Benz World Blog » American

Christone Ingram

Jason Benz — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 04:45:25 +0000

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram effortlessly channelled the original grandfathers of the Blues on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2022.

Kingfish’s respect for the old masters is evident when you hear him play. He draws his inspiration from the earliest days of electric Blues.

With over 100 acts at Bluesfest, you can expect lovers of the original form to be well-catered for. The Byron Bay festival in Australia has a long history of attracting world-class Blues musicians from America’s Deep South. Kingfish is a great example, coming from Clarksdale, Mississippi, The heart of the Blues story. If you ever wondered what it would be like to go back in time and listen to Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters and B.B. King craft the foundation of the Blues. A live performance from Kingfish can take you on that journey. (image download here)

Kingfish 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.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Mavis Staples

Jason Benz — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:00:32 +0000

This is Mavis Staples with guitarist Rick Holmstrom on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest 2017. I found this image in the archive because she will be returning to Australia for Bluesfest 2023 next easter.

The opportunity to see the last great matriarch of music should not be missed. Mavis Staples is woven into the fabric of music history in America’s deep south and her rich golden voice has been heard all over the world.

Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest Returns

Jason Benz — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:02:38 +0000

This is The War & Treaty which had the honour of heralding the return of live music on the Mojo stage on Day 1 of Bluesfest 2022. What a great choice to kick things off. They have a raw energetic groove that infuses into your bones. Like getting in a warm bath that instantly reminds you how much you miss it. The husband and wife team fuse Southern soul and gospel vocals while the band add a tasty dollop of rock and roll.

The band are playing all 5 days of the festival so there is still time to get your tickets from the Bluesfest website.

This image is available for download here.

Melody Angel

Jason Benz — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:56:49 +0000

This is Melody Angel rocking the Juke Joint at the 2017 Byron Bay Bluesfest. I have never seen anyone channel Jimi Hendrix and Lenny Kravitz with so much style. This was no tribute act, this force of nature from Chicago had plenty of authentic blues and soul in her music. (image download here)

Melody Angel will return to the festival in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Jake Shimabukuro

Jason Benz — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:56:48 +0000

This is Jake Shimabukuro playing on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest 2017. Jake is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso who gained international notoriety by being the subject of one of the first ever viral videos. In 2006 unknown to him someone posted a video of him playing “While my guitar gently weeps” on a new website called YouTube. He was flooded with offers and has been making music all over the World ever since.

This image is available for download here.

Paul Janeway

Jason Benz — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 23:06:26 +0000

This is St Paul and the Broken Bones on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2017. Lead singer Paul Janeway is a force of nature. His passionate performance of authentic southern soul led a band with a massive groove factor.

UPDATE: St Paul will be back at the 30th Bluesfest in 2019. It is guaranteed to be a great show.

UPDATE: The band will return to the festival in 2023, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website. A few days after the Easter festival they have shows in Melbourne and Sydney, tickets from Bluesfest Touring

This image is available for download here.

Buddy Guy

Jason Benz — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 13:59:21 +0000

There are blues men and there is Blues Royalty. This is, without question, one of the last original Kings of the Chicago Blues. Bluesfest 2017 was honoured to have Buddy Guy playing on the Crossroads stage tonight. It was hard to believe he is 80 years old as he strolled around like someone half his age. Guy has been called the bridge between Blues and Rock and Roll as he links electric blues pioneers such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf with popular musicians like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, who copied Buddy’s tricks of playing the guitar over his head and with his teeth.

UPDATE: If you would like to see the hands which shaped the history of music. Buddy Guy will return to tour Australia in 2023. 10th April in Melbourne, 12th April Sydney. Tickets from Bluesfest Touring

UPDATE: Buddy Guy will return to the festival in 2023, Tickets from the Bluesfest website.

UPDATE: Buddy Guy will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

This image is available for download here.

The Lumineers

Jason Benz — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 13:58:00 +0000

These are the Lumineers playing the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2017. Their music has a folky edge with stomping rhythms and acoustic riffs. Although they are not strictly blues, We were told by festival director Peter Noble that it has been about more than blues for at least 20 years. He said his guiding principle when booking bands is to find artists who make music with people rather than computers, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

UPDATE: The Lumineers will return to Australia in November 2022. 13th in Brisbane, 15th in Sydney, and 18th in Melbourne. Tickets from Bluesfest Touring.

California Honeydrops

Jason Benz — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 13:59:46 +0000

It is often the bands you have never seen before on the smaller stages at festivals which impress the most. These are The California Honeydrops playing the Juke Joint of the 2017 Bluesfest. They have their own unique mix of Blues and Soul which will find you tapping your feet before you know it. (image download here) 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: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Taj Mahal

Jason Benz — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:49:07 +0000

This is multi-instrumentalist, prolific recording artist and blender of the Blues, Taj Mahal, who pushes the envelope of what Blues is. Here in his favourite type of gig, a festival where people are free to dance, broadcasting his own brand of Blues on the Jambalaya stage at the 2016 Bluesfest in New South Wales, Australia.

Image download here.

UPDATE: Taj will be back at the festival in 2024, Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.