The Local Lineup @ Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016, AU

Russell Morris on stage, Bluesfest 2016 Byron Bay Au

Russell Morris
With a musical career spanning fifty years, Russell Morris is a true veteran, and easily one of my favourite Australian musical story-tellers.

For a country with a relatively small population, Australia is home to a lot of talent in just about every domain – and popular music is no exception. This always surprises me somewhat, because a small populace means a small support base; unlike the “big names” in the big markets overseas, it must be hard for working musicians to make a solid living.

I guess this is one reason why those who last the distance do so because they clearly love what they do. That – along with the music itself – makes their live performances a joy to be part of.

Bluesfest at Byron Bay is billed as “Australia’s Premier Blues and Roots Music Festival”; it encompasses a much broader range of music than that would suggest, however, and I always look with interest to see who is being included in the five-day Easter-long-weekend lineup of local and international artists.

As usual, this year was a treat! We enjoyed a range of talent: fresh-faced and established; local and international; in “unplugged” and “big band” formats (see: Bluesfest 2016).

Join me for a few more musical portraits: a sampling from a great local lineup.

$Tex Perkins on stage, Bluesfest 2016 Byron Bay Au$

Tex Perkins
I loved the self-titled Dark Horses album (2000) and was keen to catch Tex Perkins on stage.

$Tex Perkins and Raul Sanchez on stage, Bluesfest 2016 Byron Bay Au$

Tex Perkins and Raul Sanchez: “The Ape”
The guitar riffs bounced off each other and all over the stage.

Jug Band
Outside in the sunshine, the world feels completely different. In addition to the “Busking Tent”, the festival hosts numerous impromptu “street performers”, like this jug band whose name I did’t catch.

Kim Churchill
Kim Churchill is one young local performer who already has a significant presence overseas. We loved him and his down-to-earth barefoot charm (see: Buskers to Big Bands).

Ash Grunwald
My friend recommended we catch Ash Grunwald, an award-winning local blues artist who was new to me. We loved him. He has nine albums under his belt; clearly others are already won over.

Kasey Chambers and Ash Grunwald
Australian country singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers is branching out…

Kasey Chambers
… and bringing more wailin’ rock and blues to her music. She joined Ash and the band for a couple of songs.

Ash Grunwald
Alone again, Ash commands the stage.

Night Scenes
The Mojo Tent was crowded and bouncing Sunday night for one of my favourite ska and jazz bands, The Cat Empire.

Felix Riebl and Cat Empire
Popular with the younger crowd, I first saw these guys play in a Darwin pub with my son in the early 2000’s. Official photographers are everywhere: it is times like this I wish I had a Press Pass!

Felix Riebl
It is hard to keep a long lens still amid a jostling crowd! And, it’s even harder to keep still myself: The Cat Empire makes music to dance to.

Harry James Angus and Cat Empire
I love their clever lyrics, big, brassy sounds and catchy tunes.

Richard Clapton
Richard Clapton is a rock and roll mainstay on the Australian music scene. His songs were a regular feature on local popular radio stations when I first landed in the country in the late 70s.

Dom Turner
Dom Turner and the Backsliders are celebrating thirty years of playing, touring and recording. It’s probably about that long ago I first saw them in the Basement, a Sydney club.

The Backsliders
This is another band I was determined to see. Playing traditional Mississippi delta and hill country blues as well as original songs, they clearly still love every minute.

Dom Turner
Founding member Dom Turner is known for his slide guitar. I lost track of how many different instruments he picked up during the set.

Russell Morris
This is one act I always enjoy: we’ve made sure to catch Russell when he’s appeared at the annual Thredbo Blues (e.g.: Let’s Dance the Blues; Cool Blues, Hot Jazz).

Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson plays guitar with a passion.

CD Signing
CD signings are a chance to play “devoted fan” and get a moment with one’s favourite artists. Russell Morris was most gracious – and of course, the CDs are great.