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
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!
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
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
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!
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!
Review by Michelle O’Rance
Two of the biggest names in rock’n’roll and heavy metal joined forces and descended upon Brisbane in a fiery, laser light filled show complete with upside down drum solos, acrobatics, ladies on stilts, flying musicians and pyrotechnics.
The elaborate stage set-up promised something big as the house lights dimmed and a single spotlight picked up the page bearers carrying the Motley Crue banners and leading a robed Nikki Sixx through the sea of people on the Entertainment Centre’s floor.
Continue reading Live Review: KISS + Motley Crue @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre – 12 March 2013
Review by Billy Geary
Soundwave. Yes, it’s that time of year again. Where, for two weeks rock fans across the country come out of the woodwork to celebrate all things heavy, following one of Australia’s biggest travelling music festivals around the country. Due to it being the festival’s 10-year anniversary, the line up for this edition was as big as it gets, featuring giants of many different genres of heavy music. Add to this a monumental amount of ticket sales and the usual assortment of controversies in the festival’s lead up and the result is an absolute behemoth of a day.
Continue reading Live Review: Soundwave Festival, Melbourne – 1st March 2013
Review by Billy Geary
Photo by Stuart Blythe
The last time Periphery played in Melbourne, back in 2011, they sold out the Hi-Fi Bar weeks in advance, highlighting just how popular the band is in the land down under. It appeared a similar occurrence was on the cards for their Soundwave sideshow held at the famous Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda. Well before doors had even opened, the line of fans waiting to enter the venue had snaked through the front bar and outside along The Esplanade quite away. As such, the early indication was that Periphery’s love affair with Australia and the local fans was by no means over.
Continue reading Live Review: Periphery and Crossfaith @ The Espy, Melbourne – 25 February 2013
Review and photos by Ben Hosking
Ahh, the annual Soundwave cavalcade. A time for sunburn, aching legs, aching livers and severe tinnitus. For those with average bank accounts, Soundwave is usually a choice between the main festival and the many and varied accompanying ‘Sidewave’ shows.
For some, the choice to purchase tickets to a Sidewave is more about being able to see their favourite bands in a more intimate environment with a few thousand other die-hards instead of tens of thousands. We’re left in no doubt tonight that many of the punters filling Luna Park’s Bog Top in Sydney fall squarely into the third category: those who feel compelled to spend up and see their favourite band/s in both arenas. Tonight’s Sidewave, starring Slayer, Anthrax and Kingdom of Sorrow is truly an exceptional line up of talent for one intimate venue and it comes as no surprise to find a long line of black-clad dudes stretching out past the big open mouth of the amusement park.
Continue reading Live Review: Slayer, Anthrax & Kingdom of Sorrow @ Big Top – Luna Park, Sydney – 25 February 2013
Review by Lauren Sherritt
The Sunday set for the Gold Coast Big Day Out 2013 dawned hot and sunny as around the state thousands packed themselves into cars, shuttle buses and trains and headed to the Parklands.
There were those who arrived early, queuing eagerly at the gates with tickets in hands and starting the party with top-notch openers like the rocketing-towards-stardom Sydney two piece Toucan and the magnificent DJ Helena, who kick-started the burgeoning crowds’ energy.
Then there were those who waited out the sun to arrive later for the big names on the bill, with Grinspoon’s mid-afternoon efforts pulling the first really big crowd of the day. Hard Act to Follow and Thrills, Kills and Sunday Pills had the crowd singing as one and from a distance the moving sea of hands and bodies seemed to swell with excitement under the masterful conducting of the band’s front man Phil Jamieson.
Continue reading Live Review – Big Day Out – Gold Coast 2013
Review by Billy Geary
As is the case with many bands that are somewhat lesser known, despite being critically acclaimed and possessing a stellar live sound, British four piece 65daysofstatic have taken quite a while to finally make it down under. After over ten years together, the band, with the help of the increasingly impressive Birds Robe record label, it was finally Australia’s turn to experience the quartet in the flesh.
Fresh from a huge 2012, including an ARIA award nomination, Sydney’s sleepmakeswaves were tasked with the role of main support for the entire tour. The quartet has, over the last few years, grown their fan base quite significantly and it showed in the sheer volume of the crowd’s cheers on Friday night as the band wandered on stage. The highlights of the set were opener ‘To You They Are Birds…’ and ‘We Sing The Body Electric,’ displaying exactly why they are considered one of Australia’s best young bands. To the delight of many, the band also showcased a couple of new tracks in ‘Avalanches’ and ‘Freshmaker.’ The former was particularly impressive, being slighter faster paced compared to most sleepmakeswaves tracks whilst still retaining their original sound.
Continue reading Live Review: 65daysofstatic + sleepmakeswaves @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne – 4 January 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
Words and Pics: www.hoskingindustries.com.au
Australian death metal fans generally aren’t quite as lucky when it comes to high-profile gigs like their brethren who enjoy less-heavy strains of metal. You could probably blame the state of the music industry for the lack of international death artists all the way over here to our little patch of dirt in the middle of nowhere.
Therefore it’s a testament to the talent, determination and endless road miles put in by death metal legends Cannibal Corpse that Aussie fans have had the luxury of seeing the band live on our shores no less than three times in the last 10 years. However, despite the surprising regularity with which we have been able to enjoy Cannibal Corpse’s punishing live show, tonight’s gig at Sydney’s iconic Metro Theatre is no less special for it. The fact that the band is being supported by three Australian death metal acts tonight just adds to the impact.
Continue reading Live Review: Cannibal Corpse, Psycroptic, Disentomb, Entrails Eradicated @ Metro Theatre, Sydney – 6 October 2012
Review: Stuart Blythe
Photos: KristaBella Photography
Sex, sing-alongs, comedy, catchy tunes and balls out fun! Yep, STEEL PANTHER has it all.
Their brand of tongue-in-cheek rock is an experience to behold and last night, playing to a sold out Brisbane crowd was testament to just that.
As Michael Starr, Satchel, Lexxi Foxx and Stix Zadinia take to the stage, the crowd roars out cheers and the night blasts off with ‘Supersonic Sex Machine’, ‘Tomorrow Night’ and ‘Fat Girl’. Steel Panther, milking the crowd for all it’s got, and the crowd more than happy to oblige.
Continue reading STEEL PANTHER at Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane – 4 October 2012 (Live Review)
