Benz World Blog » Broadbeach

Jamaican Ska

Jason Benz — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 02:55:37 +0000

Legendary Pat Powell (Patou) with the awesome Melbourne Ska Orchestra at the 2014 Blues on Broadbeach Festival. Patou is a British-born Jamaican who moved to Australia. We have likely spent a similar amount of time in all 3 countries. That is all I can claim to have in common, as no matter how much roots music I listen to, I’m still a short skinny white guy. His globe-trotting did not end there. He has sung on the biggest stages and recorded all over the world. Only a legend can get paid to watch Kylie Minogue dance. His voice is as deep, warm and smooth as he looks. You have probably heard him without realising. He is like the James Earl Jones of singing.

This photo is from the early stage of the Melbourne Ska Orchestra when they had just released their first album. Since then they have released six more studio albums, including in 2018 when they released one song a week for a whole year. Impressive for a 34-piece band. That 1 year produced 4 albums which are a homage to the original Ska movement which grew from sound system culture in Jamaica.

The speed of music production is phenomenal.

This website started 20 years ago with reggae festivals in Jamaica. Every week before we knew the No.1 US song, a local band would have arranged and recorded a reggae/ska version and had it in the shops before anyone heard the original. New tunes were just as quick. When Hurricane Ivan passed by. The song telling the story of that hurricane was on the radio before the hurricane made landfall. Since MSO mastered the ska skill of rapid recording, they created a large body of work in a short time. Now they are out of the studio and ready to party.

I highly recommend you see them live if you get the chance.

The Melbourne Ska Orchestra 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: I had a chat with Pat. He told me he met the Melbourne Ska Orchestra at Bluesfest as he was hired by Bluesfest to drive the artists bus. Proof it is more than a festival, it does change lives. One more reason to #savebluesfest

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

The Bamboos

Jason Benz — Mon, 30 May 2016 14:29:07 +0000

This is Kylie Auldist singing with Melbourne based Soul Funk band The Bamboos at the 2016 Blues on Broadbeach music festival. If you want to get your groove on, I highly recommend you check them out.

Stage lights often produce challenges for cameras. To process this image a little split toning was added in Camera RAW to recover the skin tone. A mask was then created in Photoshop to put some red back into the dress.

UPDATE: The Bamboos will perform at Bluesfest in April 2022. Get your tickets from the Bluesfest website.

Casino Monorail

Jason Benz — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:02:07 +0000

On Friday night I visited the Jupiter casino next to the Nerang river on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. This monorail connects the casino, hotel and shopping centre. Another light rail service has recently started connecting Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Southport.

Ska Blues

Jason Benz — Sun, 25 May 2014 11:36:50 +0000

This weekend we visited the Blues on Broadbeach Festival. The last time we were here was for the Jazz Festival. This is the Melbourne Ska Orchestra who put on a high-energy rollercoaster performance. Building on a love for the music of The Specials and Madness, they have taken Ska to a whole new level. The 25-piece orchestra barely sat down for one song as they jumped around the stage and balanced on the speakers. When they left the stage they walked into the crowd and down the street while playing. I highly recommend seeing them. If you are in the UK they will be playing Glastonbury in 2014.

The Melbourne Ska Orchestra 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.

Broadbeach Market

Jason Benz — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 15:13:28 +0000

This is the Broadbeach Market in Queensland, Australia. It is normally on the first and third Sunday’s of the month. On this occasion the market was at Broadbeach on Saturday due to the Jazz Festival.

Since moving in 3 weeks ago we have not had any rain in Southport although the forecast is for isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. The Gold Coast has a subtropical climate which means you are almost guaranteed a mid 20′s C day temperature all year round. We have yet to experience the humid summers they have, but the dry winter days here are very pleasant.

Lifeguard Hut

Jason Benz — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 01:45:40 +0000

This lifeguard hut was taken at Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

This weekend we hosted a flat warming with the few people we know in Southport. It was a lovely day and we were left with a small mountain of food to see us through the spring.

Jazz Festival

Jason Benz — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 00:58:26 +0000

This is Emma Hamilton who was performing today at the Broadbeach Jazz Festival in Queensland, Australia. Broadbeach regularly puts on free music festivals including Blues, Country, Jazz and Opera to attract people to the Gold Coast.