Tag Archives: Australia It is addictive: five days of quality blues-and-roots (and beyond) musicians from around the world, all in one family-friendly location. There were so many international performers to choose from at this year’s Easter long-weekend Byron Bay Bluesfest that I’ve broken my posts into sections (see: Spotlight on International Performers; Old Rockers, Punk and Protest) – and, there […]  I love Bluesfest! Byron Bay Bluesfest, the annual five-day Easter long-weekend festival of blues and roots music from around the world, always includes a line-up of interesting international visitors. Some are big names that take me back to my youth (see, for example: Bring on the Big Names; The Soundtrack of my Youth Musical Name-Dropping; […]  There are those who get cynical when older musicians tour: “Are they broke – are they taking advantage?”; “Can they still sing/play? I heard they are just going through the motions!”. I prefer to be more optimistic, and think that my musical heros continue to tour because they love their music and they love performing. In […]  There is nothing quite like a Māori haka to get your festival day started! (Double click for: Māmā Mihirangi & The Māreikura – E-Te-Ariki) The music clip attached is a prayer: E te Ariki – “Lord”, but the Aotearoa (NZ) Māori artists and activists Māmā Mihirangi & The Māreikura had started the set – first up on the […]  Peace. Is there such a thing? At the moment – at least in my corner of the world – there is an absence of war. Given the current political climates internationally, this absence of war does not feel like “peace”. It feels like a precarious balance of competing tensions: a temporary truce, while one holds […] |
|
