Shot Notes
This is saxophone player Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig from The California Honeydrops playing their first-ever show at Byron Bay Bluesfest on the Juke Joint stage in 2017.
They formed in Oakland, California, which is similar to Byron Bay. They are both next to subtropical bays that stick out into the Pacific Ocean. Given the chance, festivals and nature thrive at these comfortable, holiday weather, latitudes. In turn, the local music is influenced by hippies and surfers.
Both areas have seen historic migrations of beatniks. The Summer of Love in 1967 saw the largest migration of young people in the history of America. In Australia, the 1973 Aquarius Festival had an enduring effect on the culture of the Northern Rivers region. The local dairy industry was in terminal decline because the UK’s price to join Europe was to cut Australia loose. Some festival-goers pooled resources and bought a 1,200-acre property, this became one of many communes which started after the festival. They formed a hippie economy which continues to this day.
There is a theory: music gets more chill the hotter the climate. That is why reggae came from Jamaica and Scandinavia is full of metal bands. Maybe the mosh pit is how Vikings kept warm? As for The California Honeydrops, you can hear the sunshine in their music.
Their website calls them retro-soul, which gives you an idea. I watched some videos that had hints of Motown, gospel and skiffle. Then I listened to their 2013 album, “Like You Mean It,” which had a mellow jazz swing. Honeydrops are a good description as the music is smooth and sweet.
The California Honeydrops will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.
UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.
YAY!!!!!!
going to be so much fun
Can’t wait to see you guys again!