BLUESFEST 2017

Article by Ros Jason
Photography by Mark Moray

With outstanding headline acts including THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, SANTANA, JETHRO TULL, PATTI SMITH, RIKKI LEE JONES and NEIL FINN, how could this the twenty- eighth BYRON BAY BLUESFEST be anything but spectacular?
Clear blue skies, sunny days and smiles all round. The biggest problem facing Bluesfesters was where to head to first. 

Lucky me! I got to bring my change of season Melbourne lurgy with me this year.
Yay:
Feeling like a dead duck I made my way to the shuttle bus, and as we arrived at Tyagarah tea tree farm and approached the festival entrance gates, I could hear IAN ANDERSON’S distinctive vibrato flute with blunt sharp bursts of sound floating on the breeze towards me. Racing to Crossroads tent, drawing my last Locomotive Breath, I almost coughed up half an Aqualung. But I made it. JETHRO TULL on stage before me. In the shuffling madness, I found my place amongst the throng gathered in adoration. All the classics and more delivered in style with some issues occurring, either problems with the sound mixing or ANDERSON’S faltering voice; the timing seemed to be out. But nonetheless the crowd were thrilled, as was I.

The first time BLUESFEST performances of the inimitable Australian Blues Legend LLOYD SPIEGEL drew crowds of new and long time fans. This consummate performer charmed his audiences with exemplary guitar playing and moody original pieces, peppered with storytelling and humour. About time this multi award winning supremely talented stalwart of local blues graced the Bluesfest stage.

Other home grown talent included the lovely KASEY CHAMBERS, the AUSTRALIAN UKELELE SHOW, BUSBY MAROU, JEFF LANG, singer songwriter COURTNEY BARNETT and Australian guitar greats in EXPERIENCE JIMI HENDRIX who packed out Delta tent with their tribute show honouring the late great icon.

Visiting The BUSKERS STAGE is always a fun thing to do at Bluesfest. I happened to catch this year’s winner of the busking competition, and easy to see why. The delightful MOLLY MILLINGTON on stage in her sparkly silver dress totally mesmerized her audience with covers, but then broke into her original number, ‘Rude Boy’ and knocked us all over with her edgy song writing and lilting vocals.

BOOMERANG stage highlight YIRRMAL from North East Arnhem land engaged his audience with his youthful charm and powerful emotive voice. Member of the legendary YOTHU YINDI clan, YIRRMAL seamlessly fuses tradition with the contemporary, presenting original songs accompanied by guitar.

Other BOOMERANG stage acts included the exhilarating Torres Straight Island dance troupe Excelsior, EMILY WURRAMARA, JANNAWI DANCE CLAN and TENZIN CHOEGYAL.

BONNIE RAITT’S gig was a stand out festival highlight.

This classy redhead’s exceptionally versatile voice and gifted electric guitar traversed styles and genres effortlessly, from country to rock ‘n roll and then brought it all back to basics with subtle beautiful harmonies on folk guitar in a ballad duet with the sensational JOAN OSBORNE. RAITT’S old fashioned on stage charm interspersed with social and political comments held her audience captive for almost two hours without missing a beat.

Multi award winning global music icon, social activist and humanitarian CARLOS SANTANA’S performance absolutely jammed the Crossroads tent and surrounds in a way that I’ve never seen before. None of the many thousands left disappointed, his spectacular distinctive guitar work traversed the decades with highlights from his earlier hits of Afro-Latin- blues-rock fusion through to later releases, sending the rapturous crowd into a tailspin.

The DOOBIE BROTHERS also shone in a fabulous set featuring many big hits. I was making a pre gig pit stop at the Ladies when I was heard to shriek, ‘Jesus! That’s Jesus! Jesus is alright!’ No, l wasn’t having some kind of surreal revelation in the porta-loos; the gig commenced early and caught me with my pants down so to speak. Unusual to start the show with one of their biggest numbers, but I guess it gets everyone in the mood. I’d forgotten how sublime the DOOBIES’ harmonies are. Their rendition of ‘Black Water’ sent me over the edge; exquisite perfect deliciously cascading harmonies. I’ve been singing now for a few years with a wonderful group, and our exceptional teacher works us hard to get the harmonies right, much trickier than it seems. I have always had deep respect for the accomplishment of this feat, and the DOOBIE BROTHERS do it in spades.

