The Gateway Hotel opened its doors to the traveling Kingpin Kuztum rockabilly festival aptly titled Rats, Tatts n Pinups last Saturday with much acclaim!
Although a stiff southerly wind rustled a few feathers and threatened to put a dampener on proceedings, history will show you that nothing slows down the pace of a red hot, high rolling, rockabilly rumble with all the trimmings when Rob and the gang are in full swing!
With the introduction of the carnival rides a recent addition to the long list of entertainment on offer at one of KPK’s parties, Tony and the team set up days earlier with their own old school rides everyone loves to be a part of, the dodgem cars! Complimenting these bash and bang electric rollers was a host of other side show entertainment to be enjoyed by the local establishment on the Friday night including a roller coaster, jumping castle and rollicking ball eating clowns!
The massive carpark of The Gateway Hotel opened up for eager participants at midday seeing a slow but steady stream of Geelong’s finest rods, customs, classics and bikes cruise in along with a host of cool country customs coming from further afield such as Colac and Ballarat! The merging of the local machinery along with Kingpin Kuztum’s loyal band of followers saw the surrounding tarmac fill to capacity for curious punters and auto enthusiasts to peruse amongst the retro relics and candid customs visually absorbing the metal mayhem while warming their internals with a hot coffee from the eye catching Betty & Ruby Coffee caravan. Mothers once again came to the party with a selection of awards on offer going to a number of charismatic creations that stood out throughout the custom filled carpark.
Every so often throughout the afternoon, the chattering ambience was shattered by one or two fender blaring, high nosed, historic gassers as they revved and rumbled their way through the excited crowds thanks to the guys from the Australian Nostalgia Racers club!
The visual entertainment of the event was further enhanced thanks to the artistic talents of a highly talented group of youth calling themselves Airbrush Creations, covering all aspects of panel and paint from drawing and airbrushing through to painting and pin striping and all on show for the public to see what it takes to create such livery on almost any surface or platform while Phat Ink once again showcased their talents created on human canvases by holding a tattoo competition as skin art was proudly displayed for the judges.
Heading through the double glass doors of the Corio based venue, one was confronted with the lively atmosphere of the other side of a Kingpin Kuztum event! A number of tradestands were selling their rockabilly wares while Mick from Northern Barbershop expertly wielded scissors and comb creating hair bending masterpieces as the girls from Blend Bettyz pinup beauty catered for the fairer sex of the rockabilly world!
The main attraction of a rockabilly party is always the bands the Rob knows how to stack a lineup! Firing off with all guns glazing were The Strays in fine fashion as Dizzy and the boys rocked this town followed up by the Fired Trio, always hell-bent on leaving the audience wanting more! The Detonators took over the stage with their unique style of rockabilly as energized swingers heated up the dance floor!
The sultry seductive Ferri Maya performed her burlesque dance routine as we all gazed upon the whirring red Scholl flowing around the scantily clad siren before the ever popular Rosie & The Mighty Kings fronted by the fiery red haired singing seductress, Rosie and her volumatic vocals reverberated off the entertainment venue’s walls accompanied by Don and the guys as they went full tilt on their finely honed instrumental skills!
Closing out the show in fine tradition and sporting a blinding gold suit in true Elvis Presley style was the Elvis show with Elvis impersonator, Anthony Petrucci out front supported by the line-up of Rosie & The Mighty Kings and Anthony LaTerra on keyboard! What a way to wind up a wild night of entertainment! And all for a gold coin donation!! You won’t get better entertainment for coin than that!
If you thought that was big, that’s nothing compared to what the Kingpin Kuztum crew has lined up for this weekend! One warm-up party on Saturday night at The Monash Hotel with a great night just to get you in the mood for the two separate band rooms running at the same time with an amazing linup of bands at The Sandown Park Hotel along with the usual vast array of entertainment and motorised mayhem one has come to expect from a Rats, Tatts n Pinups rockabilly festival!
See you there!!
Caprice Photography Automotive Art 
Comments