During your time in Batemans Bay take a couple of hours to explore Murramarang National Park. Not only does this park offer a range of activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, bushwalking or just plaing relaxing it also includes four offshore islands to visit.

While in Murramarang you will come across wildlife such as the Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Swamp and Red-necked Wallabies as well as a variety of parrots, finches and honeyeaters. Please note there is a $7 fee when visiting the park.

The name says it all. "Girls with Guitars". Over the past six years, the Blues Caravan has toured successfully in the UK, USA and throughout continental Europe.

Making their long awaited Australian debut, Great Southern are pleased to present three of the hottest young female guitar slingers on a single stage at this years festival.

For more info on the girls, head to their website or see them live in action at the festival.

All you food connoisseur's heading to the festival can not only indulge your music senses, but can also indulge your taste buds with the acclaimed 'Best Oysters in the World'.

While in Batemans Bay, you can head to places such as the Pearly Oyster Bar, The Oyster Shed or On The Pier to get the freshest oysters straight from the surrounding ocean. If you are a fan of Oysters this is a must do whilst at the festival.

If you have any Out And About in Batemans Bay ideas to share with other members, be sure to email us with your suggestion.

JOHN BUTLER TRIO

John Butler Trio are one of Australia's most loved roots artists and this sentiment was only strengthened with the latest album, 'April Uprising', their first studio offering in three years since the much acclaimed 'Grand National'.

The new John Butler Trio with Nicky Bomba on drums and Byron Luiters on bass, was a rebirth that was the culmination of an especially momentous period in his life. The new trio have a whole new musical palette in the can: playful and explosive, rhythmically complex and melodically immediate, charged with new purpose but more committed than ever to the principles of classic song craft. We couldn't be more excited to have them as our 2011 Great Southern Blues Festival headliner.
www.jbtserver.com/blog

PETE MURRAY

Three years ago after the breakdown of his marriage, Pete took a complete break from music. Free from the rock'n'roll lifestyle of late nights and early flights, he hit the surf near his northern New South Wales home and spent a lot of thinking about what to do next. It was a time of change - a time of new beginnings – in both his life and in his music.

Recognizing that there was a fine line between a groove and a rut Pete decided to shake up the way he wrote songs, the places in which he recorded and the musicians with whom he collaborated. The result is a classy and highly relatable record, which bursts to life with every rolling groove and punching horn line. Audiences have been patiently waiting three long years for another Pete Murray release. 'Blue Sky Blue', is that album … a whole new chapter, which you will get to experience along with all his great, chart-topping hits.
www.petemurray.com

KASEY CHAMBERS & BAND

Australia's country sweetheart, Kasey Chambers, will be bringing her love of country music, nurtured by the glow of the campfire under the stars, to Batemans Bay with a twang and devil may care blues delivery that is murky and haunting.
www.kaseychambers.com

BLUE KING BROWN

Blue King Brown has achieved much as an independent act – having toured with the likes of Santana, Lauryn Hill and Michael Franti (to name a few) they've amassed an enviably large live following. With hard-hitting lyrics and groove, socially aware and active, Blue King Brown is a band that walks their talk on many social issues.
www.bluekingbrown.com

BOOKER T. JONES (USA)

Booker T. Jones has come a long way from listening to Phineas Newborn practice playing piano whilst on his paper route as a pre adolescent. His career is punctuated with the sort of highlights that read like an encyclopaedia of popular music. He co-wrote hits for the likes of Eddie Floyd and Otis Redding and has recently recorded with Elton John, Neil Young, Drive By Truckers, and Rancid. It's no surprise he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement in 2007 and was inducted in to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Do not miss Booker T. Jones as he returns to Australia with his dynamite band, searing across the country with his trademark Hammond B-3, playing across his 50 year catalogue of classic Soul hits!

KENNY NEAL BAND (USA)

Kenny Neal is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and is widely renowned as a modern swamp-blues master. The tasty musical gumbo of swamp-boogie, jazz, R&B, and straight-ahead blues all swirl together along with his soulful guitar playing and uplifting songwriting and make it clear how Kenny touched something deep in the blues community.
www.kennyneal.net

BLUES CARAVAN – GIRLS WITH GUITARS (USA)

The name says it all. "Girls with Guitars" presents three of the scene's hottest young female guitar slingers on a single stage. Over the past six years, the Blues Caravan has toured successfully in the UK, USA and throughout continental Europe. This trio of young, passionate performers is backed by a top-flight band of road-tested professionals for a truly incredible live blues excellence.
www.bluescaravan.de

