By Wanda Hill
Bluesfest Day 5
After nights of heavy rain it was stunning to have a beautiful sun shining day for the Bluesfest 2015 finale. The crowds had thinned, the earth underfoot had dried up a bit, and the feeling in the air was relaxed and easy. People were united in the agreement – its our last day here, let’s just chill and enjoy.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2015 – Day 5
Bluesfest Day 3
By Wanda Hill
The rain came down as spirits soared lifted by music unfazed by the weather or mud underfoot. Day three was a bit wet but who really cares when your safe and dry listening to The Gypsy Kings surrounded by warm bodies all captivated by sounds that make you feel like you’re thousands of miles away in the warm Spanish countryside having a religious experience. Being transported by Spanish Romini elder Nicholas Reyes’s vocals in combination with the magical flamenco guitar of Tonino Baliardo, supported by younger cousins on vocals and guitars is a cultural experience everyone should have in this lifetime.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2015 – Day 3
Bluesfest 2015 Day 1
Review by Wanda Hill
It’s that time of year again when thousands of music lovers make their way to Arakwal Country in the Byron Shire for the annual Easter celebration of all things blues, roots and beyond. It is such a lovely feeling to walk onto the extremely well prepared festival site knowing that there are five days of incredible artists from around the world to be enjoyed amidst a friendly crowd and delicious food.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2015 – Day 1
Review by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
Macy Gray is on a bus and travelling around Australia bringing her world class show to major cities and a few very lucky regional towns such as Lismore. Last night Lismore City Hall was packed with thoroughly pumped people having a wild party with the funked up Macy Gray and her very stylin’ band.
Don’t know how I got it so wrong – I was expecting something mellow and jazz club like, so made my way early into the theatre to get a good seat thinking it will be all about having a good view. Turns out I should have rocked in late, charged to the front and spent the night dancing with all the sensible people that had staked out the limited space on the dance floor.
Continue reading Live Review : Macy Gray at Lismore City Hall – March 13, 2015
Review by Wanda Hill
Anathema played their first ever Australian show to a welcoming and receptive audience at the HiFi Bar in Brisbane’s West End on Thursday night. Any doubts about their Australian fan base would have been quickly swept away as the crowd soaked up the power and intensity of their music and joined them in singing along with songs recently released as well as from albums produced many years ago. Yes Anathema, you have many fans here, and we hope you won’t wait so long to visit us again.
Continue reading Live Review : Anathema at The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – 21 August 2014
Review by Wanda Hill
Sixty minutes of floating on beautiful melodies, intense emotion and powerful composition can be yours when you decide to listen to Distant Satellites – Anathema’s 10th studio album. This UK progressive rock band have carved their own unique blend of uplifting yet contemplative music that continues to inspire and attract new fans around the world. Their style has grown to embrace new influences while never really straying far from original inspirational sources such as Pink Floyd.
Distant Satellites features ten beautifully crafted songs that explore a range of states of being and experiences using sublime instrumentation, harmonies and vibrant vocals. The song’s transition well from one to another, providing continuity and an extremely pleasurable listening hour.
Continue reading Album Review | Anathema – Distant Satellites
Review by Wanda Hill
The legendary Wailers played a mesmerizing set to a captivated audience at Sydney’s classic venue The Enmore Theatre. Hit song after hit song was played to perfection and delivered with passion, integrity and the magic that has captured fans of Bob Marley and Wailers, all over the world.
Bass player Aston “Family Man” Barrett is the foundation of the band having co-produced and played with Bob Marley and the Wailers throughout the 70’s, writing many of the world famous bass line grooves. Keeping this music alive and spreading the message and wisdom contained within the lyrics remains a strong focus for Aston.
Continue reading Live Review | The Wailers + Sly & Robbie & the Taxi Gang with Bitty Mclean @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney | April 19 2014
Review by Wanda Hill
Photo Credit: Julius C Montes
Boomerang Festival was a huge success and will be back next year for sure. The big smiles on punters faces and huge cheers at the closing ceremony yesterday, said it all. Festival organisers affirmed that they had indeed done well, everyone had a great time and that plans are already in the pipeline for next year’s event.
Being the last opportunity to spend the day with the Billinudgel Weavers and make a basket from Lomandra leaves I escaped the heat in their tent and wove the funky sounds of Slip on Stereo and Tjupurru into my basket under the weavers excellent tuition.
Continue reading Review: Boomerang Festival 2013 – Day 3 Wrap
Review by Wanda Hill
Photo Credit: Julius C Montes
Festivals are such a great way to build community and nurture understanding. Boomerang is doing this in style with a stellar line up of musicians, speakers, artists and craftspeople. The festival site came alive with activity yesterday as people of all ages enjoyed the entertainment and took part in workshops and discussions. It is such a lovely feeling to sit down with complete strangers and take part in an activity like basket weaving or woodcarving. Before long, people are laughing, making friends as well as learning new skills or discovering hidden talents.
A look around the festival is a picture of life at its best, groups of kids playing football together, families sharing food, friends who haven’t seen each other for years discovering each other in the crowd. That magic feeling of people bonding over shared ideas was alive in the air. Ignited by inspiring words from wise elder Dr Gondarra, and eloquently expressed in music and lyrics by Xavier Rudd.
Continue reading Review: Boomerang Festival 2013 – Day 2 Wrap
Review by Wanda Hill
Boomerang Festival took its maiden voyage onto the Australian festival scene yesterday at Tyagarah Tea Tree farm near Byron Bay. Boomerang is the brainchild of Rhoda Roberts who started the very successful Dreaming Festival at Woodfordia. Peter Noble (Bluesfest producer) was very proud and excited to welcome Boomerang to the home of the Byron Bay Bluesfest last night during the opening ceremony.
The ceremony started with a heartfelt welcome to country from the Arakwal peoples of Byron Bay area and progressed to involve many of the dancers performing over the weekend including the very spectacular Malu Kiai Mura Buai dance group from the Torres Strait Islands with their elaborate headdresses made of feathers, and the famous Chooky Dancers who bring a touch of humour to everything they do.
Continue reading Review: Boomerang Festival 2013 – Day 1 Wrap
Review by Wanda Hill
Photo by Amanda Brenchley
Soilwork launched their Australian tour in Brisbane last night at the HiFi bar in Westend. As you would expect, a sea of people clad in black were waiting to welcome this fine melodic death metal band from Sweden.
Soilwork are in Australia promoting their recent double album The Living Infinite. This high energy album has sold very well around the country and is a personal favourite of mine.
As the band entered the stage a roar went up in the crowd letting them know of the anticipation we all felt. The band looked very happy to back on our shores after a three year absence.
The show got underway revealing that these guys love performing and have awesome stage presence and connection with the audience. Everything looked great, the lighting, the artwork, the band members, but the sound was very disappointing. I was so excited about hearing songs from their new album live but was just devastated that the guitars were so soft in the mix and that everything but the drums seemed to get lost in the wall of noise. What was especially frustrating was that I could see the guitar solos being played with enthusiasm and style by Sylvain Coudret and David Andersson, but I just could not hear them.
Continue reading Live Review: Soilwork @ The Hi-Fi, Brisbane – October 2, 2013
Review by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
Travelling to Island Vibe Festival is like a road movie that starts fast and slows right down. The urgency to make the ferry on time is relieved once on board the vessel and the opportunity to do nothing but observe how gorgeous the environment is, presents itself. As the mainland and pressure of daily routine slowly slips away, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) comes into focus, full of promise for an exciting weekend ahead.
Having never been to this island before I am astounded by its beauty and grateful that it does not resemble its close neighbour the Gold Coast. Perhaps the need to approach it by boat has saved it from the tyranny of the high-rise and false glory of glamour. An initial exploration of the island reveals tree lined walking tracks, ocean views, whales heading south with tails and fins flapping, turtles bobbing up and down and manta rays gracefully gliding past. The ocean is pumping out a huge left hand break filled with surfers at Point Lookout, and Cylinder Beach is looking good for a swim. Already this is a great experience.
Continue reading Live Review: Island Vibe Festival 2012
Interview by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
Fyah Walk will be playing at the brilliant reggae, soul and dub event Island Vibe Festival on Stradbroke Island this October (2012). We caught up with lead singer (and guitarist) Simon Jerrems for a chat…
LMM: So you have a few new members in the band, can you introduce them?
Simon: Yes, on bass is Anando Bharti who is a long-standing player of over 40 years experience and performing with a multitude of bands in and outside Australia. Then Carla Versitano who is our backing vocalist who was the lead for band called The Witness and has also appeared on a host of Australian independent releases, she has great vocal tone and energy. On lead guitar is Tom Kelly, originally from the UK with a background in jazz and reggae…he has a great passion for guitarists like Ernest Ranglin and the early reggae pioneers of the 70s.
LMM: Your lyrics are always interesting and inspiring, what are you writing about at the moment?
Continue reading Interview with Simon Jerrems – Fyah Walk
Interview by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
OKA will be playing at the brilliant reggae, soul and dub event Island Vibe Festival 2012 on Stradbroke Island this October. We caught up with OKA’s Charles Wall for a chat…
LMM: How is your tour of Canada going?
Charles: EPIC – quite hectic but loving every bit of it. The weather has been perfect. We’ve managed to fly all over the country.
LMM: What is the music scene like over there?
Charles: It’s rich. There’s a lot of festivals in the summer. Canadians really make the most of their warm weather. So many different bands from all over the world hit North America. There’s a good vibe around with all the quality & different music.
Continue reading Interview with Charles Wall (aka Bobby Alu) – OKA
Interview by Wanda De Verelle-Hill
Kooii will be playing at the brilliant reggae, soul and dub event Island Vibe Festival 2012 on Stradbroke Island this October. We caught up with Kooii’s Peter Hunt (vocalist) for a chat…
LMM: I love your Afro beat/funk sound and can’t wait to get up and dance with you at Island Vibe. Do you have any new songs or a new album coming out that you will be playing at the festival this year?
Peter: We’ll be releasing an EP with a few new songs that we recorded at the Tanuki lounge. There’ll hopefully be a few remixes as well, done by friends, of songs from our first two albums.
Continue reading Interview: Peter Hunt – Kooii
