Live Review: Perisher Snowy Mountains Of Music

Held in the crisp, white surrounds of Perisher Valley, the fifth Snowy Mountains of Music exploded with a bang, literally, with fireworks marking opening night, bright bursts of colour painting the dark night sky as punters and artists huddled together as one below.

Held across three days in a swag of different pubs and bars in and around the ski resort, the festival showcased an eclectic mix of jazz, roots, folk and blues music.

Kicking off the nightlife were Latin ska rockers Los Chavos, who electrified the scene, filling the cramped dancefloor with their fusion of reggae and heady South American sounds.

King Tide kept the reggae groove going. Grey haired frontman Tony Hughes left the crowd in awe as he jolted and jumped around the stage, before leaping onto the amps to holla the band's one love-inspired hymns.

Soul/funk outfit The Bamboo's lead singer Kylie Auldist brought the house down, amping to vibe up to 11. Her deep, soul groove infectious and unfaultable, Auldist is the kind of frontwoman who needs no backing band to drive the show.

Arguably the highlight of the festival were the quirky, pottery selling group Oh Pep!, whose gigs during the day helped ease the headaches many in the crowd were nursing from the night before. Frontwoman Olivia Hally's gloriously clear vocals (far betraying her age, she turned 22 during the festival) were nursed perfectly by the band's heavy string mix of mandolin, double bass and bouzouki. The group continued to wow later in the night, performing an impromptu acoustic set at this reviewer's ski lodge (the delightful Barrakee Lodge), swaying and singing by the roaring fire.

Buskers took to the stage for the festival's 'Online Busking Competition', an event giving our best unknown voices the chance to be heard. The folksy Melanie Horsnell was brilliant and focused amid the growing clanging of glasses and chatter that began filling the tiny ski venue.

Closing night saw guitar virtuoso Jeff Lang rip up a makeshift stage, complete with a patterned red velvet curtain as backdrop. Bathed in a rich glow, Lang commanded the room with his earthy blues and roots sound, before breaking into a ramped up roots-inspired version of ACDC's Long Way To The Top.

With the delicious cocktail of burlesque soaked rock, the red lipped, corset wearing, moustache curling outfit that made up Rapskallion, wrapped up the night with their addictive, gauche sound and colourful theatrics that included twirling and tap dancing. The festival mightn't yet enjoy the same kind of notoriety as say Falls or Splendour, but give this baby some time and it will be locked down in every music lovers' calendar as a must-do.