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.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Five
Tag Archives: Photos
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.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Four
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.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Three
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.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2016 – Day Two
Photo Gallery : Blackberry Smoke + Adam Eckersley Band at The Basement, Sydney – March 23, 2016
Photo Gallery : Melissa Etheridge at Enmore Theatre, Sydney with Irish Mythen – March 23, 2016
Photographer: David Jackson
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Melissa Etheridge at Enmore Theatre, Sydney with Irish Mythen – March 23, 2016
Live Review : Tedeschi Trucks Band at Enmore Theatre, Sydney – March 22, 2016
Review by Natasha Wyborn
Photographer: David Jackson
The harbour city welcomed two of the best to the Enmore Theatre on Tuesday night. Husband and wife rock and blues outfit Susan Tedeschi and slide guitar maestro Derek Trucks took to the Enmore stage for a sold out event. It was the first time the band had visited Australia since 2013 and the fans welcomed them back with open arms! Fans were treated with numbers from the bands back catalogue and their new album ‘Let Me Get By’ which was featured throughout the two hour plus set.
Continue reading Live Review : Tedeschi Trucks Band at Enmore Theatre, Sydney – March 22, 2016
Photo Gallery : At Sunset + Hollywood Heartache at The Old Museum, Brisbane – March 20, 2016
Photographer: Krista Melsom – KristaBella Photography
Continue reading Photo Gallery : At Sunset + Hollywood Heartache at The Old Museum, Brisbane – March 20, 2016
Photo Gallery : Sevendust at 170 Russell, Melbourne – March 18, 2016
Photographer: Matt Holliday
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Sevendust at 170 Russell, Melbourne – March 18, 2016
Photo Gallery : Graveyard Rockstars at 170 Russell, Melbourne – March 18, 2016
Photographer: Matt Holliday
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Graveyard Rockstars at 170 Russell, Melbourne – March 18, 2016
Photo Gallery : Sevendust at Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane w/ A Breach Of Silence + Tria Mera – March 17, 2016
Photos! Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Twilight at Taronga, Sydney – March 12, 2016
Photos by Maclay Heriot
In a magnificent closing weekend of Twilight at Taronga presented by ANZ, the 2016 series was brought to an end with a performance from the eccentric and enigmatic jungle-blues troubadour C.W. Stoneking on Friday night and the illustrious South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for a sold out show on Saturday night.
Continue reading Photos! Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Twilight at Taronga, Sydney – March 12, 2016
Photos! C.W. Stoneking + Marlon Williams at Twilight at Taronga, Sydney – March 11, 2016
Photos by Maclay Heriot
In a magnificent closing weekend of Twilight at Taronga presented by ANZ, the 2016 series was brought to an end with a performance from the eccentric and enigmatic jungle-blues troubadour C.W. Stoneking on Friday night and the illustrious South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for a sold out show on Saturday night.
Continue reading Photos! C.W. Stoneking + Marlon Williams at Twilight at Taronga, Sydney – March 11, 2016
