Tallangatta Fifties Festival starts on Saturday

Tallangatta becomes the key destination for lovers of rock and roll with the staging of the town’s annual Fifties Festival.

Organised by Tallangatta Rotary Club, the event comprises two days of live music and classic cars from the era that saw the centre shift from its original location.

Tallangatta Rotary Club president Kevin Vance said preparations had been going well and alternative venues had been arranged in case of wet weather.

"But this is Tallangatta that we're talking about so it's going to be beautiful," he said.

Saturday’s entertainment includes street stalls and free music in the park.

Priority is given to stall holders who stick to a 1950s theme, so collectors can hunt for memorabilia from that decade.

Sydney band No Brakes will take the stage in the evening, performing from 8pm.

MC Rodney Vincent will oversee Sunday’s program, which will be led by Lonnie Lee and the Leemen supported by Who Was That Cat.

"A lot of people saying they're really looking forward to Lonnie Lee," Mr Vance said.

"No Brakes and Who Was That Cat are very popular rock and roll bands; rockabilly, rock and roll, and they are very entertaining."

The festival will feature sights, not just sounds, in particular the Show ‘n’ Shine competition where car enthusiasts can inspect more than 100 classic vehicles.

Children’s entertainment, buskers and dancing also form part of the program.

Mr Vance said the Tallangatta Fifties Festival appealed to visitors as much, if not more, as its permanent residents.

"We've got people from South Australia, Melbourne, Queensland," he said.

"The caravan park is chockablock full of people; it's booked out, so are both pubs so business-wise they should do very well and attendance-wise for us, we should do reasonably well as well."

Mr Vance said the festival began about a dozen years ago, evolving out of earlier community events.

"We sort of got a band in one Sunday and it kept on going from there," he said.

The president said all age groups seemed to enjoy the 1950s music and the festival crowds reflected that.

"Young kids like doing it, the rock and roll style dance," Mr Vance said.