Benz World Blog » Band

Nahko Bear

Jason Benz — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 13:01:20 +0000

Happy New Year 2025. This is Nahko and Medicine for the People playing on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest Byron Bay in 2017. He is wearing a “Make America Native Again” cap. Then, as now, the world is facing uncertainty about the future. One thing is certain, Nahko Bear is returning to Bluesfest in 2025, this time he is billed as just Nahko without his band. This is a trend in music, the industry is putting money behind solo artists over bands. This is something Bluesfest has resisted. You will always find bands at Bluesfest.

I cannot think of anything worse than paying hundreds of dollars for a festival ticket, only to watch someone press play on a laptop. You can pay even more money to watch elaborate costumes and dance routines to hide the fact that there is someone backstage pressing play on a laptop. Bluesfest is committed to supporting musicians making music with instruments rather than computers. It is a live music experience like no other.

Nahko will return to the festival with an unnamed band in 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.

Velvet Trip

Jason Benz — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:56:44 +0000

Frontman, Zeppelin Hamilton with Velvet Trip on the Jambalaya stage at the 2024 Bluesfest in Byron Bay. The following day Zeppelin did an overlapping set on the Delta stage with Dan Sultan on the far side of the festival site. Thanks to an efficient backstage shuttle service, he did both sets without any problems. Bluesfest has a global reputation for running like clockwork. Regulars are used to artists onstage the exact time they are listed. In 10 years the only delay I remember was the Prime Minister who delayed Jimmy Barns by 2 minutes to give an election pitch. No politician will risk that again as the boo’s made the news.

If you like the French bands “Air” and “Daft Punk” but prefer your psychedelics home-grown “Velvet Trip” is for you. They are part of a growing psychedelic pop scene in Australia along with “Tame Impala”, “Parcels” and “Pond”. Maybe there is something in the water? Velvet Trip is a good description of this retro-chill-pop band. Dreamy reverb vocals, guitar jams and a sprinkle of synths. Imagine “Pink Floyd” without the deafening crescendos.

The last frontman to do earnings and tattoos with this much style was Prince, and even Prince did not show off his tatts like Aussies do. Few have the confidence to make such a bold fashion choice, but when you have a name like Zeppelin, anything is possible, so the gold chain and shades are essential to turn the Rockstar look up to 11.

Velvet Trip have been confirmed for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest at 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.

Allison Russell

Jason Benz — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:45:09 +0000

Elenna Canlas(left) and Allison Russell(right) on the Mojo stage at the 2023 Bluesfest in Australia.

As sure as Canucks like hockey, Allison is the most I have listened to a Canadian since Alanis Morissette, …which was… 30 years ago! Yikes, now I feel old. I didn’t realise until Bluesfest that Allison had launched a solo album. I was still listening to the outstanding third “Birds of Chicago” studio album “Love in Wartime” which I have played more than any other music in the last few years.

It turns out “Birds of Chicago” is on “indefinite hiatus” I feared this might be a euphemism for the swan song of my favourite pigeon pair. What would the Canada warbler sound like without the swift grackle and chickadee of JT Nero’s guitar sounds? The loss of their perfect blend of harmony, melody, texture and rhythm could be a jagged little pill to swallow wren my favourite song sparrow turns a new leaf.

I got hold of Allison Russell’s first solo album “Outside Child”

The lyrics tell very personal stories. I was happy to discover musically the album is an evolution from “Birds of Chicago” rather than a complete break. JT Nero is listed as one of the writers and sings a charming duet with his wife called “Joyful Motherfuckers” The music is like “Birds of Chicago” at a relaxed pace with a greater focus on Allison’s powerfully emotive voice and her transcendence from her early life.

“Birds of Ontario” may be closer, JT Nero’s midwestern tones are largely absent and in more than half the songs Allison taps into her inner maple syrup sipper when she slips in and out of French as she sings. I can’t wait to hear that beautiful voice one more time, while she also leads the charge to make clarinet music cool again. Allison Russell has been confirmed for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest at 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.

Little Quirks

Jason Benz — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 04:57:35 +0000

This is Jaymi Toole playing the mandolin and singing with the Little Quirks as they opened the Mojo stage with their dynamic folk/rock/pop style at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay. They put on the most passionate and energetic performance I have seen at the festival, and they have some stiff competition. Like many at this festival, they started out busking on the streets of Australia and dreaming of one day playing Bluesfest. Today their dream came true, and they made the most of it. It was great to see artists having so much fun onstage. Little Quirks will be back on the final Monday of music. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Jaymi Toole and Abbey Toole from Little Quirks opening the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay.

