Thousands flock to Batemans Bay to relive 50s, 60s at Crank It Up rockabilly festival

The fashion, dancing, cars and music of the 1950s and 1960s were brought to life at Batemans Bay last weekend when thousands flocked to the foreshore for the Crank It Up rockabilly festival.

Held over Friday to Sunday (15-17 November), the festival celebrated this colourful era, and all the glitz, glamour and entertainment it brought.

The festival featured about 15 bands, classic and custom cars, dance workshops, stalls and retro best-dressed awards.

Organised by the husband-and-wife team of Chris and Leisa Tague, it was third time the festival has run.

“We are really happy with how it went,” Ms Tague said.

“We are confident it was much bigger than last year.”

She said there were more cars, stalls, activities and “definitely” more people than last year’s event.

“I think we will be close to the 9000 – 10,000 mark in people attending,” she said.

Ms Tague said in last year’s event, about 80 per cent of attendees came from outside the Eurobodalla and stayed for several nights, so she thought the festival was “really good for the economy”.

She said this year, she spoke to visitors from as far afield as Tasmania, Adelaide and the Central Coast.

“So people were coming from all over, which is what we were hoping for,” she said.

“There is a very strong following in the rockabilly community.”

Those with a love of rockabilly often see each other at events around Australia, which builds that sense of community.

“I think what we love about the whole rock and roll scene, there’s something nostalgic about the 50s and 60s,” Ms Tague said.

“They are really good people. They love to gather and celebrate dancing and cars.”

She said the highlights of the festival this year included the bands, which came from as far away as Perth and Mount Isa, and the cars, of which there were about 300.

“The standard and level of cars that entered this event almost blew our minds,” she said.

There were satellite events, fundraisers, a welcome gathering, an auto trivia night and an afterparty.

“I think we nearly blew the roof off the Steampacket Hotel!” Ms Tague said of the afterparty.

Ms Tague said she and her husband started the festival because after going to other rockabilly events, they realised the Batemans Bay foreshore was the perfect place to run a new festival.

“It’s just a really great way to showcase something that we love, which is the rockabilly rock and roll scene, but also where we live,” she said.

She said she would love it if the festival became an annual event on the third weekend of November.

“We have managed to keep the festival free for the broader community and it really is something for all ages,” she said.

It is currently pencilled in for 2025, with Ms Tague and her husband planning upcoming meetings with council and sponsors about the possibility of holding it next year.

Visit the festival’s Facebook account for more information by clicking here.