From Buskers to Big Bands – Bluesfest 2016, Byron Bay

Kim Churchill, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Kim Churchill
Australian folk, rock, and blues singer, songwriter, and musician Kim Churchill plays guitar, blues harp (harmonica), stomp box, drums, lapsteel and tambourine – sometimes all at once!

This year marked the 27th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest – that celebration of Blues and Roots music held every Easter in the sub-tropical Autumn on Australia’s East Coast.

I love it!

Now, I know I’ve said that before (Back to the Roots), but what else can you say about a collection of top-notch artists that ranges from acoustic solo performers and one-man bands through to big bands, and from street buskers to international big names?

Regardless of the size of the ensemble, we were treated to a long-weekend of fabulous music. Unlike performances in more formal venues, cameras are allowed: in the performance tents my cameras and I had reasonable (not great – oh, how I often wished for a press pass!) visual access to the musicians we were enjoying.

Join me for a glimpse of some of the people we were entertained by.

Kim Churchill, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Kim Churchill
Barefoot and down-to-earth, the Australian surf-enthusiast and one-man band Kim Churchill engaged easily with his audience, telling self-depreciating stories with gentle humour, and creating an entrancing sound described by one music critic as “psychedelic whale music, ocean-side blues …”

Grizzlee Train, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Grizzlee Train
Winners of the 2015 Byron Bluesfest Busking Competition, young Australian friends Brandon Dodd and Josh Dufficy have moved from the busking tent to sharing the stage with many big names in Australian blues and rock music, and backing Australian country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers.

Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges
Playing classic blues with undertones of soul, funk, rock and gospel, Bridges performed with the help of a small group of backing musicians.

Kasey Chambers, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Kasey Chambers
Unbilled performers and unexpected musical combinations are one of the great joys of music festivals. “Hideaway” Bridges was joined on stage by Australian country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers.

Tedeschi Trucks Band, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Tedeschi Trucks Band
Bands don’t come much bigger than the bold, brassy, Grammy-Award-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks
Susan Tedeschi, recognised for her original song-writing, her singing voice: a powerhouse blend of Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, her blues-rock guitar playing, and her commanding stage presence, and husband Derek Trucks, formerly of The Allman Brothers Band, and called by Rolling Stone the 16th top (out of 100) guitarist of all time, are the drivers of this completely absorbing stage act.

The National, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

The National
It was a full-on lights, back-screen and sound experience: American indie rock band The National, from Cincinnati, Ohio, were a hit with the younger audience members.

Tweedy, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Tweedy
With a soft-rock sound that reminded me of early British pop, Tweedy is an American father and son rock band composed of Jeff Tweedy, from the group Wilco, and his son, Spencer.

Graham Nash, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Graham Nash
We older audience-members remember the early pop-tunes of the Hollies, and the later folk-rock songs from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne
Graham Nash was joined by English rock guitarist Mick Barakan “Shane Fontayne” to deliver old favourites and new releases.

Jackson Browne, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Jackson Browne
Another “old favourite”, Clyde Jackson Browne – American singer, songwriter and musician – performed his well-know songs, many of which were originally performed by other people, and newer songs from his recent studio album.

Jackson Browne, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Jackson Browne
An inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter Hall of Fame, Jackson Browne has sold over 18 million copies of his 19 albums.

Melissa Etheridge, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Melissa Etheridge
Another house-hold name to those of us of a “certain age”, the Grammy-award-winning American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Melissa Etheridge was in great form.

Melissa Etheridge, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Melissa Etheridge
Her powerful, well-crafted lyrics were carried effortlessly by her husky, ranging, voice.

St Paul and the Broken Bones, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

St Paul and the Broken Bones
The sleeper-success of the festival would have to have been the brassy, big-band soul-sounds of St Paul and the Broken Bones from Birmingham, Alabama.

Paul Janeway, St Paul and the Broken Bones,

Paul Janeway
St Paul and the Broken Bones’ vocalist Paul Janeway grew up in a strict religious household and trained to be a preacher before finding his voice in his own music.

Evening light over the Grounds of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Night Falls over the Grounds
Getting caught up in music, it is easy to forget what time of day (or night) it is – but hunger brings me out regularly in search of the varied food on offer.

Rick Vito with Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Rick Vito with Mick Fleetwood Blues Band
They don’t get much bigger (or taller) than Michael John Kells “Mick” Fleetwood. I saw him in the mid-seventies with Fleetwood Mac, the British-American rock band he co-founded. The stage at Bluesfest was filled with his drum kit; I had to watch carefully to get glimpses of him through the cymbals.

Rick Vito, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Rick Vito
American guitarist and singer Rick Vito replaced Lindsey Buckingham as lead guitar in Fleetwood Mac from 1987.

Rick Vito, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Rick Vito
With a long history of playing with Bob Seger and numerous others, Vito had no problem commanding attention on the stage.

Mick Fleetwood, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Mick Fleetwood
Why do we get so excited by “famous people”? It was a buzz listening to Mick address the crowd while roadies re-arranged the drum kits on stage.

Mick Fleetwood Blues Band with Rick Vito, Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Mick Fleetwood Blues Band with Rick Vito
The second drum kit arrangement had a much more intimate and accessible feel – it was wonderful to watch the master at work.

Text: Let

And there was so much more …

… watch this space!

Whether its made by solo performers or big bands, by new kids or old hands, is there anything better than great music?

I think not.

Let’s dance!

Pictures: Photos: 24-27March2016

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