Review by Wanda Hill Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
Last night the Crossroads became Buddy Guy’s intimate lounge room for a few hours where the many
thousands gathered, were treated to a warm and humorous insight into the world
of this 86 year’s young, blues legend. He warned ‘if you don’t like Blues you’re
in the wrong fucking house, I’m going to play something so funky you can smell
it.’ He played many of his own songs and those of other legends he has
influenced, interspersed with cheeky stories. After playing Hoochie Coochie Man he observed how Hip
Hop has changed the musical landscape and ‘you can say whatever the fuck you
want now’ not holding back on any details with his lyrics and stories. Playing
with not just his well worn hands, but his sleeve, overall front, teeth and towards
the end walking right out into the the audience, letting kids play his guitar,
giving old and new fans the experience of a life time. As he promised at the
start of the show ‘I don’t get out here very often, so I’m going to give you
the best that I got.’
featuring Adam Duritz – Allison Russell – Buddy Guy – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Clarence Bekker – Eric Gales – Frank Turner – Jackson Browne – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Joe Bonamassa – 19-Twenty – Lisa Hunt – Marcus King – Nikki Hill – Vintage Trouble
Review by Wanda Hill Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
My favorite time of year is here again, where no bigger decision needs to be made other than – what band should I go see now? A fantasy life for five days where Bluesfest serves up an irresistible menu of musical treats. With a plethora of choices laid out before me, I just need to wander around and discover music, new and old to love. Lured in by hot organ sounds I found Southern Avenue at the Juke Joint, just in time for a wicked drum solo by Tikyra Jackson. This band has a big Memphis funk sound with vocalist Tierinii Jackson wielding a powerful voice that can do anything. A perfect initiation into what promises to be another soul shaking festival.
featuring Eric Gales – Nikki Hill – Kaleo – Paolo Nutini – St. Paul and The Broken Bones – Lucinda Williams – Dog Trumpet – LP – The Angels – Frank Sultana – Greensky Bluegrass
Thursday 14th April 2022 featuring Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty, Roshani, Tijuana Cartel, Ross Wilson, Felix Riebl – The Cat Empire Photos by Ant Ritz
Featuring (in alphabetic order) : Colin Hay, Danny Spencer, David Gray, Deva Mahal, Fantastic Negrito, Gary Clark Jr., Ian Moss, I’m With Her, Imelda May, Irish Mythen, Jack Johnson, Jack White, The Saboteurs, Julia Stone, Keb Mo, Kurt Vile, Larkin Poe, Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul, Little Georgia, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Mavis Staples, Melody Angel, Miss Velvet and the Blue Wolf, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Ocean Alley, Paul Kelly, Ray Lamontagne, Richard Capton, Ruthie Foster, Samantha Fish, Shakey Graves, Tex Perkins, The Marcus King Band, The War and Treaty, Tommy Emmanuel, Vintage Trouble
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe + Ant Ritz
Everybody loves Santana. I hope the other bands with a 7.30pm time slot had an audience because it felt like the entire festival population was trying to get as close as possible to Carlos Santana and the incredible line up of singers and musicians on tour with him at the moment. It is amazing what we can put up with if the music is sooo brilliant that being pushed, crushed and having a variety of drinks spilled on you is all taken with good nature and shared understanding of I just need to be as close as possible to this magnificence. Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Four→
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe + Ant Ritz
One of the great things about Bluesfest is that the musicians who travel a long way from around the globe to get here have a brilliant time and enjoy the opportunity to see acts they have never seen, and to meet and collaborate with artists that inspire them. Backstage they are treated to unique Byron/Bluesfest hospitality and have a chance to learn about Australia’s Indigenous peoples through magnificent artworks placed throughout the greenroom. Being such a friendly festival it is not unusual to see guest artists out in the crowd enjoying the atmosphere. Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Three→
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe + Ant Ritz
The festival site was cranking with a huge crowd enjoying everything the festival has to offer. Moving from A to B involved weaving in and out of human traffic going in every direction and careful navigation through seas of chairs arranged to take advantage of screens outside the main tents. Colourfully adding to this complexity were a series of roving street acts including stilt walkers who amazingly manage to move forward with grace amidst the whirl of chaos beneath them. Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Two→