THERE will be more on for families this year as Ararat’s Jailhouse Rock Festival does the impossible – it gets even bigger, even busier with more classic machines than ever before.
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The annual festival, launched in 1995, started its 2018 celebrations with an official launch at J Ward on Thursday, March 15. Friday, March 16 marks the true start of festivities, however, with non-stop action carrying through until Sunday afternoon.
The excitement building for this year’s festival has been intense, with the annual ball held on Saturday night, known as the ‘Meet & Greet Ball’, selling fast. The event features entertainment by Fender Benders, The Smokin’ Wingtips, Robyn & The Rancheroos supported by DJ Jeff and Susanne.
Festival president Sandra Walker said the response had been exceptional this year, generating much excitement for the Ararat Jailhouse Rock Festival.
“In all the time I’ve been involved, I’ve never known events to sell out so far in advance,” she said. “We’ve had tickets on sale since November last year.”
Thousands of people were expected to descend on Ararat for the weekend of rock ‘n’ roll entertainment, celebrating all things that made the 1950’s and 60’s such a unique time for dancing, fashion, music and, most of all, in automobiles.
For the classic car lover, there will be a calvacade of events throughout the weekend, plus Shannon’s Jailhouse Rock Show’n Shine, so keep your eyes peeled for the best pieces of the era.
The Giant Highway 8 Festival celebrates all things on wheels, and Ararat’s Alexandra Oval will be lined with cars of all descriptions, hotrods, bikes and more. For dedicated car crazy folk don’t miss the Show Us Your Wheels Ararat at Auto Pro at the bottom of Barkly Street.
There will be a motorcycle display at Alexandra Oval, with the mystery ride cruise leaves at 2pm.
Bands will be playing, while you can browse the shops and market stalls around the street, offering a range of retro goods.
Dancing will take centre stage, with a dance comp getting underway at the Alexandra Hall in High Street. If you have all the moves, make sure you are part of the action on the dance floor.
The fun continues on Sunday, with the huge Rock Extravaganza! at Alexandra Oval. Entry is $20 per person (children under 16 free; concession $10). it’s a big day of cars, bikes, music, dancing fashion, family and friends fun marathon.
Make sure you are centre stage for the action during the day.
There will be free children’s entertainment galore all day, with animals, jumping castles, sideshows and plenty more.
Movers and the shakers
Rocking the weekend away will be bands to delight you.
The entertainment includes The Fender Benders, Smokin’ Wingtips, The Rockin’ Tones and Robyn and the Rancheros.
Boasting plenty of energy and styles ranging from rock to rockabilly, swing and more, these acts will keep you on your toes all weekend.
The bands will be playing at a host of events, from Saturday night to Sunday’s extravaganza.
Big rock fashion splashers
PLAYFUL, stylish and flattering. It’s clear why the fashions of the 1950s and 1960s continue to inspire men and women in their clothing choices.
The Ararat Jailhouse Rock Festival’s first fashion showcase and competition proved a huge hit with those in attendance, and it has become one of the highlights of the program.
Organiser Amanda Webb said at the first event every seat was filled, with people sitting on the floor and peering in windows to get a view at the contestants taking part in the fashion show.
“Considering the huge success of last year, we're hoping this year will be even bigger.”
Three judges will be at the event, judging nine categories of fashion.
The categories will include a showcase of fashions.
First off is the newborn to 12 years who will be crowned Little Miss and Little Master, teens 13-17 years for Junior Miss and Junior Master, and 18+ for the King and Queen rock ‘n’ rollers. There are also prizes for the Best Dressed Couple, Mature Aged Lady of the Day and Gent of the Day, with prizes for each category.
There will also be the Pin Up Parade of the Miss Ararat Jailhouse Rock 2018, hosted by the gorgeous Miss Ivy Anchor.
Ms Webb said the talent on show was often impressive, with styles from pin-ups to traditional rock ‘n’ roll.
“Many of the people who come along make their own outfits,” she said.
“Some people make their dresses and then make a shirt to match for their husband to wear. It looks fantastic as they are walking around during the day.
“Others take out a panel of their umbrella and replace it with material matching their dress.
“There is a lot of work going into those outfits and it’s just fantastic.”
Ms Webb said the fashion prizes were in recognition of the effort that people went to in order to celebrate all things rock ‘n’ roll throughout the festival.
“It’s a way to say well done to those people who are taking the time to do their hair, to recognise the effort they make.”
All prizes are donated by local business from Ararat and Ms Webb said the support had been fantastic.
The fashion parade is held at the Community Hall at Alexandra Oval on Sunday March 18 at 12 noon in the function room. Entries close at 11am.
Did you know that?
ROCK and roll is a style of popular music from late 1940s and early 1950s, such as gospel, jazz, boogie woogie, and rhythm and blues, and country music.
But did you know…
That it was a mix of Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Ike Turner, Hank Williams, Joe Turner, Louis Jordan, Ray Charles, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly – and Elvis Presley? Presley himself never claimed to have invented rock 'n' roll.
The first rock and roll song was Rocket 88, a rhythm and blues song that was first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, in March, 1951. The recording was credited to Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats.
The name rock and roll was first used by Alan Freed, a disc jockey on radio station WJW in Cleveland, Ohio. He spruiked that his music show was his Rock and Roll Session.
A Manly police detective penned The Delltones song, Hangin’ Five.
The Monkey replaced the dance craze called 'The Twist' in 1963.
"Come Back Again" was the Daddy Cool song declared by APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) in 2001, as number two in the list of 30 most significant and best Australian songs in the past 75 years.
Did you know the following lyrics ‘It's harder than it looks’ are from the AC/DC song ‘It's a Long Way to the Top’?
The band AC/DC is definitely one of the most famous Australian rock bands of all time.
Billboard Top 10 Rock'n'Roll hits from 1958 were -
Tradition: Rock'N'Roll has a long tradition of innovation by brash newcomers, who are more than happy to upset the status quo and make the music they love to listen and dance to.
1. "At the Hop" by Danny and The Juniors
2. "Tequila" by The Champs
3. "To Know Him Is to Love Him" by The Teddy Bears
4. "It's Only Make Believe" by Conway Twitty
5. "Get a Job" by The Silhouettes
6. "Hard Headed Woman" by Elvis Presley
7. "Little Star" by The Elegants
8. "Bird Dog" by The Everly Brothers
9. "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters
10. "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis