Stage Lights
Sound and people fill the large marquees; sometimes the performers seem to be a long way away. Bluesfest 2014, Byron Bay.
This year, the Easter long weekend marked the 25th anniversary of the annual Byron Bay Bluesfest.
We were ready!
Thanks to glorious, sunny, Autumn weather, we were able to leave our rain-coats and gumboots in the car – along with the folding chairs the organisers had rendered superfluous – as we made our way through the ticketing and security checkpoints onto Tyagarah Tee Tree Farm, not far from the famous beachside town of Byron Bay.
We had so enjoyed our three-day pass last year (Singing the Blues) that we had signed on for the full five days, thinking that if it all got too much, we could take time out. Which, of course, we didn’t. For the most part, we arrived as bands were tuning up, and left long after the cold nights had fallen. While I didn’t catch all of the 107 artists who performed across the seven stages, I made a pretty good try of seeing a lot of them – several more than once.
After five days of bouncing around, shoulder-to-shoulder with a mass of other excited music fans, I had sore legs and feet, a happy heart, and flash-cards full of more than 2000 images. Of course, attempts at shooting moving-objects-at-a-distance-in-low-light-while-dancing resulted in a lot of blurry and/or noisy and/or out-of-focus pictures destined for the scrap-heap, and it is taking me forever to go through them.
For now, at the risk of sounding like a name-dropper, I’ll share a selection of shots from the first two days.
Enjoy!
Tijuana Cartel
Although the sun was shining brightly when we arrived Thursday afternoon, it was already dark at the stage ends of the massive Crossroads marquee where drums, …
Tijuana Cartel
… keyboard and guitar beat out Mexican rhythms.
Hats and Heads
There was a buzz of excitement in the air, and already a lot of people around. The trick was finding a spot with a view!
Arakwal Opening Ceremony
As is befitting any function held on Traditional Lands, one of the first events payed homage to the Indigenous people of the area. Festival Director Peter Noble introduces the Arakwal performers and elders.
Black Sorrows
Joe Camilleri on saxophone with Garland Jeffreys performing guest vocals.
Food Court
There was plenty of choice at the various food stalls at the food court and scattered around the festival site. I ate my way through a variety of tasty cuisines.
Lantern Parade
Oversized characters from children’s books weave through the night crowds.
Charlie Musselwhite
Legendary. Just legendary!
Charlie Musselwhite Band
Dr John and the Nite Trippers
Billed as playing “voodoo-funk, creole blues”, the 73 year old Dr John is also the model for my favourite muppet.
Dr John on Guitar
No wonder they call it “psychedelic rock”: that inimitable voice and his crazy, rambling lyrics… trippy indeed.
John Mayer on the Livescreen
We stopped at the Mojo Tent on our way out Thursday evening to catch a bit of John Mayer‘s awesome guitar (and uncomfortable patter) before heading home to recharge our batteries – literal and figurative.
Daniel Champagne
People were already pushed into the tiny Juke Joint when we arrived shortly after noon Friday. Daniel Champagne‘s prodigious guitar-playing got our day off to a wonderful start.
Cavanbah
Suzanne Vega clearly had more draw-power than the tiny venue allocated to her allowed for. I had been looking forward to her performance, but sadly, missed out.
Beth Hart
It was a day of power-house women…
Beth Hart
…and this woman is truly a force to be reckoned with. What a voice! I had goosebumps.
Beth Hart and PJ Barth
It is always a joy to watch good performers having fun.
Camera Operator
Bluesfest performances are recorded; many of the clips (authorised and otherwise) are already available on-line.
Joss Stone
Another young powerhouse: soaring vocals, heartfelt lyrics and charming chatter – Joss Stone delivers.
Joss Stone
“vocal poise, passion and power”
Buddy Guy
“Heaven is lying at Buddy Guy’s feet while listening to him play the guitar.”
– Jimi Hendrix
So, what do you call it when the 77 year-old Buddy Guy shows off his Jimi Hendrix licks? Beyond heaven.
Boz Scaggs
Boz took me back to Silk Degrees, one of the few albums I owned as a teenager, …
Boz Scaggs’ Guitar (Livescreen)
… as well as putting his distinctive stamp on classic songs and some new compositions.
The Doobie Brothers
Even those in the packed audience who were presumably too young to remember the string of Doobie Brothers‘ hits from the 70s were up and dancing in the aisles.
The Doobie Brothers
Although they are all over 60, they haven’t lost a beat.
Duelling Guitars
Patrick Simmons and John McFee playing complementary guitars.
The Doobie Brothers Livescreen
The Livescreens outside the marquee allow the participants camped out on blankets on the grass to watch the performance against the cold night sky…
Night Lights
… or to watch the crowds and the livescreens inside.
I was smiling to overflowing.
From being introduced to performers I didn’t know, both local and international, through meeting timeless legends from before my time, and ultimately revisiting the sounds of my youth, it was a brilliant couple of days.
That wasn’t the end of our festival – or even the end of our night (more on that some other time) – but what a high!
There is just nothing like music.
Keep smiling!
Pictures: 17-18April2014
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