Speaking of harmonies, who can go past the song writing talents of

NEIL FINN who closed the festival with two hours stroll down memory lane through the songbooks of SPLIT ENZ, CROWDED HOUSE and his solo career. Accompanied by the gifted NICK SEYMOUR, FINN kept his audience rapt with his boy next-door charm and cosy chat. By this stage I was running a fever, but by hell or high water, I wasn’t missing this, and sat huddled over a bowl of soup up the back. His gorgeous melodies reached out to me and warmed my heart. That wonderful festival sing-along with NEIL and his huge crowd of fans was the best medicine.

I first saw the legendary King of the blues BUDDY GUY onstage at MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL almost a decade ago with the incomparable JOE BONAMASSA. They absolutely blew my mind and my eardrums. In the intervening years I’ve seen them both again several times, and this year’s performance by the multi award winning  BUDDY GUY was just as exceptional as ever. This sexy octogenarian

performs with the verve of one half his age. His guitar screams and cries as only he knows how, earning him a well deserved place amongst the one hundred greatest guitarists of all time.

Collaborations and cameo guest appearances were out of control this year.

Sassy fabulous BETH HART joined the sensational VINTAGE TROUBLE for a few numbers, while ukulele artist

JAKE SHIMABUKURO joined JIMMY BUFFETT on stage creating a unique liaison. Festival favourites PLAYING FOR CHANGE, a fabulous ever evolving fund raising for peace ensemble of talented world musicians, outdid themselves this year but pushed it out of the ball park when ELLIS HALL joined them and took it all to the next level with his keyboards and distinctive soul vocals. Then I nearly had a heart attack when our very own rising star YIRRMAL came out on stage as well.

What an amazing moment I will long remember. As mentioned, JOAN OSBORNE joined BONNIE RAITT for a beautiful duet, shortly followed by members of the CALIFORNIA HONEY DROPS warmly welcomed by RAITT as a must see don’t miss at this year’s festival. After their fabulous cameo I took her advice and caught their last set featuring keyboard, brass and percussion, which had everyone dancing and clapping to their infectious feel good party vibe.

RICKI LEE JONES’ first Bluesfest gig failed to captivate her audience, with Jambalaya tent half empty twenty minutes in. Reports indicated that her second outing fared better including playful banter with her fans and old favourites such as ‘Chuck E’s in love’ bringing the house down.

For a refreshing change of pace I went along to see South African Flautist WOUTER KELLERMAN and his talented ensemble featuring female bass player and sensitive percussion accompaniment.

Having had a taste of JOAN OSBORNE, I managed to catch her delightful solo gig including Dylan songs and also her popular hit, ‘One of us.’

Other featured artists included quirky distinctive UK band MADNESS whose unique sound brought an adoring audience to new heights, the ZAC BROWN BAND, rock n’ roll diva NIKKI HILL and soul legend BOOKER T whose STAX REVIEW covered hits by Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and his own classic GREEN ONIONS.

A fan handing her a letter on stage, and thanking her for ‘saving my life’ touchingly punctuated elder stateswoman of soul MAVIS STAPLES’ classic set.

There were many new traders at this year’s BLUESFEST with shopping opportunities expanded to include footwear, light fittings, designer clothing, hats and jewellery, whilst queues for food seemed endless but generally worth the wait. The MERCHANDISE and ARTIST SIGNING TENTS were busy as usual, as was the PLAYING FOR CHANGE tent where sales of merchandise and membership donations contribute to supporting their mission of PEACE THROUGH MUSIC by establishing music schools for underprivileged children in third world countries.

Without fail whenever my beloved wears one of his many PEACE THROUGH MUSIC tee shirts, someone will stop him and comment, or give him a thumbs up, ‘you beauty mate!’ Such is the power of this simple message.

All in all, sniffles aside, I had a blast. Always a little wistful (and exhausted!) as you pass through the gates on the last night, past the donut stand (this year I tried yummy cinnamon waffles and scrumptious Greek halva), knowing it’s a long wait to see who’s coming next year to blow us away once more.