Category Archives: Byron Bay

Bluesfest Launch 2014 – The very first Announcement for the 25th Anniversary Bluesfest!

Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s multi award winning 5 Day Festival, held over the Easter long weekend (17 – 21st of April) at its dedicated site, the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, north of Byron Bay, opens the first of its many 25th Anniversary presents and it is an exquisite mix of Bluesfest returning favourites and cutting edge contemporary artists.

By announcing 4 weeks sooner than ever before, Bluesfest has broken its own record once again.

If this is only the beginning, Bluesfest 2014 promises to surpass all expectations.

The First Artist Announcement includes:
John Mayer
John Butler Trio
Dave Matthews Band (Two incredible performances)
Erykah Badu
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Iron & Wine
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Devendra Banhart
Morcheeba
Gary Clark Jr
KT Tunstall
Allen Stone
Valerie June
Nikki Hill

and many more to come!

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR PETER NOBLE SAYS:
It’s our 25th Birthday! We are going to be celebrating this one as never before and will deliver you one hell of a line up and mark my words: This is only the beginning”!

Peter Noble adds:

“John Mayer is finally coming back after 7 years to play at Bluesfest again. When it comes to guitar he is undoubtedly to me the most talented of all performing today, simply untouchable and I say that with all humility. I predict his new album ‘Paradise Valley’ – released last week, is going to be at the top of the charts worldwide this week – this is such a coup for us – and I am so proud to be presenting John on our big celebration year.
Continue reading Bluesfest Launch 2014 – The very first Announcement for the 25th Anniversary Bluesfest!

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Current Swell, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown Band, Ben Howard, Xavier Rudd, Newton Faulkner
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay – Day 5
Date: 01 April 2013

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5

Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Bluesfest Day Five Wrap:

It was a fitting finale to one of the best ever Byron Bluesfests last night as the legendary Paul Simon capped off five days of extraordinary performances by countless artists across six stages.

Actually, that’s seven if you include the busking stage.

The Mojo tent was packed to overflowing with an all-ages crowd that was not only a testament to the enduring legacy of a musical icon, but also the festival organisers for once again staging a truly inclusive, cross-generational event.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5 Wrap

Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day Four: Bluesfest wrap
The clouds set in for day four of Bluesfest but that didn’t dampen the festival spirit or the crowd numbers.

While yesterday’s line-up lacked the star-studded impact of the first three days, punters still poured in to enjoy the days high-energy bill packed with long-time Bluefest favourites.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4 Wrap

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Rufus Wainwright, Roger Hodgson, Bettye LaVette, Karise Eden, Jon Anderson
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 31 March 2013

More photos to come!

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4

Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day three of Bluesfest.

Perhaps it’s the selective memory but it never ceases to amaze me how quickly one forgets the shear stamina and commitment five day festivals demand – let alone one with six stages and a line-up like this.

Herein lies the crux of the Bluesfest punter’s dilemma – how to choose between the likes of Iggy Pop and Robert Plant; Status Quo and the Beasts of Bourbon; the Dropkick Murphys and Taj Mahal, not to mention Santana and Wanda Jackson; Ben Harper and Chris Isaak; the Counting Crows and Joan Armatrading; Wilco and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra…

Bottom line? Decisiveness is the key. Where there’s no guts there’s no glory. Wavering between stages will only break you down faster and leave you with a gnawing sense of what might have been against a potential epiphany at a consecrated altar of live rock and roll.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3 Wrap

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Robert Plant, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Dropkick Murphys, Status Quo, Beasts of Bourbon
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 30 March 2013

More photos to come!

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3

Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 2 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Byron Bay’s Bluesfest hit full stride yesterday, following a cracker opening night on Thursday, and the heavens responded in kind.

Let’s face it, it just wouldn’t be Bluesfest without the rain.

While it certainly wasn’t the 100mm organisers had promised would drain off faster than a heavy metal anthem, it did pour down.

But that didn’t deter the hundreds of punters spilling out three sides of Crossroads stage where Rodriguez had just won over a new generation of fans. The crowd knew most of the words to his classic 1970 album, Cold Fact, and weren’t afraid to sing them. It was spine-tingling stuff.

On the flip-side, it was yet another classic Bluesfest audience – relaxed, intelligent and forgiving – offering musicians the kind of reception that has elicited some extraordinary live performances over the years, and earned the festival an international reputation among artists second to none in Australia.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 2 Wrap

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 2

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Santana, Manu Chao La Ventura, Rodriguez, Joan Armatrading, Jimmy Cliff, Glen Hansard, Taj Mahal Trio, Ben Harper, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Wards Xpress
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 29 March 2013

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 2

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 1

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Acts: Charlie Musselwhite, Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Counting Crows, Rodriguez, Chris Isaak, Trombone Shorty, Fred Wesley
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 28 March 2013

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 1

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 – Day 5 – Yes, Zappa plays Zappa, John Fogerty, Candi Staton, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Ray Beadle, Dawes, Claude Hay, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rosie Ledet | Photos!

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Continue reading Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 – Day 5 – Yes, Zappa plays Zappa, John Fogerty, Candi Staton, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Ray Beadle, Dawes, Claude Hay, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rosie Ledet | Photos!

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 – Day 4 – John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown, The Pogues, Josh Pyke, The Audreys, Angelique Kidjo, Round Mountain Girls, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Seasick Steve, Maceo Parker, Eagle and The Worm, Watussi, Busby Marou, Mama Kin

Photographer: Chris Dornan Photography

Photographer: Chris Dornan Photography
Continue reading Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 – Day 4 – John Butler Trio, Blue King Brown, The Pogues, Josh Pyke, The Audreys, Angelique Kidjo, Round Mountain Girls, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Seasick Steve, Maceo Parker, Eagle and The Worm, Watussi, Busby Marou, Mama Kin

Photo Gallery: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 (Day 3) – John Fogerty, Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot!, Ziggy Marley, Seasick Steve, Blitzen Trapper, Donovan, Angelique Kido, Ray Beadle, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Earle, Tijuana Cartel

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 (Day 3) – John Fogerty, Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot!, Ziggy Marley, Seasick Steve, Blitzen Trapper, Donovan, Angelique Kido, Ray Beadle, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Earle, Tijuana Cartel

Photos! Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 (Day 2) – Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Jonny Lang, Buddy Guy, Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Dallas Frasca

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Continue reading Photos! Byron Bay Bluesfest 2012 (Day 2) – Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Steve Lukather, Jonny Lang, Buddy Guy, Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Dallas Frasca

Bluesfest 2012 – “Crosby, Stills & Nash”, “Earth, Wind & Fire”, The Specials

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe
Continue reading Bluesfest 2012 – “Crosby, Stills & Nash”, “Earth, Wind & Fire”, The Specials