Byron Bay Bluesfest 2009, Byron Bay April 2009
Photographer: Cody Alexander
Tag Archives: bluesfest
Elize Strydom gets stuck in the mud at the 20th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
Bluesfest – 20th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
Friday 10th April
Review: Elize Strydom
Personality test: What sort of footwear would you choose to wear to Bluesfest?
a. Thongs from Woolies
b. Gumboots from Bunnings
c. Your brand new Dunlop Volleys
d. Au Natural (bare feet)
If you answered a. you’re an optimistic idealist. If you picked c. get set for disappointment. If you deliberated between b. and d. then read on…
The 20th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival was always going to be muddy. In the two weeks leading up to the festival the Northern Rivers had copped near-torrential rain, flash flooding and damaging winds. I spoke to Festival Director Peter Noble a day before the gates were due to open and he was optimistic. One day of hot sun beating down on the Belongil Fields meant they had “dodged a bullet” and things were looking up. Yesterday the Rain Gods withheld their mercy but they’re well and truly smiling again today. Steam is literally rising off the sodden grass as punters – young and old – stream past sniffer dogs, security checks and wrist band fasteners. Tracks between the festival’s six stages, market stalls, food tents and port-a-loos have been beaten and new tracks are appearing as people try to avoid the shin deep mud pit at the centre of the original track. So many are falling at the first hurdle as their thongs flick splats of mud up their legs and backs. Others are literally stuck in the mud as their feet plunge into the thick brown slosh and fail to emerge. Now is not the time to suffer from unpreparedness – there’s music to see, oh so much music. More than 500 artists and 220 performances, to be exact. I’ve gotta start somewhere, why not with Watermelon Slim and the Workers?
Continue reading Elize Strydom gets stuck in the mud at the 20th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
“No Shoes, at Blues…” – By Tara Kai Hammond
Bluesfest – 20th Annual East Coast Blues and Roots Festival
Friday 12th April
Review: Tara Kai Hammond
After a short twenty minute stroll from the car park, a quick ‘frisking’ from security at the gate, and I’m officially allowed into the festival. The first thing I noticed after being ‘frisked’; apart from swampy mud and thousands of different patterned gumboots; was hundreds of joyful, beaming-sunny-smiles, and a happy and radiant vibe which was ‘infectious’.
*Musical highlights*:-
That One Guy played his part percussions-part bass-boom box-making-vacuum or “magic Pipe” as he refers to it) to a small but highly amused, pumped-up and appreciative crowd. With funky high energy tunes one minute, (that make ya want to shake ya bits); to laid back cruisy tunes the next, (the kind that make ya smile and give ya that fuzzy feelin’); That One Guy is without a doubt the most extraordinary and entertaining one man band that I’ve ever witnessed; (and I’ve seen quite a few, including a guy with bopping parrot on his shoulder…)
Continue reading “No Shoes, at Blues…” – By Tara Kai Hammond
ERIC BIBB AUSTRALIAN TOUR, MARCH – APRIL 2009
Chugg Entertainment and Gaynor Crawford present ERIC BIBB AUSTRALIAN TOUR, MARCH – APRIL 2009
| “(New album) ‘Get Onboard’ offers further proof that Bibb is working at an extremely high level of artistry.” – Billboard Magazine
“A superb musician and performer.” – Q Magazine “Bibb turned (his 2008 SXSW show) into a place of communion during his phenomenal set.” – Austin American-Statesmen |
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“A voice to die for.” – The Times
JOINED BY THE LEGENDARY PAIR OF DANNY THOMPSON ON DOUBLE BASS AND LARRY CROCKETT ON DRUMS.
(All dates except Darwin and Cairns)
Continue reading ERIC BIBB AUSTRALIAN TOUR, MARCH – APRIL 2009
The Byron Bay festival’s 20th Birthday Anniversary is hotting up!
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The next round of artists to perform at the 20th Anniversary Bluesfest has today been announced. Read on to see why it’s going to be a joyous musical celebration to remember when Easter hits Belongil Fields in Byron Bay between April 9 and 13, 2009. |
Continue reading The Byron Bay festival’s 20th Birthday Anniversary is hotting up!
The East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival Byron Bay – BluesFest
The East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival Byron Bay (or BluesFest) is held at the Belongil Fields, Ewingsdale Road in Byron Bay over the Easter long weekend (20th March – 24 March 2008). A line up of international and national blues, folk, hip hop, reggae, roots, soul, rock, and world musicians have been put together to perform and includes the amazing Sinead O’Connor, KT Tunstall, Patty Griffin, Clare Bowditch, Xavier Rudd, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Keith Urban, John Butler Trio, Lior and many, many more!
The Byron Bay Blues festival is truly an event and shouldn’t be missed! The new venue is roomy and the event is massive!! Along with the fantastic musical lineup, roaming entertainment and food stalls that sell really good food, I have too tip my hat too the organisers… the complete setup is run with precision. Transport, security, service, sanity, schedule, direction… everything was organised, ensuring that the average punter had an memorable experience!
The opening night saw Jeff Martin, Xavier Rudd, Keith Urban and John Butler whipping the crowd into musical bliss. Wilco rocked! and Buddy Guy delivered a mind-blowing gritty set of blues…
Link: Official Bluesfest Website
Related: http://www.byron-bay.com/
Photos: lifemusicmedia flickr photoset