A Potted History

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Local publicans George and Maryanne Lipman and Richard Simmer of the Tattersalls Hotel, founded the Australian Blues Music Festival in 1997 with the first Festival held at the Goulburn Recreation Area (showground).

Besides celebrating their love of Australian Blues Music, the Festival was seen as an opportunity to increase the level of visitation to the Goulburn District during a time of year in which numbers were traditionally low.

In 1999, due to increasing infrastructure costs of the Festival, it was sold to Goulburn City Council. As a Council-run event the format changed to a multi-venue Festival held in various venues throught the Goulburn historic CBD including pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes and Goulburn's beautiful Belmore Park.

The Festival's reputation as the National Festival of Australian Blues Music has attracted the widespread support of the Australian blues music industy, appreciation societies, patrons and volunteers.

The Festival consists of a variety of ticketed and free performances plus open mic and jam sessions, workshops, markets and a specialty vintage guitar and amp shop.

The Festival continues to be a Council-owned and run event (now Goulburn Mulwaree Council). It is held annually on the second weekend in February, with performances commencing on the Thursday night with the independently owned and run Australian Blues Music 'Chain' Awards and the official opening of the Festival at the Tattersalls Hotel - the traditional home and heart of the Australian Blues Music Festival.

Pictured above: Richard Simmer your host at the Tattersalls Hotel.