians Tess Hathaway (vocals and ukulele) and Izaac Blomley (vocals and guitar) to perform some acoustic, harmony driven tunes.  

Kirrakamere Two mates from Sydney, Australia. Started jamming together in late 2010, finally came together as "Kirrakamere", releasing their first Demo and EP in quick succesion. The boys have shared the stage with artists including Angry Anderson, Kevin Borich, Richard Clapton and Cloud Control to name a few. They are releasing a new batch of music that packs a bit more punch and are looking to get busy in the near future.