Freak Flag

Jason Benz — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:53:35 +0000

This is Here Come The Mummies letting their freak flag fly on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay, Australia. They are the most powerful groove machine I have seen, or not seen, in ages. Why the disguise? Could they be moonlighting while signed to opposing record labels? Maybe they are the real Fun Lovin’ Criminals? All I can say is they are the Banksy of the disco funk world. They have 3 more sets over the next 4 days of music, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Here Come The Mummies 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.

New Year

Jason Benz — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:01:58 +0000

Happy New Year 2024. What I am looking forward to most this year is the return of one of my favourite bands to Australia. This is Tedeschi Trucks Band putting on an awesome performance on the Crossroads stage at the 2016 Byron Bay Bluesfest. Husband and wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks here with saxophone player Kebbi Williams.

Imagine two smooth blues guitars jamming together, while they evoke the kind of atmospheric sounds Knopfler would be proud of, wrap these harmonies in the soulful depth you can only get from gospel backing singers, fill the backstage with duelling drummers, mix in a Hammond Organ and some New Orleans Horns and the sweet blues sound they make is world-class.

(image download here)

UPDATE: After 8 long years the band will return to the festival in Easter 2024, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

19 Twenty

Jason Benz — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:19:56 +0000

This is power trio 19-Twenty on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2023. Imagine a mix of ZZ Top and The White Stripes with an Aussie twist. Like Jimi Hendrix, the band is built around the considerable guitar skills of lead singer, Kane Dennelly. Also like Hendrix, the role of the bass and drums should not be underestimated, John Gwilliam and Jeremy Berg do an excellent job of taking already powerful grooves and pushing them into overdrive. As well as giving the guitar room to shine, they can each take the lead. The chance to see a double bass solo should not be missed. When these “Masters of the Riff” are not banging out high-energy electric blues with a folk edge to cheering crowds, they have produced a chilled Sunday arvo studio number with what can only be called an Australian Supergroup, teaming up with Lachy Doley and Hussy Hicks to record What A Night. (image download here). It is great to hear that 19-Twenty has been confirmed for the 2024 festival. There are rumours of guest musicians appearing at that performance.

UPDATE: 19-Twenty 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. 19-Twenty will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Ollie McGill

Jason Benz — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:59:30 +0000

This is Ollie McGill on the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2023. Along with Felix Riebl, they are the remaining two-thirds of the founding trio of The Cat Empire. The band’s history includes over 40 musicians, enough for a chamber orchestra. After their last gig with the original lineup at Bluesfest 2022 there were a number of changes in the lineup. This made the reformed Kitten Empire the most anticipated show at Bluesfest 2023. Who would be there? What songs would they play? Would they still have that festival energy they are famous for? Australian Musician got the scoop on their new album. Watch this space for more Bluesfest stories throughout the year.

The Cat Empire 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.

Julz Parker

Jason Benz — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:59:39 +0000

This is local guitarist Julz Parker from Hussy Hicks making a guest appearance with Michael Franti & Spearhead on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2023 in Byron Bay, Australia. Meanwhile, on the Mojo stage, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne were jamming together. As the night went on, the party atmosphere built until the line between artist and audience disappeared. I saw a whole brass section vanish into the crowd, and members of the crowd got up on stage to sing and dance.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will be back after a successful world tour to perform back home at Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2024.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025 and #savebluesfest, the festival’s future has been confirmed. Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest 2026

Counting Crows

Jason Benz — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:59:19 +0000

This is Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows taking the audience of the Mojo stage back in time at Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia. In the early 90′s when Grunge was busy reviving the bones of Punk, one band from San Francisco, California, took the road less travelled by. Adam looked to the troubadours, like Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, and decided to keep the art of storytelling alive with vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics. The music has a timeless quality. They have remained on my playlist for 30 years because, like wine, they only improve with age.

Adam’s current favourite band is Gang of Youths, who headlined last night at Bluesfest. Adam also sang on their latest album.

2 more days of music, the sun is out, and tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: The Counting Crows will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal