Vibraphonist and vocalist Roy Ayers is known as the Godfather of Neo-Soul and is among the most respected Jazz and R&B artists on the scene today.
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Category Archives: Bluesfest
The Strumbellas – Bluesfest 2017 Sideshows Announced!
Making their Bluesfest debut in 2017 are Canadian band The Strumbellas. When a crowd is singing along with the last chorus after hearing the song for the first time, and Twitter lights up with those same lyrics in the days following a performance, you know it’s a song that connects. With poignant yet sing-along-able lyrics and undeniable rock noir musical undertones, Spirits, the first single from The Strumbellas’ album Hope embodies the essence of what has been attracting fans from across the world to this Lindsay, Ontario-bred band.
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Joan Osborne – Bluesfest 2017 Sideshows Announced!
Joan Osborne is a multi-platinum selling recording artist and seven-time Grammy nominee. The soulful vocalist and noted song interpreter is a highly sought after collaborator and guest performer who has performed alongside many notable artists, including Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and Patti Smith to name a few.
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Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson Tour Announced – April 2017
THURSDAY OCTOBER 13, 2016 – IAN ANDERSON, the voice and flute behind the legendary JETHRO TULL, returns to Australia next April celebrating a lengthy career that’s seen him and the band sell more than 60 million records.
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Bluesfest add Barry Gibb to their 2017 Mega Lineup!
In their fourth major announcement in just three weeks, Bluesfest is proud to announce that equal headliner Barry Gibb joins Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Santana, Zac Brown Band, Patti Smith, Mary J. Blige and Buddy Guy (exclusive) on what is promising to be the biggest Bluesfest line up to date.
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Santana And The Doobie Brothers Join The Bluesfest 2017 Mega Line Up
Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s much loved 5 day Easter Festival and recent winner of the ‘2016 Best Regional Event Award’ at the Australian Event Awards, delivers its fans two major and legendary artists, showing Australia and the world there is no stopping Bluesfest now!
Already 3 announcements under its belt, with more to come, the distinguished Santana with his band, as well as the mighty Doobie Brothers have now joined the 28th Bluesfest Byron Bay line up. This announcement comes just a week after Bluesfest added superstar Mary J. Blige to the extraordinary list of artists playing at the festival.
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Beth Hart – Fire On The Floor (Official Lyric Video)
Beth Hart is on fire. Right now, the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter is riding a creative tidal wave, firing out acclaimed albums, working with some of the biggest names in music and rocking the house each night with that celebrated burnt-honey voice.
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Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – adds more superb artists to its growing line up!
Today, the 28th Annual Bluesfest, that will rock Byron Bay and its beautiful surrounds over Easter in 2017, adds more superb artists to its growing line up.
Bluesfest 2017 will be held over the five day Easter long weekend from Thursday 13th to Monday 17th of April at its home on the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just outside of Byron Bay.
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Bonnie Raitt – Bluesfest 2017 Sideshows Announced!
“Bonnie Raitt continues to exhibit the hot-blooded enthusiasm of performers half her age.” – Variety US
Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee Bonnie Raitt is more than a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer and accomplished songwriter…. She has become an institution in American Music.
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Andrew Bird – Bluesfest 2017 Sideshows Announced!
Music innovator Andrew Bird began to play the violin at age four, learning to play Bach and Mozart by ear as if they were folk tunes. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist will be returning to Australia off the back of his most recent release Are You Serious (2016) featuring contributions from Fiona Apple and Blake Mills. Classically trained, Andrew Bird is known to attract adoring fans who connect with his personal and relatable lyrics, expect to hear a mass whistle-along at his exclusive Australian performances.
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Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – 1st Artist Lineup Announced
The 28th Annual Bluesfest to be held over the Easter long weekend in Byron Bay, Thursday 13th to Monday 17th April 2017, is officially ringing in its new season with the first release of awe-inspiring artists. The first artist announcement features Bluesfest debuts from iconic artists that have been many years in the making, Bluesfest exclusive performances, and the return of some of the festivals most requested artists.
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Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Five
Review By Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe
It was an emotional end to Bluesfest last night witnessing Brian Wilson perform Pet Sounds with original Beach Boys member Al Jardine and long term member Blondie Chaplin accompanied by a mini orchestra including string, woodwind and brass sections as well as drums, percussion, guitars, bass and support singer. This was part of a world tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rolling Stone’s declared second greatest album of all time and will most likely be Brian Wilson’s last trip to Australia. Hearing the historically important songs of the Beach Boys, live from the creators mouth was a surprisingly special experience considering that I have never particularly been a Beach Boys fan. Realising the place in history of these songs and the way they continue to influence several generations was deeply moving. The world the Beach Boys were singing about in the 60’s seems so innocent compared to the world we live in today. Brian Wilson was not looking his best but still managed to sing songs including Fun Fun Fun, Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda and Wouldn’t it be Nice with a bit of support from Matt Jardine for the sections that were no longer in his vocal range. They created a joyous atmosphere that was so infectious… maybe I’m a Beach Boys fan now just in time before this era sadly comes to and end.
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Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Four
Review By Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe
Shooglenifty were a great fresh way to start Bluesfest 2016 Day 4. Their celtic flavours are not often heard at Bluesfest. A great contrast and way to refresh the ears, kind of like sniffing a coffee bean in between wine tasting. With a fiddle, banjo, mandolin, drums, guitar and bass these guys from Scotland had the audience experimenting with their best River Dance impersonations and moving in energetic ways that are not your usual Bluesfest hip swinging standard. With beautiful tunes, jigs and reels that branched out to sound almost middle eastern and esoteric at times, this band can really get you dancing. Violinist Angus Grant kept the focus sharply on the music declaring ‘we only have an hour, so we are going to dispense with the hysterical banter that goes on between songs’. See Shooglenifty perform today at the Juke Joint 4:15pm.
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Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Three
Review By Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe
Day three was all about soaking up epic saxophonist Kamasi Washington with his band from Los Angeles during their last Australian show for 2016. To see a jazz/funk band of this quality and diversity in Australia is a real treat and must be embraced if you like this genre. Each incredible musician on tour with Kamasi was given plenty of stage time to showcase their unique contribution and own original material with respectful introductions from Kamasi explaining how they met. It was a real neighbourhood affair with childhood friends and Kamasi’s father all on stage. Some have been friends before they had even picked up an instrument. The arrangements were intricate, full of detail, embracing difficult time signatures, highlighting the fine pedigree of these musicians who mix with jazz royalty back in their homeland.
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Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Two
Review By Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe
Wondering around the Bluesfest site during the early afternoon on day 2, I could hear a beautiful familiar voice rising over the cacophony of sounds emanating from multiple tents. Following the voice lead me to the Crossroads stage to find Djakapurra from Bangarra singing with East Journey, an amazing band from North East Arnhem Land carrying on the tradition of Yothu Yindi. They performed new original songs that are bound to end up in the charts as well as performing Yothu Yindi favourites such as Treaty. Lead singer Rrawun Maymuru’s versatility was showcased with vocal styles ranging form traditional ceremonial song poetry, to ballads and full on rock. His song writing is appreciated world wide through songs he has written for Gurrumul. The band and dancers were truly exceptional and will be appearing at the Boomerang Dance Grounds over the next 3 evenings.
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