RENEE GEYER

Renée Geyer is a bona fide music icon. A precocious jazz, blues and soul singer in her late teens; Countdown royalty in her 20s; a string of pop, soul and reggae hits spanning the 70s and 80s; her LA years in the studio with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sting, Joe Cocker and Chaka Kahn; her 90s renaissance with Paul Kelly. This consummate entertainer with a proud body of work still transfixes a room with the power of her song.
www.reneegeyer.com.au

BOMBA

Renowned for their energetic live shows and impromptu musical mayhem, this funky ska-reggae unit has wowed audiences all over the country performing at many of Australia's top festivals. Leader Nicky Bomba, also drummer for the John Butler Trio, has been touring globally and will be returning for these performances with BOMBA. With their skankin blend of riddims, melodies and summer party vibe, dancing will be compulsory!
www.bomba.com.au

BACKSLIDERS

As a three piece, they can lift the roof off any venue – moving from straight a head, in your face, amped up original blues - to all-acoustic unplugged way down south delta blues. Guitarist, vocalist and 'bottle-neck' slide guitar specialist, Dom Turner, and drum and percussion virtuoso, Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), are joined by legendary harmonica players Brod Smith & Ian Collard to bring the house down with their down 'n dirty blues.
www.backsliders.com.au

JEFF LANG

Australian-based musician Jeff Lang has earned worldwide acclaim as a virtuosic guitarist, a dynamic songwriter and a startlingly unique live performer. Blending rock, roots, folk, blues, ballads, instrumentals, improvisation and a devastatingly high level of musicality, Jeff Lang is a singularly unique performer in our world.
www.jefflang.com.au

BONDI CIGARS

The Bondi Cigars have been gigging round Sydney since late 1989, and while many acts from the blues / R&B circuit have since vanished, become historical footnotes or undergone major changes, the Cigars have continued on. And if that wasn't worthy of a rock'n'roll salute in itself, they have managed to survive without ever compromising their distinctive no nonsense style, only to become a leading force in Australian R&B.
www.bondicigars.com.au

CHRIS WILSON

Chris Wilson has been an essential part of blues and rock music in Australia since taking the stage with the Sole Twisters twenty years ago. Stints with Harum Scarum, Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls followed, and the end of the 80s saw Wilson as one of our finest vocalists, harmonica players and songwriters, fronting the superb Crown of Thorns. His instrumental gifts have been appreciated by the likes of James Reyne, Hunters and Collectors, Renee Geyer, Archie Roach, Deb Conway and included in their recordings. Chris' stage presence, voice and talent are all as big as the country he lives in.
www.chriswilson.com.au

GRAVEYARD TRAIN

In retrospect it's obvious that horror and country music go together like peas and carrots - it just took Graveyard Train to prove it. Utilising old timey instruments (banjo, dobro & washboard) with unorthodox percussion like hammers & chains, Graveyard Train have created a unique sound and an equally unique way to delivering it. Drawing on old folk songs they tell stories of death, despair, vampires, werewolves (and anything macabre), which they infuse with a punk/rockabilly/country foot stomping energy. This is your chance to discover "Horror Country"… you do not want to miss this!
www.graveyardtrain.com.au

SHANE NICHOLSON & BAND

Shane Nicholson is one of our pre-eminent singer / songwriters. He's a guy that over the course of three solo records has displayed a broad, anything-goes musical scope that encompasses rock, pop, folk and country. Shane's new album, 'Bad Machines' is a record that sifts the facts from the fiction and is set to confirm his place in the Australian songwriters landscape. The words and music on this long Player are true and real and darkly funny and deeply felt. The captivating and haunting live performance of these songs is not to be missed.
www.shanenicholson.com

SWEETHEARTS

Sweethearts play neo soul – a fusion of styles based around classic soul. They take much loved old school sounds and bring them to life in fresh, unexpected ways. For the past fifteen years they have been playing loving homage to Motown, developing a unique soul fusion sound. They have redefined what is possible being the only school based band in the world that plays exclusively in professional settings. This is a musical spectacular you have to experience!
www.sweethearts.com.au

COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY

Acclaimed for their gritty, driving, down home-sound, Collard Greens and Gravy play a foot stomping country blues repertoire that would sound right at home in a Mississippi Juke Joint. Featuring Ian Collard (vocals, harmonica and guitar) James Bridges (guitar and fiddle) and Anthony Shortte (Drums), Collard Greens and Gravy have been together since 1995. Over the years they have won many awards and more importantly, many fans. Their latest release 'Juke Joint Boogie' showcases what the fuss has been all about, so much so they took away the Best Blues Award in the Rhythms Magazine readers poll.
www.collardgreensandgravy.com

