Hello Sailor frontman sings for mate

ROCK ON: Veteran rocker Graham Brazier in full flight at the Gutter Black presentation of Yarns in Barns. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wild horses and even wild winds could not keep the crowds away from the opening events of the Yarns in Barns festival over the weekend.

Hedley's Bookshop owner and festival committeeman David Hedley said yesterday although the week-long festival debuted in winds considered to be the most fierce in years, intermingled with heavy showers, most of the early events drew a full-house or close to it.

Literary Connections and the official opening in the Frank Cody Lounge brought a crowd on a par with most of the Yarns in Barns two-yearly festivals, he said.

Travelling Pop-Up Book Man Trevor Morley proved highly entertaining with his presentation celebrating movable books and the Saturday night drawcard Gutter Black was a huge success.

The latter, hosted by music legend Graham Brazier and broadcaster Finlay Macdonald, celebrated the life and times of Brazier's magical music contemporary of Hello Sailor Dave McArtney.

Mr Hedley said the Gutter Black presentation held at Aratoi had to be moved into one of the bigger rooms in the complex and even that room would have been filled had the wild weather not been known to keep some people away.

"Brazier was amazing and quite emotional.

"He sang and read from the book Gutter Black and it was obvious the two were kindred spirits. We have had great feedback from that show."

Likewise author Christine Leunens' presentation of Facts v Fiction Of Life drew a big crowd.

It was held in Hedley's Bookshop and there was standing room only. "We had to bring in extra chairs," Mr Hedley said.