Victoria’s historic coastal town of Queenscliff is home to the world’s one and only Blues Train. It is a unique experience that combines four of Australia’s best live blues performers with the picturesque scenery of the Bellarine Peninsula. It all happens aboard a real moving vintage steam train, and is one of Australia’s most spectacular dining and entertainment experiences.
Nothing captures the spirit of the blues quite like a steam train. The sound of the whistle, the clickety-clack of the tracks; you can imagine the old blues masters jamming it up on Mississippi freight trains, as they were “ridin’ the blinds” around America’s Deep South.
The Blues Train has hosted many great musicians since its inception including Aussie blues legends Jimi Hocking, Chris Wilson and Lloyd Spiegel; Aria Award winners Collard Greens and Gravy and Mia Dyson; the award-winning Ash Grunwald and Kerri Simpson; local artists Chubby Rae and the Elevators, Stringybark McDowell and Dave Steel; and newcomers to the Victorian scene Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones, Jaimi Faulkener Band and Dallas Frasca.
In 2004, the 10th anniversary of The Blues Train was commemorated with a CD featuring all The Blues Train artists of that first 10 years. Adele Spence, Mary Whitehead and Simon Hill, NMIT students undertaking the Music Industry Business Advanced Diploma course, approached Hugo T Armstrong in February of 2004 with the idea of putting together a Blues Train compilation CD. They wanted to represent Australian blues and the atmosphere and experience of The Blues Train. After a decade of showcasing Victoria’s best blues musicians, the music and the atmosphere of Victoria’s most unique blues venue was captured on CD - giving Blues Train punters the chance to take some of the Blues Train music home with them.
After overwhelming response and successful sales, the second instalment has just been launched and is available from our website by following the image below. 'Train Trax 1&2', two comprehensive and diverse collections of the fantastic musicians that have played on the world famous Blues Train. To get your own dose of authentic Aussie blues, click on the merchandise link (CD cover image below)
Hugo T Armstrong was born in the coastal Victorian town of Point Lonsdale and as a young boy thrived both on sailing and music
In 1994, inspired by stories of the old blues masters jamming it up on Mississippi freight trains as they travelled the Deep South, Hugo joined forces with the renowned Pasquini’s Deli of Point Lonsdale to create one of the Australias most spectacular dining and entertainment experiences - Queenscliff's legendary Blues Train.
In 1998 Hugo was appointed Artistic Director and Promoter of the Queenscliff Music Festival. He successfully developed Queenscliff Music Festival into one of the country’s premier music festivals, winning a national tourism award and three consecutive state awards, seeing its induction into the Victorian Tourism Hall of Fame. The festival was the official Victorian Ausmusic Day event twice and also won an Australia Day Award. Under Hugo's leadership, Queenscliff Music Festival developed into a sustainable annual musical and cultural event growing in both scale and reputation.
Over his time in various parts of the music community Hugo has established strong relationships with artists, agents, labels, promoters, touring companies and the national music media. In 2001 he received a Centenary of Federation Medal, a reflection of his contribution to both music and his local community.
After Hugo retired his position as Artistic Director and Promoter of Queenscliff Music Festival in 2005 he was invited to accept the position of Program Manager at PBS. He had previously held staff roles in sales and marketing at the station, addition to his continuing role as an announcer.
With a deep and long-standing understanding of PBS, his aim as Program Manager was to develop and promote programming to create a larger listening audience across Melbourne for the diverse range of under-represented music played by PBS. These include blues, roots, jazz, punk, hardcore, emo, electronic, country, rock, latin, indie, soul and reggae, to name a few
Hey, thanks for adding me, flew down there a few years ago for the weekend specifically to ride on the Blues Train, had a ball, and was introduced to some amazing music in the form of Dallas Frasca, awesome!! Great night!
Can't wait to rock the train April 18th, May 16th & May 23rd!
Andrea Marr's new cd "Little Sister got Soul" winner of the 2008 Australian Female Artist of the Year is now available at www.andreamarr.com or you can buy it directly from Andrea on the legendary BLUES TRAIN!!!
Hi Blues Train, I really like your tracks. Thank you for the add :) Take a look at my video of The Writing on the Wall from my acoustic album, Beyond the Blues. Quote from the wall: ‘The wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly’. Thanks again, Steve