THE DETONATORS

Before Rock there was Rockabilly, Blues, Rhythm n' Blues, Country and Rock'n'Roll. Inspired by it all The Detonators have reinvented the styles that made the 50s such a vital time in music's history and created music best described as a combination of flat chat rockabilly, laced with extra serves of twanging slapping roots rock 'n' roll, and sprinkled with a touch of down home blues. Their straight up rocking formula is a deceptive blend of fat hollow bodied guitar, slapping bull fiddle bass, shuffling stick & skin work, on the button vocals, top fuelling electric harmonica, which all bundled together translates into one electrifying stage show.
www.detonators.com.au

ALI PENNEY & HER WEST COAST MONEY MAKERS

Love at first sight is responsible for Ali Penney's latest musical release. Having played with the THE VIBROLATORS four years ago, she couldn't not collaborate with them in the studio. Ali couldn't be more excited about sharing he musical love with you and she couldn't do it without bring the whole whole band with her! You're sure to be blown away as soon as she is joined on stage by Big Al (aka Almore James), Hans Deberitz, Dave Blanken, Yugon 'The Russian of Percussion' Chobanoff and very special guest, direct from the USA – Pat Pepin.
www.myspace.com/alisonpenney

BROTHERS GRIM

Brothers Grim began five years ago when the 'Inabinet' brothers: James and Matt Grim (Australian Guitar Player Magazine - Guitarist to look out for in 2011) began writing songs inspired by the Blues music they grew up listening to. With the help of Stephen Devlin on drums and Chris Lichti on double bass, they created a concoction of distorted 20's to 40's blues influences repackaged into an Unwholesome, Moon Howling, Sweat dripping, groin shaking fervour. Their live shows demonstrate equal brilliance, imagine in equal parts the frantic punk chaos of Iggy Pop, the sex and swagger of Mick Jagger, and the dark voodoo intrigue of Howlin' Wolf, and you're starting to get the hint.
www.myspace.com/brothersgrimblues

MAMA KIN

Mama Kin's bittersweet melodies soar with stomping piano and swampy beats, all the while traversing the riotous, the raw and the intimate. Mama Kin is equal parts raconteur and soulstress: a sassy femme fatale who draws on her experiences of love, life and heartache. Her debut album 'Beat and Holler' features the single Tore My Heart Out (a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition) and has been wooing audiences from Woodford Folk Festival to WOMADelaide and Byron Bay Bluesfest. It's also seen her sharing the stage with international blues & roots royalty, like Ani di Franco, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and The Cat Empire.
www.mamakinlive.com

ST PETERS BLUES BAND

Great Southern Blues Festival is lucky enough to have the extremely entertaining St Peters Blues Band back again in 2011. They formed when, back in late 2008, a group of NSW students came together with a desire to explore the roots of modern music and playing 'the blues'. Since then, the band has gone from strength to strength. 2010 saw the band playing a large number of gigs in the Eurobodalla region and in 2011 they have expanded their repertoire further still, whilst still retaining the old favourites. The core of the original line up remains and once again the band is looking forward to performing at the Great Southern Blues Festival in Batemans Bay in October.
www.myspace.com/brothersgrimblues

KASEY CHAMBERS & BAND

Australia's country sweetheart, Kasey Chambers, will be bringing her love of country music, nurtured by the glow of the campfire under the stars, to Batemans Bay with a twang and devil may care blues delivery that is murky and haunting.
www.kaseychambers.com

BLUE KING BROWN

Blue King Brown has achieved much as an independent act – having toured with the likes of Santana, Lauryn Hill and Michael Franti (to name a few) they've amassed an enviably large live following. With hard-hitting lyrics and groove, socially aware and active, Blue King Brown is a band that walks their talk on many social issues.
www.bluekingbrown.com

JEFF LANG

Australian-based musician Jeff Lang has earned worldwide acclaim as a virtuosic guitarist, a dynamic songwriter and a startlingly unique live performer. Blending rock, roots, folk, blues, ballads, instrumentals, improvisation and a devastatingly high level of musicality, Jeff Lang is a singularly unique performer in our world.
www.jefflang.com.au

BACKSLIDERS

As a three piece, they can lift the roof off any venue – moving from straight a head, in your face, amped up original blues - to all-acoustic unplugged way down south delta blues. Guitarist, vocalist and 'bottle-neck' slide guitar specialist, Dom Turner, and drum and percussion virtuoso, Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), are joined by legendary harmonica players Brod Smith & Ian Collard to bring the house down with their down 'n dirty blues.
www.backsliders.com.au

KENNY NEAL (USA)

Kenny Neal is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and is widely renowned as a modern swamp-blues master. The tasty musical gumbo of swamp-boogie, jazz, R&B, and straight-ahead blues all swirl together along with his soulful guitar playing and uplifting songwriting and make it clear how Kenny touched something deep in the blues community.
www.kennyneal.net